Why Choose Cancer?

As many of you already know, this past June of 2009, my Uncle had been diagnosed with Lung Cancer. All through out the year he had been suffering with a severe cough and doctors had been mix diagnosing him. It wasn't until May when a doctor said it was pneumonia. By the time June came around, the pneumonia, well at least what we thought was pneumonia wasn't getting any better. Therefore my Aunt Jana, and Uncle Brad scheduled a chest X-Ray for my uncle to see what was going on inside. When they got the results back, they were devastated as to what had been occurring in his lungs. For nearly six months doctors had been miss diagnosing him and telling him everything except for the last doctors they saw. The morning my mom got the call from my aunt, she sat my older sister, Sarah, and I down. She proceeded to tell us what was going on with my uncle. But she intentionally left out details as to the fact I was leaving for the whole summer to camp. It was June 27th, and it was the last I got to see him. I hugged him goodbye that day and walked out waiting for August to come along to see him again. It had been over a month since I saw my uncle and camp was about to end, 5 days till I got to see my uncle again. Well thats what I thought. It was almost midnight as I returned to camp from the baseball game, when my director had to speak to me. He sat me down and proceeded to tell me that I had to call my mom. Right there I knew someone had passed away but in my mind I never considered that it was my uncle. She cried to me saying he had left us and wasn't in pain anymore. I would be picked up from camp the next day, Weds the 12th of August. I never felt the pain of loosing someone like I did that night. When I got home that wednesday she told me what had truly been going on all summer long. He had been diagnosed with cancer that was in stage 4, by then it was so bad that the only cure was to take chemo but even then he had only been expected to live a year at the most. I will never forget what had happened over the summer. I lost my hero, my bestfriend, my uncle. This has played a large role in my life since then, I chose this due to the fact to educate people that deny it will happen to them one day because anything can happen.

Non-Melanoma

Basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, which are classified as nonmelanoma skin cancers, account for approximately 96% of all diagnosed skin cancers. Usually these cancers can be cured with minor surgery that is safely performed in a medical office or outpatient setting under local anesthesia.

According to Researchers the following features characterize non-melanoma skin cancer:

Asymmetry:

• One half of the mole doesn’t match the other.

Border Irregularity:

• The edged of the mole are jagged or notched.

Color:

• There’s no overall color. Certain parts may be different shades of black, brown, or tan, with a red, white, or maybe even blue blotches.

Diameter:

• Most non-melanoma’s are wider the 6mm. Some can range from 3-6 mm.

Symptoms that correspond with the features of non-melanoma include:

- firm, red lump.

- small, pale, smooth, shiny, or “waxy” lump.

- sore that begins oozing or bleeding.

- sore or rough red spot that becomes scaly or crusty.

- spot that becomes itchy, tender or painful.

- spot that becomes red and/or swollen.

- mole that grows or otherwise changes its appearance.

Treatments include:

- Curettage and electrodesiccation

- Cryosurgery

- Excision

- Laser Surgery

- Mohs micrographic Surgery

- Chemotherapy

- Immunotherapy

- Radiation therapy

- Palliative Care

- Investigational Methods

- Photodynamic Therapy

Bladder Cancer

Bladder cancer is a type of cancer that occurs in your bladder — a balloon-shaped organ in your pelvic area that stores urine. Bladder cancer begins most often in the cells that line the inside of the bladder. Bladder cancer typically affects older adults, though it can occur at any age. Majority of bladder cancers are diagnosed at an early stage — when bladder cancer is highly treatable. Early-stage bladder cancer is likely to recur. Bladder cancer survivors often undergo follow-up screening tests for years after treatment.

Common Symptoms Include:

1. Blood in the urine (hematuria)
2. Pain or burning during urination without evidence of UTI ( Urinary Tract Infection )
3. Change in bladder habits, such as having to urinate more often or feeling the strong urge to urinate without producing much urine

Causes:

1. Smoking
2. Chemical exposures at work
3. Diet(People whose diets include large amounts of fried meats and animal fats are thought to be at higher risk of bladder cancer.)
4. Dietary Supplements ( mainly Aristolochia Fangchi)

Treatment:

1. Depends on the type of cancer and its stage.
2. Factors such as your age, your overall health, and whether you have already been treated for the cancer before are included in the treatment decision-making process.
3. The most widely used therapies are surgery radiation therapy, and chemotherapy, either alone or in combination.
4. Immunotherapy, or biological therapy which takes advantage of the body's innate cancer-fighting ability, is used in some cases, especially for patients with stages Ta, T1, and CIS.

Leukemia

Leukemia is cancer that starts in the tissue that forms blood. To understand cancer, it helps to know how normal blood cells form.

Normal Blood Cells

Most blood cells develop from cells in the bone marrow called stem cells. Bone marrow is the soft material in the center of most bones.

Stem cells mature into different kinds of blood cells. Each kind has a special job:

White blood cells help fight infection. There are several types of white blood cells.

Red blood cells carry oxygen to tissues throughout the body.

Platelets help form blood clots that control bleeding.

White blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets are made from stem cells as the body needs them. When cells grow old or get damaged, they die, and new cells take their place.

The picture below shows how stem cells can mature into different types of white blood cells. First, a stem cell matures into either a myeloid stem cell or a lymphoid stem cell:

• A myeloid stem cell matures into a myeloid blast. The blast can form a red blood cell, platelets, or one of several types of white blood cells.



• A lymphoid stem cell matures into a lymphoid blast. The blast can form one of several types of white blood cells, such as B cells or T cells.

The white blood cells that form from myeloid blasts are different from the white blood cells that form from lymphoid blasts.

In a person with leukemia, the bone marrow makes abnormal white blood cells. The abnormal cells are leukemia cells.

Unlike normal blood cells, leukemia cells don't die when they should. They may crowd out normal white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets. This makes it hard for normal blood cells to do their work.

Types of Leukemia

The types of leukemia can be grouped based on how quickly the disease develops and gets worse. Leukemia is either chronic (which usually gets worse slowly) or acute (which usually gets worse quickly):

• Chronic leukemia: Early in the disease, the leukemia cells can still do some of the work of normal white blood cells. People may not have any symptoms at first. Doctors often find chronic leukemia during a routine checkup - before there are any symptoms.

  Slowly, chronic leukemia gets worse. As the number of leukemia cells in the blood increases, people get symptoms, such as swollen lymph nodes or infections. When symptoms do appear, they are usually mild at first and get worse gradually.




• Acute leukemia: The leukemia cells can't do any of the work of normal white blood cells. The number of leukemia cells increases rapidly. Acute leukemia usually worsens quickly.

The types of leukemia also can be grouped based on the type of white blood cell that is affected. Leukemia can start in lymphoid cells or myeloid cells. See the picture of these cells. Leukemia that affects lymphoid cells is called lymphoid, lymphocytic, or lymphoblastic leukemia. Leukemia that affects myeloid cells is called myeloid, myelogenous, or myeloblastic leukemia.

There are four common types of leukemia:

• Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL): CLL affects lymphoid cells and usually grows slowly. It accounts for more than 15,000 new cases of leukemia each year. Most often, people diagnosed with the disease are over age 55. It almost never affects children.

• Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML): CML affects myeloid cells and usually grows slowly at first. It accounts for nearly 5,000 new cases of leukemia each year. It mainly affects adults.

• Acute lymphocytic (lymphoblastic) leukemia (ALL): ALL affects lymphoid cells and grows quickly. It accounts for more than 5,000 new cases of leukemia each year. ALL is the most common type of leukemia in young children. It also affects adults.

• Acute myeloid leukemia (AML): AML affects myeloid cells and grows quickly. It accounts for more than 13,000 new cases of leukemia each year. It occurs in both adults and children.

The risk factors may be different for the different types of leukemia:

• Radiation: People exposed to very high levels of radiation are much more likely than others to get acute myeloid leukemia, chronic myeloid leukemia, or acute lymphocytic leukemia.
• Radiation therapy: Another source of exposure to high levels of radiation is medical treatment for cancer and other conditions. Radiation therapy can increase the risk of leukemia.
• Chemotherapy: Cancer patients treated with certain types of cancer-fighting drugs sometimes later get acute myeloid leukemia or acute lymphocytic leukemia. For example, being treated with drugs known as alkylating agents or topoisomerase inhibitors is linked with a small chance of later developing acute leukemia.

Symptoms

Like all blood cells, leukemia cells travel through the body. The symptoms of leukemia depend on the number of leukemia cells and where these cells collect in the body.

People with chronic leukemia may not have symptoms. The doctor may find the disease during a routine blood test.

People with acute leukemia usually go to their doctor because they feel sick. If the brain is affected, they may have headaches, vomiting, confusion, loss of muscle control, or seizures. Leukemia also can affect other parts of the body such as the digestive tract, kidneys, lungs, heart, or testes.

Common symptoms of chronic or acute leukemia may include:

• Swollen lymph nodes that usually don't hurt (especially lymph nodes in the neck or armpit)



• fevers or night sweats



• Frequent infections



• Feeling weak or tired



• Bleeding and bruising easily (bleeding gums, purplish patches in the skin, or tiny red spots under the skin)



• Swelling or discomfort in the abdomen (from a swollen spleen or liver)



• weight loss for no known reason



• Pain in the bones or joints

Melanoma

What Is Melanoma ?

Melanoma is the most serious form of skin cancer. However, if it is recognized and treated early, it is nearly 100 percent curable. But if it is not, the cancer can advance and spread to other parts of the body, where it becomes hard to treat and can be fatal. While it is not the most common of the skin cancers, it causes the most deaths. The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2008, there was 8,420 fatalities in the U.S., 5,400 in men and 3,020 in women. The number of new cases of invasive melanoma is estimated at 62,480; of these, 34,950 will be in men and 27,350 in women.

What Are the Main Types Of Melanoma?

Superficial spreading melanoma is by far the most common type, accounting for about 70 percent of all cases. This is the one most often seen in young people. As the name suggests, this melanoma travels along the top layer of the skin for a fairly long time before penetrating more deeply.

The first sign is the appearance of a flat or slightly raised discolored patch that has irregular borders and is somewhat geometrical in form. The color varies, and you may see areas of tan, brown, black, red, blue or white. This type of melanoma can occur in a previously benign mole. The melanoma can be found almost anywhere on the body, but is most likely to occur on the trunk in men, the legs in women, and the upper back in both.

Lentigo maligna is similar to the superficial spreading type, as it also remains close to the skin surface for quite a while, and usually appears as a flat or mildly elevated mottled tan, brown or dark brown discoloration. This type of in situ melanoma is found most often in the elderly, arising on chronically sun-exposed, damaged skin on the face, ears, arms and upper trunk. Lentigo maligna is the most common form of melanoma in Hawaii. When this cancer becomes invasive, it is referred to as lentigo maligna melanoma.

Acral lentiginous melanoma also spreads superficially before penetrating more deeply. It is quite different from the others, though, as it usually appears as a black or brown discoloration under the nails or on the soles of the feet or palms of the hands. It is the most common melanoma in African-Americans and Asians, and the least common among Caucasians.

Nodular melanoma is usually invasive at the time it is first diagnosed. The malignancy is recognized when it becomes a bump. It is usually black, but occasionally is blue, gray, white, brown, tan, red or skin tone.

Lung Cancer

What is Lung Cancer?

Just like every other type of cancer,

Lung cancer is a deformity in a cell. There are two types of cancers which are either benign or malignant. When cancer is benign it can be remove in most cases and it hasnt been spread to other places and parts or the body. Malignant tumors, on the other hand, grow aggressively and invade other tissues of the body, allowing entry of tumor cells into the bloodstream or lymphatic system and then to other sites in the body. This process of spread is termed metastasis; the areas of tumor growth at these distant sites are called metastases. Since lung cancer tends to spread or metastasize very early in its course, it is a very life-threatening cancer and one of the most difficult cancers to treat. While lung cancer can spread to any organ in the body, certain organs -- particularly the adrenal glands, liver, brain, and bone -- are the most common sites for lung-cancer metastasis.

Symptoms of primary lung cancers include cough, coughing up blood, chest pain, and shortness of breath.

• A new cough in a smoker or a former smoker should raise concern for lung cancer.
  
• A cough that does not go away or gets worse over time should be evaluated by a health-care provider.
  
• Coughing up blood (hemoptysis) occurs in a significant number of people who have lung cancer. Any amount of coughed-up blood is cause for concern.
  
• Chest pain is a symptom in about one-fourth of people with lung cancer. The pain is dull, aching, and persistent and may involve other structures surrounding the lung.
  
• Shortness of breath usually results from a blockage to the flow of air in part of the lung, collection of fluid around the lung , or the spread of tumor throughout the lungs.
  
• Wheezing or Hoarseness may signal blockage or inflammation in the lungs that may go along with cancer.
• Repeated respiratory infections, such as bronchitis or pneumonia, can be a sign of lung cancer.

Symptoms of metastatic lung tumors depend on the location and size. About 30%-40% of people with lung cancer have some symptoms or signs of metastatic disease.

1. Metastatic: change in position or orbit of an elementary particle.

• Lung cancer most often spreads to the liver, the adrenal glands, the bones, and the brain.
  
• Metastatic lung cancer in the liver usually does not cause symptoms, at least by the time of diagnosis.
  
• Metastatic lung cancer in the adrenal glands also typically causes no symptoms by the time of diagnosis.
  
• Metastasis to the bones is most common with small cell cancers but also occurs with other lung cancer types. Lung cancer that has metastasized to the bone causes bone pain, usually in the backbone (vertebrae), the thighbones, and the ribs.
  
• Lung cancer that spreads to the brain can cause difficulties with vision, weakness on one side of the body, and/or seizures.

Symptoms include the following:

• clubbing of fingers-the depositing of extra tissue under the fingernails
  
• new bone formation-along the lower legs or arms
  
• Anemia-low numbers of red blood cells and high or low calcium level in the blood.
  
• other effects-muscle weakness, skin rashes, and degeneration of the brain
  
• weight loss
• Fatigue
• Low Sodium Levels

CAUSES OF LUNG CANCER:

• Cigarette smoke contains more than 4,000 chemicals, many of which have been identified as causing cancer.
  
• A person who smokes more than one pack of cigarettes per day has a risk of developing lung cancer 20-25 times greater than someone who has never smoked.
  
• Once a person quits smoking, his or her risk for lung cancer gradually decreases. About 15 years after quitting, the risk for lung cancer decreases to the level of someone who never smoked.
  

• the number of cigarettes smoked and the age at which a person started smoking, and
• how long a person has smoked (or had smoked before quitting). Passive smoking, or secondhand smoke, presents another risk for lung cancer.
• Air pollution from motor vehicles, factories, and other sources probably increase the risk for lung cancer, and many experts believe that prolonged exposure to polluted air is similar to prolonged exposure to passive smoking in terms of risk for developing lung cancer.

Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is a type of cancer that starts in the tissue of the breast.

There are two main types of breast cancer:

• Ductal carcinoma starts in the tubes (ducts) that move milk from the breast to the nipple. Most breast cancers are of this type.
• Lobular carcinoma starts in parts of the breast, called lobules, that produce milk.

Many breast cancers are sensitive to the hormone estrogen. This means that estrogen causes the breast cancer tumor to grow. Such cancer is called estrogen receptor positive cancer or ER positive cancer.

Symptoms of breast cancer:

Early breast cancer usually does not cause symptoms. This is why regular breast exams are important. As the cancer grows, symptoms may include:

• Breast lump or lump in the armpit that is hard, has uneven edges, and usually does not hurt
• Change in the size, shape, or feel of the breast or nipple -- for example, you may have redness, dimpling, or puckering that looks like the skin of an orange
• Fluid coming from the nipple -- may be bloody, clear-to-yellow, or green, and look like pus

Men get breast cancer, too. Symptoms include breast lump and breast pain and tenderness.

Symptoms of advanced breast cancer may include:

• Bone pain
• Breast pain or discomfort
• Skin ulcers
• Swelling of one arm (next to breast with cancer)
• Weight loss

Treatment:

In general, cancer treatments may include:

• Chemotherapy medicines to kill cancer cells
• Radiation therapy to destroy cancerous tissue
• Surgery to remove cancerous tissue -- a lumpectomy removes the breast lump; mastectomy removes all or part of the breast and possible nearby structures

Other treatments:

• Hormonal therapy to block certain hormones that fuel cancer growth.
• Targeted therapy to interfere with cancer cell grow and function.

Causes:

Risk factors you cannot change include:

• Age and gender -- Your risk of developing breast cancer increases as you get older. The majority of advanced breast cancer cases are found in women over age 50. Women are 100 times more likely to get breast cancer then men.
• Family history of breast cancer -- You may also have a higher risk for breast cancer if you have a close relative has had breast, uterine, ovarian, or colon cancer. About 20 - 30% of women with breast cancer have a family history of the disease.
• Genes -- Some people have genes that make them more prone to developing breast cancer. The most common gene defects are found in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. These genes normally produce proteins that protect you from cancer. But if a parent passes you a defective gene, you have an increased risk for breast cancer. Women with one of these defects have up to an 80% chance of getting breast cancer sometime during their life.
• Menstrual cycle -- Women who get their periods early (before age 12) or went through menopause late (after age 55) have an increased risk for breast cancer.

Other risk factors include:

• Alcohol use -- Drinking more than 1 - 2 glasses of alcohol a day may increase your risk for breast cancer.
• Childbirth -- Women who have never had children or who had them only after age 30 have an increased risk for breast cancer. Being pregnant more than once or becoming pregnant at an early age reduces your risk of breast cancer.
• DES -- Women who took diethylstilbestrol (DES) to prevent miscarriage may have an increased risk of breast cancer after age 40. This drug was given to the women in the 1940s - 1960s.
• Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) -- You have a higher risk for breast cancer if you have received hormone replacement therapy for several years or more. Many women take HRT to reduce the symptoms of menopause.
• Obesity -- Obesity has been linked to breast cancer, although this link is controversial. The theory is that obese women produce more estrogen, which can fuel the development of breast cancer.
• Radiation -- If you received radiation therapy as a child or young adult to treat cancer of the chest area, you have a significantly higher risk for developing breast cancer. The younger you started such radiation, the higher your risk -- especially if the radiation was given when a female was developing breasts.

Breast implants, using antiperspirants, and wearing underwire bras do not raise your risk for breast cancer. There is no evidence of a direct link between breast cancer and pesticides.

The National Cancer Institute provides an online tool to help you figure out your risk of breast cancer. See: www.cancer.gov/bcrisktool

Tests & diagnosis

The doctor will ask you about your symptoms and risk factors, and then perform a physical exam, which includes both breasts, armpits, and the neck and chest area. Additional tests may include:

• Mammography to help identify the breast lump
• Breast MRI to help better identify the breast lump
• Breast ultrasound to show whether the lump is solid or fluid-filled
• Breast biopsy, needle aspiration, or breast lump removal to remove all or part of the breast lump for closer examination by a laboratory specialist
• CT scan
• Sentinal lymph node biopsy
• PET scan