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Though there are over100 types of Cancers, the following are amenable
to quick Complementary Therapy Treatment in terms of quality of life and
symptomatic relief's resulting even in regression of cancer.
1.Bone Cancers
The cancer that begins in the bone is called primary bone cancer sarcoma.
Most often sarcomas affect the bones in the arms and legs.
Osteosarcoma is the most common bone cancer and usually is found in young
people between the ages of 10 and 25. Osteosarcoma starts at the end of
bone when new bone is forming. Ewing's sarcoma also is found in young
patients between the ages of 10 and 25. This type of bone cancer begins
in the shaft or middle part of the long bone.
Chodrosarcoma is primarily an adult form of bone cancer. It begins in
cartilage around the joints. Other types of bone cancer are rare and usually
affect those older than 30. These cancers can also involve the bone but
unless they begin in the bone they are not considered primary bone cancers.
The most common symptom of bone cancer is pain. In many instances bone
cancer interferes with normal movement of the extremity and can also cause
bones to break.
Bone cancers can be diagnosed through bone scans. In a bone scan radioactive
material is injected into the blood stream, collects in abnormal areas
of the bone, and is detected under a special scanner. CT scans and MRI
scans also are used to detect sarcoma. Biopsy is the only way to obtain
a definitive diagnosis of bone cancer. Biopsy involves sampling a piece
of tissue and examining it closely under a microscope. A pathologist can
determine the type of sarcoma and the rate of growth. These factors are
important in determining the treatment of sarcoma. Treatment of sarcomas
may involve surgery, radiation therapy, and/or chemotherapy. Surgery is
almost always part of sarcoma treatment due to the risk of recurrence
at the site of origin. Unless the tumor is very large, amputation is avoided
and limbs bearing procedures are used. In a limbs bearing procedure artificial
bone is used to replace bone affected by the cancer.
Chemotherapy is another treatment for sarcoma. It may be used prior to
surgery to decrease the tumor size or after surgery to kill any remaining
tumor cells. Chemotherapy may also be used to control growth of sarcoma
that has spread to other parts of the body. Radiation is also used to
treat bone cancer locally. It may be used before or after surgery and
sometimes is used instead of surgery.
2.Leukemia
Leukemias are bone marrow-or lymph tissue-derived cancers.
They are cancers that affect the immature white blood cells, red blood
cells, and platelets (blood clotting cells). Leukemia represents about
3% of the cancer incidence in the U.S.
The majority of our blood cells are produced in the "spongy"
center of our bones. Therefore, leukemia is said to be a cancer of the
bone marrow. A small amount of cell production occurs in our lymph nodes.
Dysfunctional cell production within this tissue can lead to lymphocytic
leukemia. The word "leukemia" originated from the Greek and
means, "white blood." The uncontrolled, overgrowth of abnormal
white blood cells crowds the healthy cells in the bone marrow. When this
occurs, the abnormal cells spill into the bloodstream. This causes an
unhealthy balance of the three blood cell types. Anemia, infection, and
bleeding can occur from this abnormal cell balance.
Anemia results from a low number of red blood cells and causes the patient
to experience fatigue, shortness of breath, and/or dizziness. Infection
occurs because the abnormal white blood cells no longer effectively kill
bacteria and viruses. Bleeding such as nose bleeds, easy bruising, bleeding
gums, and/or vaginal bleeding occur due to a low number of platelets-cells
that function to clot the blood.
There are two major types of leukemia. Lymphocytic leukemia affects the
lymphoid white blood cells. Myelocytic (or non-lymphocytic) affects the
myeloid line of cells. Leukemia's can also occur as acute or chronic.
Acute leukemias have quicker onset and disease course (1-5 months). Chronic
leukemias have slower onset and progression (2-5 years). The most common
leukemia in children is Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL). The two most
prevalent leukemias in adults are Acute Myelogenous (AML) and Chronic
Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL).
The treatment for leukemia is chemotherapy. If the patient is a candidate,
high dose chemotherapy and bone marrow transplant are also possible treatment
options.
3. Brain Tumors
Brain tumors represent the third and fourth most common cause of cancer
related death for 15-34-year-old males and females respectively, with
over 17,000 new cases being diagnosed. The incidence increases with age,
averaging from 17.9 to 18.7 per 100,000 individuals between the ages of
65 and 79. There are few genetic and environmental links to developing
brain tumors. Exceptions to this include genetic abnormality, which can
result in optic nerve gliomas and other brain tumors. Individuals with
occupational exposure to pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers, and
workers in petrochemical industries and some health professions seem to
have a higher than expected increase in the incidence of brain tumors.
Viral causes of brain tumors have only been implicated in laboratory animals.
Diagnosis of brain tumors is made when a patient presents with a new or
unusual neurologic symptom. Symptomatology for the brain tumor varies,
and is dependent upon the areas of the brain affected, as well as the
size and degree of malignancy of the tumor. Symptoms of a brain tumor
may include seizures (occurring in 20%-50% of patients); headache with
or without nausea and vomiting (occurring in approximately one-third of
all patients); one-sided weakness or paralysis; changes in taste, vision
or smell; dizziness; loss of appetite; changes in personality, mood, mental
capacity, and/or concentration; changes in sleep patterns; and/or slowing
or psychomotor activity. Because some of these symptoms may be confused
with depression or other psychological problems, diagnosis of a brain
tumor is often delayed. Diagnostic testing for brain tumors includes Computerized
Tomography (CT) Scans and more often Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
Scanning. Once a brain tumor is discovered a patient may undergo more
extensive full-body evaluation to rule out the possibility that the tumor
has metastasized (spread) from elsewhere in the body. If metastases are
ruled out, the patient is usually sent for a neurosurgical procedure to
make a definitive diagnosis.
Prognosis of patients with brain tumors varies depending upon the size,
location, and degree of malignancy of the tumor. Patients with Grades
I and II tumors may have a median survival of five to seven years. Those
with Grade III disease usually have a much poorer prognosis, with a median
survival of only 18 to 24 months. Grade IV brain tumors, also known as
Glioblastoma multiforme, have the poorest prognosis; with the patient's
life expectancy averaging only 8-10 months after diagnosis. Treatment
or lack of it may alter all of these figures.
Treatment for brain tumors depends upon the size, location, and degree
of malignancy of the lesion. Patients with brain tumors are usually initially
treated with oral glucocorticoid therapy to reduce the swelling around
the tumor and improve symptoms and function. Surgical treatment of brain
tumors is often an option with the goal being to resect the tumor completely
and provide cure. This is often not possible in patients with multiple
tumors, large sized tumors, tumors of the brain stem, and tumors with
higher grade.
In those patients, palliative radiation therapy may be combined with chemotherapy
to enhance the effectiveness of the treatment. New research studies are
underway to determine the best scheduling of radiation therapy and to
determine the optimum timing and dose of the chemotherapy to bring about
the best patient outcome.
4.Lymphoma
Lymphoma is a term applied to any cancer that develops in lymphoid tissue.
Lymphoid tissues make up the body's lymphatic system and play an important
role in the body's defense against infection. There are two major types
of lymphomas: Hodgkin's and non-Hodgkin.
Hodgkin's lymphoma can occur at any age; however, it is seen most frequently
in young adults and is more common in males. A painless enlarged node
in the neck is the most common presenting symptom. Other symptoms include
fever, drenching night sweats, and weight loss. Treatment for Hodgkin's
lymphoma includes radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or a combination of
the two.
Treatment for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma depends on the extent of the disease.
Radiation therapy may be used for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma confined to lymph
nodes. When the stomach, small intestine, spleen, bone marrow, liver,
or skin is affected, chemotherapy is often initiated. Sometimes, both
methods of treatment are used.
5.Breast
cancer
Breast
cancer is the most common cancer occurring in women (excluding cancers
of the skin) and the second most common cause of death from cancer in
women, after lung cancer. Men can also develop breast cancer, but male
breast cancer is rare, accounting for less than 1% of all breast cancer
cases. If diagnosed at an early stage, breast cancer has a hopeful cure
rate - up to approximately 97% of women diagnosed with localized breast
cancer will be alive five years after their diagnosis. Even if the cancer
is found at a more advanced stage, new therapies have enabled many people
with breast cancer to live with their disease and enjoy a good quality
of life.
The
breast is comprised mainly of fatty tissue. Within this tissue is a network
of lobes, which are made up of many tiny lobules that contain milk glands.
Tiny ducts connect the glands, lobules, and lobes and carry the milk from
the lobes to the nipple, located in the middle of the areola. Blood and
lymph vessels run throughout the breast; the blood nourishes the cells,
and the lymph drains the waste products.
About
90% of all breast cancers occur in the ducts or lobes, with almost 75%
of all breast cancers beginning in the cells lining the milk ducts. These
cancers are called ductal carcinomas. Cancers that begin in the lobes
are called lobular carcinoma and are more likely to be found in both breasts.
If
the disease has spread away from its place of origin, it is called invasive
or infiltrating ductal or lobular carcinoma. Disease that has not spread
is called in situ, meaning "in place." The course of in situ
disease, as well as its treatment, varies, depending on its place of origin.
Currently, oncologists recommend that ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS),
which accounts for the majority of in situ breast cancers, be surgically
removed to prevent progression to invasive disease.
Other,
less common cancers of the breast include medullary (making up about 5%
of all breast cancers), mucinous, tubular, papillary, or inflammatory.
Paget's disease is a type of cancer that can begin in the nipple.
Breast
cancers grow at different rates, but some oncologists estimate the average
tumor doubles in size every 100 days. Since cancers start with one irregular
cell, even with this doubling time, they may not be palpable (able to
be felt) for years. Mammography can find tumors that are too small to
be felt, but even so, the tumors have probably been growing for years
before they are large enough to be visible on a mammogram.
Breast
cancer cells migrate to the lymph nodes under the arm (axillary), in the
neck (cervical), or those just below the collarbone (supra-clavicular).
The most common sites of metastasis, or spread, of breast cancer are skin,
distant lymph nodes, bone, lung, and liver.
6.Lung
Cancer
Cigarette
smoking is the main cause of Lung cancer. Anyone can develop lung cancer.
Lung cancer is always treatable, no matter the size, location, or if the
cancer has spread.
The
lungs absorb oxygen from the air and bring it into the bloodstream for
delivery to the rest of the body. As the body's cells use oxygen, they
release carbon dioxide. The bloodstream carries carbon dioxide back to
the lungs where it leaves the body when we exhale.
The
lungs contain many different types of cells. Most cells in the lung are
epithelial cells. These cells line the airways and produce mucus, which
lubricates and protects the lung. The lung also contains nerve cells,
hormone-producing cells, blood cells, and structural or supporting cells.
There
are two major types of lung cancer. Non-small cell lung cancer (the most
common) is believed to arise from epithelial cells. Small cell lung cancer
is believed to arise from nerve cells or hormone-producing cells. The
term "small cell" refers to the size and shape of the cancer
cells seen under the microscope.
Lung
cancer begins when cells in the lung grow out of control, and form a tumor.
A lung tumor can begin anywhere in the lung. Once a lung tumor begins
to grow, it may or may not shed cancer cells. These cells can travel through
tiny tubes in the lung called lymphatic vessels, which drain into collecting
stations called lymph nodes located in the lungs and the center of the
chest. Cancer cells can also travel through blood vessels to distant sites
in the body, where they can form other tumors. This process is known as
metastasis.
Not
all lung tumors metastasize. In general, small cell lung cancers are more
likely to metastasize than non-small cell lung cancers, so the two types
of lung cancer are treated in different ways.
The
location and size of the initial lung tumor, and whether it has spread
to nearby lymph nodes or distant sites, determines the stage of lung cancer.
The type of lung cancer (non-small cell versus small cell) and the stage
of disease determine what type of treatment is required.
7.Brain
cancer
The
brain and spinal column make up the central nervous system (CNS), where
all vital functions of the body are controlled. When tumors arise in the
central nervous system, they are especially problematic because a person's
thought processes and movements can be affected. These tumors can also
be difficult to treat because the tissues surrounding the tumor may be
vital to functioning.
Brain
cancers are the second most common form of childhood cancer and the eighth
most common cancer in adults.
8.Anatomy
of the brain
The
brain is composed of: The cerebrum, the largest part of the brain, contains
two cerebral hemispheres and is divided into four lobes where discrete
functions occur:
- The
frontal lobe, which controls reasoning, emotions, problem-solving,
and parts of speech and movement
- The
parietal lobe, which controls the sensations of touch, pressure, pain,
and temperature
- The
temporal lobe, which controls memory and the sense of hearing
- The
occipital lobe, which controls vision.
- The
cerebellum, or "little brain," is located beneath the cerebrum.
The cerebellum controls coordination and balance.
The
brain stem, which is the lowest portion of the brain and connects to the
spinal cord, controls involuntary functions essential for life, such as
the beating of the heart and breathing.
The
meninges are the membranes that surround and protect the brain and spinal
cord. There are three meningeal layers, called the dura matter, arachnoid,
and pia arachnoid.
9.Types
of brain tumors
There
are over 100 different types of primary brain tumors. For practical purposes,
this review is divided into glioma and non-glioma types of tumors.
Gliomas.
A glioma is a tumor that grows from a glial cell, which is a supportive
cell in the brain. There are two types of supportive cells: astrocytes
and oligodendrocytes. Therefore, most gliomas are called either astrocytoma
or oligodendroglioma, or a mixture of both. Gliomas are graded (how much
the tumor appears like normal brain tissue) from I to IV based on their
degree of aggressiveness. A grade I glioma is a benign tumor, while grade
II through IV are tumors with an increasing degree of aggressiveness and
are therefore considered increasingly malignant in potential.
10.Types
of gliomas:
- Astrocytoma
is the most common type of glioma, making up about 11% of all brain
tumors. Astrocytomas begin in cells called astrocytes in the cerebrum
or cerebellum. Glioblastoma multiforme (also called grade IV astrocytoma)
is a very aggressive form of astrocytoma.
- Oligodendroglioma
is a tumor that develops from cells called oligodendrocytes. These
cells are responsible for producing the myelin that surrounds nerves.
Oligodendrogliomas make up about 4% of all brain tumors.
- Brain
stem gliomas begin in the glial cells in the brain stem.
- Ependymomas,
which begin in the ependyma (the cells that line the passageways in
the brain where cerebrospinal fluid is made and stored), make up about
2% of all brain tumors.
- Mixed
tumors, which are composed of more than one of the glial cell types,
make up about 1% of all brain tumors.
- Non-glioma
tumors. Non-glioma tumors begin in other types of cells in the central
nervous system, and are described as either benign or malignant.
- Meningioma
is the most common primary brain tumor, making up about 27% of all
brain tumors. It begins in the meninges surrounding the brain and
spinal column, and is most often benign. Meningioma can cause significant
symptoms as it grows and presses on the brain or spinal cord.
- Acoustic
schwannoma is a rare tumor that begins in the vestibular nerve, and
is normally benign.
- Craniopharyngioma
is a benign tumor that begins near the pituitary gland. These tumors
are rare, making up less than 1% of all brain tumors.
- Medulloblastoma,
which begins in granular cells in the cerebellum, is most common in
children and is most often malignant. Medulloblastomas make up about
2% of all brain tumors.
- Primary
CNS lymphoma is a form of lymphoma (cancer that begins in the lymphatic
system) that starts in the brain, and makes up about 2% of all brain
tumors.
- The
pineal and pituitary glands, located near the base of the brain, are
the location of about 7% of all brain tumors.
- About
5% of all brain tumors cannot be assigned an exact type.
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