cancer

09 Nov 09

The First 48 Hours: The Ten Most Important Questions to Ask Your Doctor

Some one close to me is looking at breast cancer. So I do what I always do- try to learn as much as I can about it. To that end I am collecting files and sites on it.

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cancer breastcancer

25 Sep 09

Patrick Swayze - life imitates art

Back in the 1980s, Patrick Swayze had a small part on MASH where Hawkeye gives him a diagnosis of leukemia. Considering real life events, it is quite a powerful scene.

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cancer

27 Aug 09

Kennedy's cancer puts focus on quality of life - Yahoo! News

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He lived 15 months with an incurable brain tumor, a little longer than usual for a patient in his late 70s. Perhaps equally important is that Sen. Edward M. Kennedy lived those months well — able to work almost to the end, to sail the choppy New England waters he adored, to help elect a president he supported, and even to give him a dog.

Time is important to any cancer patient. Quality of life, not just how much life they can squeeze out, is increasingly the focus for people with a terminal illness, cancer specialists say. It also is one of the chief goals of treatments for brain tumors, since these therapies typically do not buy much time.

"The advances that we've made in prolonging survival aren't as big as we've liked them to be, but people have stayed at a good quality of life right up to the end," said Dr. Matthew Ewend, neurosurgery chief at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

Even after treatments can no longer control tumor growth for patients, "we can usually keep their quality of life pretty good with medicines for brain swelling, and then the end is usually pretty graceful," Ewend said.
- Well I'm not sure how graceful it is to die from cancer. Having watched my mother do it I think the only word for it is hideous. - on 2009-08-27
Add Sticky Note

04 Aug 09

Is cancer self-inflicted?

An interesting look at the cause for cancer.

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cancer

10 Jul 09

Gilda Radner Familial Ovarian Cancer Registry - Family History

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The Gilda Radner Familial Ovarian Cancer Registry recommends that women who have at least one close relative with ovarian cancer have a 1) pelvic examination, 2) a vaginal ultrasound to look for ovarian tumors, 3) a blood test called a CA125 test that can detect early ovarian cancer, every six months.

Although such testing is probably not appropriate for everyone, women who have a family history of ovarian cancer are at high enough risk of developing ovarian cancer to justify the extra tests. This is especially true for women who have a mother or sister who developed ovarian cancer at or before age 45 years.

03 Jul 09

Safety Issues: Ovarian Cancer

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cancer

You face an increased risk of getting
ovarian cancer if blood female relations – aunts or mothers for examples –
have had the disease or if any blood relation – such as fathers,
grandfathers or even uncles – suffered from any form of cancer.
Epithelial ovarian cancer is rare among young women, but the
incidence increases around the time of menopause and continues to increase
as a woman gets older. And, women who had their first period before age
12 and women who reach menopause after age 50 have a higher risk of
ovarian cancer.
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- Avoid risky sex. There is evidence that having
  unprotected sex or sex with people whose background you do not know will
  increase your chance of getting ovarian cancer as well as AIDS, HIV and
  STDs. When you have sex with someone her or his sexual history becomes
  your sexual history. Choose the safe route here and have committed and
  protected sex.
- Eat better. While there are no magical foods
  to immunize you against any cancer, there is general evidence that your
  general chances of getting any cancer are decreased by eating smart.
- Exercise too is not a magic amulet to
  ward off cancer though there are general indications that healthy exercise
  will decrease your chances of getting any type of cancer. Those life
  factor changes may be all you need to reduce your chances of getting
  ovarian cancer to an acceptable level. If the risk levels are still too
  high though, you can choose one of these two lifestyle choices.
- Get pregnant. Women who have never been pregnant are at
  a higher risk of developing ovarian cancer. The more times a woman has
  been pregnant, the lower her risk for ovarian cancer. Or, take birth
  control pills. Taking oral contraceptives for 5 or more years can reduce
  the risk of ovarian cancer by 50%.

Ovarian Cancer

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cancer

Age: Most
ovarian cancers happen after change of life (menopause). Half of all these
cancers are found in women over the age of 63.
Obesity: A
study from the ACS found a higher rate of death from ovarian cancer in women
who were overweight. The risk went up by 50% in the heaviest women.
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- Menstrual periods: There seems to be a link between the number of periods
  (menstrual cycles) in a woman’s lifetime and her risk of getting ovarian
  cancer. Women who started having periods early (before 12 years of age) or who
  went through the change of life (menopause) after the age of 50 have a small
  increased risk of ovarian cancer. The same is true for women who have not had
  children, or had their first child after they were 30 years old.
  
  Fertility drugs: Some studies have found that long-time use of one fertility
  drug (clomiphene citrate), especially if no pregnancy took place, may increase
  the risk of LMP tumors. But infertility also increases the risk, even without
  the use of fertility drugs. Research in this area is now going on.
- Family history:
  Ovarian cancer risk is higher among women whose close blood relatives (mother,
  sister, daughter) have (or had) this disease. The relatives can be from either
  the mother’s or father’s side of the family. There is a higher risk if ovarian
  cancer happened at an early age. About 1 in 10 cases of ovarian cancers are
  linked to gene changes that can be found with certain tests. These changes are
  also linked to an increased risk of breast and colorectal cancer.
- Estrogen replacement therapy (ERT): Some studies suggest that women using estrogens after
  menopause may have an increased risk of ovarian cancer, but other studies have
  not found any effect. Most of these findings have been for women who used
  estrogen alone, not those taking combined estrogen and progesterone. The
  increased risk is less certain for women taking both drugs. Because of the
  small number of studies, doctors are not sure whether estrogens increase the
  risk of ovarian cancer
- Birth control pills: Birth control pills reduce the risk of ovarian cancer,
  especially among women who use them for several years.
  
  Tubal ligation or hysterectomy: "Tying" the tubes as a method of birth control, when
  done after childbearing, may reduce the chance of ovarian cancer. Removing the
  uterus may also reduce the risk. But these surgeries should only be done for a
  valid medical reason and not just for their effect on ovarian cancer risk.
  
  Pregnancy and breast-feeding: Having one or more children plus breast-feeding for a
  year or longer may decrease the risk of ovarian cancer. Although these
  measures slightly reduce the risk, they don’t offer complete protection.
  Doctors do not suggest making these choices about when to have a child simply
  for the purpose of reducing ovarian cancer risk. Keep in mind that using the
  birth control pill has a greater impact on this risk.
  
  Diet: A number
  of studies have shown a lower rate of this cancer in women who ate a diet high
  in vegetables. The American Cancer Society recommends eating a wide variety of
  healthful foods, with many from plant sources. Eat at least 5 servings of
  fruits and vegetables every day. Limit the amount of red meats, especially
  those that are high in fat.
- Aspirin and acetaminophen: Some studies have shown that
  both aspirin and acetaminophen (Tylenol) reduce the risk of ovarian cancer.
  But there is some doubt about this. Women should not take these drugs simply
  to prevent this cancer. More research is needed.
- Surgery to remove one or both ovaries is called oophorectomy. It can be done
  before a cancer develops in order to lower the risk. But whether or not a woman
  should have this surgery is open to question because it causes change of life
  (menopause) to take place early. Often, doctors suggest it only for certain
  women over the age of 40 who are at very high risk. While this operation lowers
  ovarian cancer risk a great deal, cancer can still form in the cells lining the
  pelvis where the ovaries were located.

29 Jun 09

The Care of Dying Patients -- Feinberg 126 (2): 164 -- Annals of Internal Medicine

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death cancer

Why, despite our honest efforts, are we doing such an inadequatejob with end-of-life care? Why did SUPPORT fail even to beginto alleviate the problems it set out to address? What are theimplications of the public's perception that care is frequentlyimpersonal and mechanical? And, finally, what can be done aboutthis perception?
Hospice offers humane care with anemphasis on the relief of both physical and mental pain. Butonly a small percentage of patients avail themselves of thisopportunity, perhaps because entering hospice means acceptingdeath and "defeat."

A good death for cancer patients: still a dream? -- Aitini and Cetto 17 (5): 733 -- Annals of Oncology

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If a lot has changed in recent years in the field of controllingphysical pain, thanks to new medicines and new therapeutic approaches,it is also important to remember that the cancer patient's painat this stage is global, not only physical but made up of numerousother components which are not always recognised by others suchas anger, anxiety, rejection, depression, abandon and exhaustion,which are frequently experienced not only by the patient butalso by the people who share this dramatic experience with thepatient.
These feelings become more and more negative as time slowlypasses and patients become more and more aware that there isno future; that their days are ending. They re-live the wholeexperience of the illness seeing some events as insignificantsuch as time in remission or symptoms, while magnifying otherssuch as late diagnosis, bureaucratic difficulties and uselesssuffering (given the outcome) due to therapy. Therefore everyaction taken or decision made is seen as a mistake since theyhave not been definitively cured. In this situation, apart fromthe anger with those who have suggested or imposed a diagnosisor a course of treatment, a patient can also start to blamehim or herself for not having accepted advice or on the contraryfor having insisted on a certain course of treatment. To allthis we can add other feelings of fear of being in hospitalfar from home, from family, of physical pain or worrying abouthow the family will cope ‘after’.
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- The knowledge that you are in the last days of your life, atime which is not seen as a residual moment before death butmore as a moment to prepare for death, is often terrifying becauseit continues for a period of time, it is a process. This iswhy people wish death to be quick and not to have this experienceof being aware that they are dying.
- The illness may be incurable but the patientcan always be treated in the most honest way possible whilerespecting just to what extent the patient is willing to sharethis experience.
- Maybe even today a ‘good death’ in many cases isstill only an illusion, but maybe, even if only in a very limitedway, we are moving closer to death in patients with degenerativeillnesses which is no longer dominated by physical pain or bythose components which make dying and leaving loved ones sucha terrifying experience.

20 Jun 09

Nothing silent about the way ovarian cancer kills

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cancer

According to Dr. Helen Zorbas ovarian cancer is far from being a silent killer as 83% of women have at least one symptom before being diagnosed.

Dr. Zorbas from the National Breast and Ovarian Cancer centre, says the most common symptoms are abdominal fullness and pain.

The new study 'Ovarian Cancer Not A 'Silent Killer' by the National Breast and Ovarian Cancer Centre, was carried out in collaboration with the Queensland Institute of Medical Research, and it looked at the experiences of 1,500 Australian women prior to their diagnosis of ovarian cancer.

The preliminary findings clearly demonstrate that women need to be aware of the symptoms of the disease as most of the women experienced at least one symptom of ovarian cancer in the year prior to their diagnosis.
The study also revealed 17% of women waited more than three months after the onset of their symptoms before visiting their doctor and another with 8% waited more than six months.

Dr. Zorbas says the most common reason for the delay was an assumption that the symptoms were not serious, with many women attributing them to another medical condition or the natural process of ageing.

Dr. Zorbas says as there is no screening test for ovarian cancer, the first step to diagnosis is a woman identifying symptoms which are persistent and unusual for her and seeking medical attention and she says it is vital that women are aware of the symptoms to look out for.
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- The symptoms of ovarian cancer include:
  
  abdominal bloating.
  abdominal or back pain
  appetite loss or feeling full quickly
  changes in toilet habits
  unexplained weight loss or gain
  indigestion or heartburn
  fatigue

19 Jun 09

Could foods prevent ovarian cancer? - Nutrition Notes- msnbc.com

tea, dried beans, raisins and blueberries- nature's way of staving off ovarian cancer?

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How to Prevent Ovarian Cancer | eHow.com

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cancer health

Understand that women with a personal history of other cancers are more likely to get ovarian cancer, and those with a family history on either their father or mother's side of cancer are more susceptible to ovarian cancer.
Be aware that there are some factors that may prevent ovarian cancer. You may be able to prevent ovarian cancer through the use of oral contraceptives, by eating diets low in fat and high in fruits and vegetables and by regularly exercising.
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- Know that symptoms of ovarian cancer include pain in the pelvis and abdomen, as well as swelling or bloating. Unfortunately, many of the symptoms of ovarian cancer are similar to those of digestive problems.

Discovery Health :: Ovarian Cancer Prevention

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t r u t h o u t | In King's Death, a Lesson in Ovarian Cancer's Deadliness

Some important but hard facts about Ovarian Cancer

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cancer health

. "Ovarian cancer is the leading cause of gynecologic cancer deaths in the United States," said Robert Bristow, director of the Kelly Gynecologic Oncology Service and the Ovarian Cancer Center of Excellence at Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions. "That fact has held true over the last 20 or 30 years."
Ovarian cancer is the seventh most common cancer in women, reports the American Cancer Society (ACS), and the fourth leading cause of cancer death in women. Five-year survival rates for ovarian cancer are 44 percent overall, compared to about 88 percent for breast cancer survivors and 99 percent for prostate cancer survivors, according to the ACS. Most ovarian cancer cases occur after menopause; half are found in women older than 63, according to a booklet developed by the ACS and the National Comprehensive Cancer Network. King was 78.
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- Fewer than half of ovarian cancer patients live more than five years after diagnosis, according to the ACS. When cancer is diagnosed and treated before it spreads outside of the ovary, the five-year survival rate jumps to 90 to 95 percent, but only 19 percent of ovarian cancers are found at that early stage.
- Most cases - about 51 percent - are diagnosed at stage III, when the cancer has spread into other abdominal tissues and lymph nodes. This is the stage at which King's cancer was diagnosed.
- Stage II cancers - which make up about 10 percent of ovarian cancers - have five-year survival rates ranging from 51 percent to 69 percent. Stage IV cases, in which cancer has spread to the liver and outside of the abdomen, have a five-year survival rate of 12 percent.

17 Jun 09

Ovarian Cancer: Making Sense of Early Symptoms - Page 1 - MSN Health & Fitness - Women's Health

A good article to bookmark. What every woman should know about ovarian cancer.

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cancer health

Ovarian cancer is relatively rare—only 1.4 percent of women will get it in their lifetimes—but its potential deadliness makes early identification of symptoms a matter of life or death. If caught in the earliest stage, before it has spread beyond the ovaries, almost 90 percent of women will survive, compared to fewer than 30 percent of those whose cancers are caught in the later stages
While many people think that ovarian cancer is a disease that afflicts mainly high-risk women—women with a family history of breast or ovarian cancer—Goff stresses that it is important for all women to pay attention to these symptoms, since 90 percent of the women diagnosed with ovarian cancer each year have no history of cancer in their families.
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- According to Goff, 57 percent of women with Stage 1 ovarian cancer and 87 percent of women with advanced ovarian cancer experienced one or more of the following symptoms:
  Bloating
  Pelvic or abdominal pain
  Difficulty eating or feeling full quickly
  Feeling a frequent or urgent need to urinate
- “However, if the symptoms are new and persist for more than two to three weeks, they could be a sign of ovarian cancer or other serious conditions, like urinary tract infections or colon cancer,” Goff says. “While the majority of women won’t have ovarian cancer, it’s still critical to see a doctor immediately.”