Category Archives: Cancer

Adjuvant chemotherapy for lung cancer

The use of chemotherapy after curative resection is standard in many common malignancies such as breast and colon cancer and is commonly described as adjuvant therapy. The magnitude of benefit with respect to improvement in disease-free and overall survival in many cases is often small in absolute terms especially in the case of breast cancer where absolute potential improvements may only be in the range of 5% at 10 years. Lung cancer is the most lethal of the common malignancies with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) comprising approximately 80% of cases. Unfortunately, only a minority of patients present with resectable disease, and despite this, the median survival with curative intent surgery is relatively poor (pathological stage I disease 67% at 5 years, pathological stage 2b disease 39% at 5 years). NSCLC is predominantly a disease of the elderly with median age at diagnosis of 68 years, and its management is often complicated by the relatively high rate of concomitant illnesses. Continue reading

Adrenal cancer Part 4

Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy is used in a number of cancers as both the main method of killing cancer cells or in combination with surgery (either before or after). The radiation comes in the form of high-energy x-rays that are delivered to the patient only in the areas at highest risk for cancer. These x-rays are similar to those used for diagnostic x-rays, only of a much higher energy. The high-energy of x-rays in radiation therapy results in damage to the DNA of cells, causing tumor cells to die. Continue reading

Adrenal cancer Part 3

How are adrenal cortical cancers staged?

In addition to diagnosing adrenal cortical cancers, the radiographic imaging performed also helps to determine the stage of the patient. According to the seventh edition of the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC), which defines cancer staging systems, patients with adrenal cortical cancer are divided into one of four stages. Please note that there is no AJCC staging system for medullary adrenal carcinoma. Continue reading

4 Helpful Stomach Cancer Treatments

Stomach cancer or also known as gastric cancer is a cancer that arises in the stomach, a muscular sac situated in the upper center of the abdomen underneath the ribs.  The stomach is the body organ that receives and keeps the food and then facilitate in breaking down the food and digesting it. Continue reading

Adrenal cancer Part 2

What causes adrenal cortical cancers and am I at risk?

Each year, there are approximately 500 cases of adrenal cortical cancers in the United States. These most commonly occur in patients between the ages of 30 and 50; however, children under the age of 5 develop adrenal cortical cancers at a higher rate than the rest of the population. Males are more likely to develop non-functioning adrenal carcinomas, while females are more likely to develop functioning adrenal carcinomas. In general, causes of adrenal cortical cancers are unknown. They are not associated with smoking, and do not run in families. Despite this, certain rare genetic syndromes such as Beckwith-Wiedemann syndrome, and multiple endocrine neoplasia, have been associated with adrenal cortical cancers. Continue reading

Adrenal cancer Part 1

What are the adrenal glands?

The adrenal glands are small glands that are located just above each kidney (they are sometimes called the suprarenal glands for that reason). The adrenal glands are surrounded by a layer of connective tissue and a layer of fat. They are triangular in shape and consist of several distinct parts: Continue reading

5 Successful Prostate Cancer Treatment

Prostate cancer is cancer that affects the man’s prostate gland.  Prostate gland is a small walnut-shaped gland that makes seminal fluid that preserves and carries sperm.  Prostate cancer is one of the most frequent types of cancer that affects men.  Prostate cancer normally develops gradually and primarily stays confined to the prostate gland. Continue reading

4 Neuroblastoma Treatment

Neuroblastoma is a cancer that begins from the nerve cells found in numerous parts of the body.  Neuroblastoma normally occurs inside and around the adrenal glands, that have related origins to nerve cells and sit on top of the kidneys.  But, neuroblastoma can also occur in other parts of the abdomen and in the chest, pelvis and neck, any areas where groups of nerve cells exist. Continue reading

Useful Concepts on Head and Neck Tumor

A large percentage of the world’s population is diagnosed and treated for head and neck tumor. These are oral cancers, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, laryngeal cancers, and pharyngeal cancers.  It is said that head and neck tumor head and neck tumor cases are much more aggressive in the younger members of the population probably because of the late diagnosis.

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3 Effective Treatments for Testicular Cancer

Testicular cancer develops in the testicles or testes, which to be found in the scrotum, a loose bag of skin under the penis.  The testicles are the one responsible in producing sperm and male sex hormones for reproduction.  Testicular cancer is a type of cancer that considered being uncommon.  However, testicular cancer is the most frequent cancer that affects American males that occurs in between the ages of 15 and 34.

Testicular cancer may have several treatments that may depend on the type and stage of it.  Testicular cancer is very much treatable even if the cancer already reaches beyond the testicle.  It is important to have a regular testicular self-examination to detect early development and the possibility for favorable treatment great.

What are the signs and symptoms of testicular cancer?

Testicular cancer usually affects only one testicle.  Signs and symptoms of testicular cancer are the following.

  • Enlargement or presence of lump in either testicle
  • Dull pain in the groin or abdomen
  • Feeling of heaviness in the scrotum
  • A rapid collection of liquid in the scrotum
  • Pain or soreness in the scrotum or the testicle
  • Tenderness or swelling of the breasts

What are the causes of testicular cancer?

It is not yet understandable of what really causes testicular cancer.  Health care providers know that testicular cancer develops when the healthy cells in a testicle changed.  Normally, healthy cells develop and divide in a systematic way to maintain the body functioning generally.  However, in unknown reason some cells grow abnormally resulting to cancer cells.  These cancer cells will keep on dividing even when new cells are not needed.   These accumulating cells develop a mass in the testicle.  Almost all testicular cancer starts in the germ cells.  Germ cells are cells in the testicles responsible in producing immature sperm.  The reason why germ cells turn out to be abnormal and become cancer is not yet known.

What is the risk factors affecting testicular cancer?

There are factors that may increase the possibility of having testicular cancer they are the following.

  • Men whose testicle never descended during their fetal development have a greater possibility of having testicular cancer than to those men who have testicle that descended normally.  Even if the testicle has been transferred through surgical procedure to the scrotum, still the risk of developing testicular cancer remains.
  • Irregular development of testicle like Klinefelter’s syndrome may have greater possibility of having testicular cancer.
  • If testicular cancer runs in the family, you may also have greater possibility of developing testicular cancer.
  • Testicular cancer mostly affects men whose ages are between 15 and 34.  But it can develop at any age.
  • Testicular cancer mostly affects white men than black men.

What are the treatments for testicular cancer?

There are choices in treating testicular cancer which varies on the stage and type of testicular cancer, your preferences and your health generally.  Treatments for testicular cancer may include the following.

1.     Surgical procedure.

Removing the testicle through surgical procedure is the main treatment for almost types and stages of testicular cancer.  There will have anesthetics during the surgical procedure.  The procedure will be done by making incision in the groin then extracts the whole testicle through the opening.  If you prefer, a prosthetic, saline-filled testicle can be inserted.  Removing lymph nodes in the groin can also be done through surgical procedure.  Making large incision in your abdomen is the way to remove the lymph nodes.  Surgical procedure may be the only treatment needed in the early stage of testicular cancer.

 

 

2.     Radiation therapy.

Radiation therapy is the choice treatment that is often used in men who have the seminoma kind of testicular cancer.  But radiation therapy can also be used in certain situations in men who have nonseminoma kind of testicular cancer.  This therapy makes use of high-powered energy beams like x-rays to kill the cancer cells.  Radiation therapy may have side effects like fatigue, skin redness and irritation in your groin and abdominal parts.

 

 

 

3.     Chemotherapy.

Chemotherapy treatment makes use of drugs to kill the cancer cells.  Chemotherapy frequently recommended by the doctor after having surgical procedure.  This can also be used before or after removal of the lymph node.  There are different side effects of chemotherapy drug depending on what being use.  The frequent side effects are nausea, fatigue, infertility, hair loss and increased possibility of having infection.  However, there are treatments and medications available that may help to lessen a number of the side effects of chemotherapy.

 

 

Regular testicular self-examination can be very helpful in early detection of testicular cancer.  Consult your doctor immediately if you observed any changes to the part or area of the body being concerned.