Colon cancer is, unfortunately, a fairly common disease and is the second leading cause of death from cancer in the Western world. However, fatalities from this form of cancer have been on the decline for the past 15 years, and the reason for this is believed to be the improvements in various treatment methods as well as an increase in regular screenings for the disease.

Chemo and radiotherapies are sometimes used, but colon cancer surgery is the most often used form of treatment of the disease and its six stages. The type of surgery is determined based on a number of factors such as the size and location of the cancerous tumor as well as the patient’s general health.

Here are the types of colon cancer surgery performed from the least invasive to the most extensive of procedures and why they may be used.

Colonoscopic excision
The development of the colonoscope, which is a specialized instrument used to examine the colon, has significantly improved the treatment of colorectal cancer over the last three decades. In addition to providing an accurate assessment of the colon, this instrument is also used in the excision of polyps, which is referred to as a polypectomy. This outpatient procedure used to treat colorectal cancer in its earliest stage is performed under local anesthesia and removes small, cancerous adenomas or polyps using the colonoscope.

Local excision
This type of operation for rectal cancer is performed through the anus and removes portions of tissue that contain cancerous cells. The tissues are then sent to pathologists for review to determine the depth or stage of the cancer, which will also indicate if additional treatment may be needed such as chemotherapy or radiotherapy.

Bowel resection
With this type of colon cancer surgery, the procedure is performed through an opening in the abdomen and carefully removes the diseased tissue. Surrounding tissues are also removed to ensure that there are no cancerous cells left behind. The ends of the bowel or intestine are then joined together with sutures, which is a procedure called anastomosis, and the abdomen is then closed with sutures. A temporary colostomy may also be performed during this procedure, particularly in those patients with rectal cancer.

After a period of about 12 weeks, tests are performed to see if the anastomosis has healed properly so that the colostomy opening can be closed and the patient’s normal bowel function restored. A colostomy creates an opening in the skin on either side of the abdomen which is known as a stoma. The end of the intestine is stitched to the outside of the opening and waste material then passes through the stoma into a colostomy bag. Due to advancements in colon cancer surgery a colostomy is usually only temporary.

Abdominoperineal excision
This radical form of colon cancer surgery entails the removal of the entire rectum and anal canal. This operation is done only in extreme cases of colorectal cancer when it isn’t possible to perform other types of less invasive surgery through a local excision. Recent advances in treatments for this type of cancer have made it so the majority of patients won’t ever require this type of extreme surgery.

Robert Thatcher is author and website owner of aboutcoloncancersurgery.com/ aboutcoloncancersurgery.com. Visit Robert’s website to learn interesting facts about aboutcoloncancersurgery.com/ colon cancer surgery.

Tags: chemotherapy, colon cancer, colorectal cancer

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A physician may suspect malignant mesothelioma in a patient who has symptoms suggesting this cancer and who reports a history of asbestos exposure. Careful medical examination may also reveal the presence of fluid in the pleural or abdominal cavity. Once malignant mesothelioma is suspected, a number of methods are available to help confirm the diagnosis.

Imaging methods, such as x-rays, CT scans, MRIs and PET scans, help determine the location, size and extent of the cancer, and specifically detect pleural or peritoneal thickening, fluid in the pleural or abdominal cavity, or nodules of cancer cells. However, a definitive diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma can only be made after the examination of cells from abnormal tissue.

A biopsy of abnormal tissue is performed to find out whether the cells in this tissue are cancerous or not. Such tissue can be removed through minimally invasive surgery. Fluid in the pleural or abdominal cavity may also contain cancer cells, and may also be removed for analysis. Cells from abnormal tissue or fluid are examined under the microscope, and can be identified as normal or cancerous. However, such examination does not necessarily confirm the type of cancer. Cells found in pleural mesotheliomas can resemble lung cancer cells, and cells found in peritoneal mesotheliomas can resemble ovarian cancer cells. To differentiate between these different forms of cancer, a method called immunohistochemistry is often used. This method detects proteins on the surface of cancer cells that are specific to certain types of cancers. A newer method called DNA microarray analysis examines the genes of cancer cells. Malignant mesothelioma cancer cells have different gene patterns from other cancer cells and from normal cells.

While no blood tests confirm a diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma, there are certain blood abnormalities that suggest the presence of a cancer. Recent research suggests that elevated levels of a blood protein called osteopontin may help in the early detection of mesothelioma.

e-mesotheliomasymptoms.com Mesothelioma Symptoms provides detailed information on Advanced Mesothelioma Symptoms, Clinical Mesothelioma Symptoms, Mesothelioma Diagnosis: An Introduction, Mesothelioma Stomach Symptoms and more. Mesothelioma Symptoms is affiliated with e-MesotheliomaInformation.com Pleural Mesothelioma Information.

Tags: lung cancer, mesothelioma, ovarian cancer, pleural mesothelioma

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Sam (not real name) is a 74-year old male from Singapore. He had undergone an operation to remove a 8 x 4 cm tumor at his colon in October 2005. The pathology report indicated a “moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma infiltrating into the subserosal fat with no lymph node metastasis”. The resection margins were free of the tumor. Nothing eventful happened after the surgery and Sam recovered well. A follow up surveillance check with a CT scan on 21 February 2006, indicated “a new left adrenal mass measuring 4.5 x 3.6 cm”. This was suspicious of metastasis.

Due to the renal mass, Sam was asked to undergo chemotherapy — either via intravenous injection or oral drug. Sam opted for an oral drug. After collecting his medication, he was told of the drug’s side effects. Shocked by such revelation, Sam and his wife debated while driving home whether to take the drug or not. Sam finally decided not to take the chemo-drug.

Soon afterwards, someone happened to find our books and passed them on to Sam, who read them. He decided to send his sister and daughter to come and see us. Their mission was to find out more about our therapy. It turned out they (sister and daughter) decided that Sam should take our herbs without further delay.

Two weeks after taking the herbs, Sam went back for another CT scan follow up. The report dated 12 April 2006, showed “no adrenal mass is seen. The previously visualized ‘mass’ in the left suprarenal region is artefactual in nature”.

I received an e-mail from Sam’s daughter on 13 April 06 with this message: “He (my father) visited his surgeon … and to everyone’s amazement there was no longer any sign of spot that was present in earlier scans. It has miraculously disappeared. Needless to say we also see God’s intervention and kindness at work here”.

Sam, his wife and daughter, came to see us on 11 August 2006. Sam appeared to be a jovial, healthy man who could travel to Korea, Taiwan, etc. without problems. No one would ever suspect that he had been diagnosed with cancer in the first place. The following are excerpts of our conversation.

Chris: The doctor gave you a choice? You either get the chemo as an injection or take oral chemo?
Sam: Yes, correct. I opted for the oral chemo. I went downstairs and collected the medicine (S$613 for three weeks). But the person who gave me the drug warned me that I should not come back to the hospital complaining, if I have problems like fever, vomiting, stomach cramps etc. Such side effects were to be expected. So, on the way home, I and my wife were arguing in the car. My wife wanted me to take the medicine. But I decided not to take the medicine. So, I drove straight from the hospital to see my family doctor.

S: My family doctor told me: “Uncle, I understand. You take this medicine also no use, because you are totally against it. So, even if you take it, you’ll never get better.

C: Your doctor told you that?

S: Yes, he told me: You will not be cured. And he is a medical specialist and my family friend. He told me: “In my opinion, what you think is correct. You are right. You are the patient. You dictate what you want and what you don’t want. So, I stand with you — wherever you go and whatever you do”. Then he told my wife: “Don’t worry. Leave him alone. Let him decide”.

C: So, you decided not to take the chemo-drug? Then, what did you do after that?

Wife: My sister found your books — two books, when she went to a seminar.

S: I read the book and I took it that God send them to us.

Wife: He read the book and then went into the internet, found you and then called our daughter in Penang.

S: The Holy Spirit sent the message. So, I asked my daughter to come and find out what it is all about.

C: Before this, did you have any idea at all about herbal therapy?

Wife: No, no.

C: You did not want to take the chemo-drug and you also did not have any idea about wanting to do something different?

S: I only knew that I did not want to take the medicine but I did not have any other idea about alternative treatment.

Sam’s Daughter: So, when I and my auntie came to see you that night, we did not know what to expect. After we talked to you, we felt we have nothing to loose. So, why don’t we just try the herbs.

S: Yes, I sent her and my sister to come and study only. We did not ask them to take the herbs — we just wanted to know more and study only. But they got the herbs for me.

C: Now that you got the herbs (at that time in Singapore), did you start taking them or not?

S: Yes, straight away. My wife started cooking them three times a day.

C: Good. After you started taking the herbs, did you suffer any side effects or have any problem?

S: No. I can take bitter things — the smell did not bother me.

C: You did not find it difficult to take the herbs?

S: I have gone through worse experience then this. The herbs are no problem.

C: Then, you took the herbs for how long?

S: Two weeks. I was due to go for my routine check-up two weeks after I started taking the herbs. So, I went for a scan. After the scan, it was another two weeks before I went to see the doctor. The scan report was with the doctor. He asked: “What happen? I cannot see the spot anymore. It has disappeared”. This was only after I took the herbs for two weeks.

C: Are you sure that the doctor knows that there was a tumor before?

S: Yes, it was a scan — a GH scan. No joking — it was a scan, a scan.

C: Did the doctor really tell you that the tumor disappeared?

Wife: Yes and the doctor said he was 95% sure that it was cancer.

C: Did you see the same doctor or not?

S: Yes, the same doctor, the same man, the same patient.

C: And he said that it was not there any more? Did he ask you what you did?

Wife: He knows that we did not take the chemo-drug. I called him and told him: “Sam is not taking the medicine”.

C: Your doctor knew that you did not take the medicine. And he said that the tumour had disappeared. He asked you what you did. What did he say after that?

S: The doctor said: “Chemotherapy is also herbal”.

C: Did he say that chemotherapy is herbal?

S: Yes, the doctor said that. This is what I can’t understand. He said clearly — I am one hundred percent sure –“Chemotherapy is also herbal”.

Our 46 minutes chat ended with these words:

C: That’s great. I am happy to see you.

S: But you are not as happy as I am.

C: Wonderful, God works in different ways.

S: I believe so. I have no reason to get those two books.

C: Yes, I too do not see any reason why my books are found in Singapore!

This is wonderful news for two reasons. One, Sam’s tumor had disappeared. Just imagine what could have happened if he had undergone chemotherapy? We see this as a miracle — but for some others it was just a coincidence or luck. Two, now we have chemotherapy “going” herbal. The next time if you are asked to go for chemotherapy, why not ask for the “herbal type”? And better still, if they have the “organic variety”!

Chris Teo, Ph.D.

For more details, visit: BookOnCancer.com BookOnCancer.com, cacare.com cacare.com, CancerCare.com.my CancerCare.com.my

Tags: chemotherapy

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Throat cancer affects many areas of the throat like the vocal cords or the larynx. Throat cancer usually affects men. If you smoke or drink a lot of alcohol then you are at great risk. If you combine smoking and drinking alcohol then the risk for throat cancer symptoms to appear is extreme.

Most throat cancer symptoms usually develop in middleaged people older than 50.

The most researched and significant symptoms are:

- Hoarseness encountered for more than 1-2 weeks

- Soar throat encountered for more than 1-2 weeks

- Pain in your neck

- Swallowing difficulties

- Any kind of swellings in your neck

- Unexpected weight loss

- Lasting cough

- Coughing blood

- Change in your voice tone

- Difficulty in breathing

..and the list goes on. That was just the most importand throat cancer symptoms.

The good news is that throat cancer symptoms can be treated succesfully if detected early. The treatment aims at the destruction of the affected throat cells before cancer is spreaded to other parts of your body.

If you are a heavy smoker or drinker it is highly recommended that you visit a doctor every now and then to perform regular tests. Especially if you encounter throat cancer symptoms like hoarseness or change in your voice tone for more than a week or two.

Don’t want to visit your doctor?

Here are some of the heavy throat cancer symptoms that may appear as throat cancer grows:

- Great breathing difficulties

- Loss of speaking and voice

- Disfigurement of your face

- Deformity of your skin

- Great swallowing difficulties (many patients cannot eat so they are fed through a feeding tube)

..and the worse thing that can happen is when cancer spreads to other parts of your body. In that case you really can’t cure the symptoms easily.

If you need a bit of extra information about throat cancer symptoms have a look at this nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001042.htm” target=”_blank Medical Encyclopedia. My advice is to check out this digitalstarproducts.com/star/-detail-12.html Natural Cancer Treatments ebook and discover a few untold secrets about cancer and how you can avoid any of its symptoms.

Tags: cancer treatment, natural cancer, throat cancer

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