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Do You Know These Things About Lung Cancer?

November 5th, 2008 by admin | No Comments | Filed in Uncategorized

Our lung is one of the main “motors” of our body. Yet, often it is not given due attention and care, and it remains in the background when it comes to issues of the hearth or brain.

The main function of our lung is to exchange the gases between the air we breathe and our blood. It is through our lung that carbon dioxide is emptied from our body and oxygen is transported to our blood vessels. It is not widely known that the two sides of our lung are not identical to each other. The right lung has three lobes, whereas the left lung has two lobes, and an additional portion which is called the lingula which is like the middle lobe.

Lung cancer is the leading type of cancer causing death among men and women of the world. It is only since the 1930s that cases of started to increase. This is mainly due to tobacco consumption, and the much disputed pollution and smog around the globe. 90% of lung cancers are caused by smoking. Recently, governments and states around the globe have raised the price of tobacco dramatically, having some significant effect on societies in cutting down on tobacco smoking.

Some people mistakenly believe that pipe and cigar smoking do not have such a harmful effect on the lungs as cigarettes. Cigar and pipe smokers are at 5% higher risk to die of than non-smokers. This ratio is 25% for people smoking cigarettes.

Passive smokers, i.e., smokers who do not smoke themselves but stay in an environment where others smoke, and inhale smoke, are at 24% higher risk of developing cancer (only 1% less than a cigarette smoker.)

Other danger factors in developing cancer are asbestos fibres, radon gas, familial predispositions (genetic), and other lung diseases, along with air pollution.

Lung cancers are categorized into two types. Small cell and non-small cell . This distinction is based on the appearance of the cells under microscopic examination and the appearance of tumor cells. The two types of cancers spread and grow in different ways, thus the distinction.

Small cell cancer is the most aggressive and rapidly growing type of cancers, and it makes up 20% of related cancers. It tends to grow first in the larger breathing tubes and grows very fast spreading around a large area. In its initial stage, it is more sensitive to , but it often bears worse prognosis. This type of cancer is mainly related with smoking.

On the other hand, for non-small cell , the prognosis is poor. Patients treated with live generally only three months longer than those who do not get treatment. This type is divided into further two types, one starting from the larger breathing tubes but spreading around slower. This means that the size of these tumors varies when diagnosed. 50-60% of non-small cell cancer starts growing around the gas-exchanging surface of the lung. This form is most common for smokers, and along these there are female non-smokers who are mainly affected.

Our lung is a very sensitive organ, it is often the landing place for metastasis (when cancer cells break away from the primary tumor) of cancer originating from other parts of the body. In this case, we name it by the originating part of the body, for example .

Cancer is a sly disease. Women can develop ovary cancer from the originating stomach cancer. It strikes the most innocent, the best sportsman, the firmest vegetarian, anyone without mercy. If it takes your lungs, it takes your breath. Do not give it a chance.

For more information on cancer try visiting cancercondition.com cancercondition.com - a website that specializes in providing cancer related information and resources including information on cancercondition.com/lungcancer.html .

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Colon Cancer: 5 Proven Methods Of Prevention

November 5th, 2008 by admin | No Comments | Filed in Uncategorized

Colon cancer is the third most common cancer in the US today with just under 150,000 new cases diagnosed every year. In addition, each year sees over 50,000 people lose their lives to the illness. But why do people get it? Is there a particular type of person who is at risk? Are there steps you can take to prevent it? In this article we’ll discuss 5 methods that can used successfully to prevent this disease.

1. Lose Weight.

Obesity is associated with a greater risk of developing . In studies it was found that the condition occurs much more frequently in those who are obese compared to those who have a healthy weight. A recent study published in the journal “Gut” showed twice the rate of in obese women, as compared to their slimmer sisters. An increased risk is present in men who have a BMI over 30. Abdominal obesity is also thought to be a specific risk factor.

2. Attend regular screenings.

Without a doubt, attending regular screenings reduces the risk of developing this illness. Screening allows for the early detection of polyps – these are little, fleshy, bulb-like growths in the colon that often lead to cancer. If doctors can detect these early, and remove them, it significantly lowers a person’s risk of developing the disease.

3. Be aware of the “Age factor”.

Age is a big factor in as more than 90% of people diagnosed are 50 years or older. If you are over 50, making time for regular screening is essential, to enable doctors detect the presence of colon polyps at an early stage. Polyps are an early and harmless form of the disease.

4. Eat a healthy diet.

With a poor diet such as one with low fiber, high cholesterol, fat, and sugary food the incidence of is higher. Low dietary fiber in particular, is associated with this, and other forms of bowel disease.

5. Avoid Smoking.

Cigarette smoke is well known to contain carcinogenic chemicals and is associated with cancer. Smoking increases the sizes of polyps in the colon – in particular adenomatous polyps, the dangerous kind. Research shows, that the larger the size of the polyp, the greater the chance of developing . Numerous studies (including one by Harvard) have shown a link between and smoking.

Several other steps exist, to help you prevent and enhance colon health. To learn more about these visit: coloncancerbulletin.com coloncancerbulletin.com or click here: coloncancerbulletin.com Colon Cancer

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Is Sex Possible After Prostate Cancer Diagnosis?

November 5th, 2008 by admin | No Comments | Filed in Uncategorized

SEX AFTER PROSTATE DIAGNOSIS.

If you are diagnosed with any form of prostate disease, you will experience some type of erectile dysfunction, even if it is a surgical procedure using the nerve sparing technique.

There is no need to repeat the treatments we’ve already covered, but let’s take a moment to review some of the possibilities that are available to men AFTER being diagnosed with prostate disease who experience erectile dysfunction:

• There are now numerous erectile dysfunction drugs (EDDs) available. These drugs promote erections by increasing blood flow to the penis.

• There is a substance called Prostaglandin E1 that can produce erections. It is produced naturally and can be injected almost painlessly into the base of the penis before sex.

• A penile implant or prostheses can restore an ability to achieve an erection.

• There are vacuum devices that are designed especially to create an erection by placing around the entire penis before sex.

While erectile dysfunction will most likely begin immediately following surgery for prostate removal, if the technique of nerve sparing is used there is a possibility of recovery within a year of the procedure. If non-nerve sparing is used the recovery of erectile function is highly unlikely.

There are studies that report sparing nerves on both sides of a prostate have regained erectile function in 60 – 70% of men. Also, erectile dysfunction drugs appear to work for up to 43% of men whose prostate was removed surgically. This shows a promising trend.

There is some difference when radiation therapy is used. The man will also experience erectile dysfunction but it usually doesn’t happen until six months after beginning treatment. However, there is also good news here showing that as many as 50-60% of men regain erections with the use of EDDs.

When hormonal treatment is the route taken, erectile dysfunction will usually occur between two and four weeks after beginning treatment and is linked with decreasing sexual desire. Unfortunately the studies do not show the same results as the previous two treatments having little or no impact on erectile dysfunction. The good news, however, is that normal erectile function returns when the hormonal therapy is ended.

Sarah Hutt is the webmaster of health-wellness-care.com health-wellness-care.com, beauty-fitness-secrets.com beauty-fitness-secrets.com and insurance-and-wills.com insurance-and-wills.com. She believes in getting the right writers and contributors to enrich her websites.

Today, her highly informational websites are receiving high visits and loyal readers. You may re-distribute this article as long as you include this resource box.

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Possible Side Effects Of Radiation Treatment For Prostate Cancer

November 5th, 2008 by admin | No Comments | Filed in Uncategorized

Despite the precautions taken to give the radiotherapy as accurately as possible there will always be some side effects associated with radiotherapy to the prostate gland even with “best treatment”. This is partly because to reach the prostate gland from the outside the X-rays have to pass through normal tissues (bladder, bowel, skin) and partly because an area around the prostate gland needs to be treated in case the prostate is in a slightly different position each day (e.g. because the bladder is filled to a different extent) and because it can treat any cancer cells which are trying to invade out of the prostate gland itself.

EARLY SIDE EFFECTS

a. Tiredness and Fatigue – most patients receiving radiotherapy will feel tired especially towards the end of treatment.

b. Skin reaction – this is usually very mild with treatment and may be a slight pinking of the skin or sometimes a sore back passage

c. Diarrhoea – the x-rays will have to pass through some of your bowel to reach the prostate gland and this can irritate the bowel and cause diarrhoea, it can usually be well controlled by medication

d. Cystitis – a burning feeling when you pass water is due to irritation of the bladder by the X-rays on their way to the prostate gland

e. Piles – these can often flare up during treatment

f. Loss of Hair – you may lose some of your pubic hair where the x-rays pass through the skin but this normally grows back after treatment finishes, the hair on you head will not be affected

g. Impotence – radiotherapy may make it difficult for you to have or maintain an erection

LATE SIDE EFFECTS

In a small number of patients permanent damage to bowel or bladder may occur and can sometimes require treatment. In some men the impotence fails to recover.

While there are forms of alternative treatment, the above are considered to be the proven techniques and procedures.

Adrian Jones writes on several forms of cancer. Further information is available on his website dealing with

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