Saturday, June 4, 2016

Cancer Treatment - Organ Specific Cancer Treatments

Organ specific cancer treatments
Certain advanced cancer hospitals manage cancer in an organ specific way, and accordingly oncologists are reserved for treating cancers affecting specific organs only. Accordingly, oncologists have successfully treated breast cancer, head and neck cancer, gynecological cancer, orthopedic cancer, lung cancer, neuro cancer, and liver cancer.
Understanding each organ specific cancer and the treatment available for it
Breast Cancer
It is the commonest of cancers affecting women, and it is believed to be the cancer that has caused the most mortality among women next to lung cancer. The mortality has been the highest among women whose ages were between 45 and 55. Breast cancer is curable if it is diagnosed at an early stage, and if the necessary treatments are carried out immediately following its detection. Breast cancer is growth of breast cells in an uncontrolled manner.
Breast cancer diagnosis
Abnormal presence of a lump
This diagnosis can be carried out by the patient, and the doctor too looks for the presence of abnormally looking lumps through physical breast examinations. Other than a lump, the changes in the breast that doctors look forward to finding is skin dimpling, unusual changes in the size, and or shape of the breast, pulled in nipples as against it being pointed outward when normal, and discoloration of the breast's skin.
Mammography
Radiologists use mammograms to seek out abnormalities in the breasts. Mammograms are x-ray photographs of the breast that are usually taken by keeping the breasts in a compressed position.
Ultrasound imaging of breasts
Ultrasound imaging is used to examine the breasts, and this technique of using sound waves helps in distinguishing whether a lump that has been noticed in a breast is either a cyst filled with fluid, or a solid one.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging, or MRI
The MRI of a breast is taken using a strong magnetic field. MRI of the breast becomes necessary in certain situations to properly diagnose breast cancer.
Biopsy
The biopsy of the breast becomes necessary when the oncologist has a strong suspicion of cancer being present. A core needle biopsy is performed on the suspect area of the breast to either confirm the disease, or rule it out.
The benefit of early breast cancer detection
Detection of breast cancer can be made at an early stage through screening. Screening refers to the various tests and examinations that are carried out on the breasts of a person to detect the disease at the earliest, even before the actual symptoms of the disease starts to show. Usually breast cancers that can be felt and detected are cancers that have grown larger in size and that which in usual cases has spread to regions outside the breast. The treatment in such cases is very complex. Breast cancers can be treated successfully if it is detected very early, and before the actual cancer symptoms starts to show.
Breast cancer treatment
Breast cancer is treated either through local treatment or systemic treatment.
Local treatment of breast cancer involves removal, destruction, or controlling the growth of cancerous cells in the breast. Local treatment by surgery is also known by the names mastectomy, and it is also referred to as lumpectomy. This is a breast preserving therapy. The other local treatment is the use of radiation therapy. Radiation therapy involves use of a high energy radiation beam to destroy the cancer cells. Advanced equipment like LINAC helps in focusing the radiation beam on to the cancer cells, and minimizes, or avoids causing damage to the surrounding healthy cells.
Systemic treatment becomes necessary if the breast cancer has spread to other parts of the body. This treatment is therefore used to control and destroy cancer cells across the body. The various therapies that are used in this treatment include chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and biological therapy.
Chemotherapy involves the use of drugs to kill or control cancer cells. Hormone therapy involves use of certain drugs that inhibit production of certain hormones in the body, like estrogen, which can aid in the revival of cancerous breast cells that manage to remain in the body post the surgery of the breast. Biological therapy involves use of the body's immune system in fighting and destroying cancerous cells.
Thus cancer hospitals that offer breast cancer treatments are equipped with a robust team of breast surgeons, plastic surgeons, medical oncologists and other associated staff, they have with them advanced machinery for diagnosis and treatment, and they also have the facilities of advanced ICUs for apt patient management and recovery.
Lung cancer
Lung cancer is associated with uncontrolled growth of cells in either one, or both of the lungs. These cells do not develop into healthy lung tissue, but rather becomes abnormal cells which further continue to divide forming lumps of tissues which are identified as tumors.
Diagnosis
The symptom that is commonly associated with lung cancer is shortness of breath and presence of wheezing. Certain other symptoms like chest pain, fatigue, appetite loss, presence of blood in the sputum while coughing, persistent cough, unanticipated loss of weight, and coughing out blood, are also associated with lung cancer. Presence of these symptoms together with reports from many other procedures will be used by physicians in diagnosing the presence or absence of lung cancer. Imaging techniques like X-Rays of chest, bronchoscopy, MRI, CT, and PET scans, are also used to diagnose lung cancer. Further, the patient is also subject to a physical examination by the physician, and an analysis of the patient's sputum is also made. All these examinations and procedures will reveal the presence of lung cancer, and also the location of the tumor, and also information about the presence or absence of the disease anywhere else in the body.
Lung cancer treatment
There are many factors which influence lung cancer treatment, and the factors on which lung cancer treatment is dependent on includes, the type of the cancer, the stage or how far the cancer has spread, the age of the patient, his or her health status, and many other personal characteristics of the patient. There is no particular treatment for lung cancer, and patients often receive treatment which is a combination of palliative care and multiple therapies. The foremost of lung cancer treatment therapies include surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. The patient will also be exposed to therapies that have been recently developed which include gene therapy, hormone therapy, and also immunotherapy.
The treating team comprises of radiation oncologists, thoracic surgeons, medical oncologists, onco medical social workers, and so forth.
Orthopedic cancer
Orthopedic cancer involves musculoskeletal tumors that affect the pelvis, limbs, and spine. Orthopedic cancerous tumors that are usually seen in children and adolescents are Ewings sarcoma and Osteosarcoma. Cancerous tumors that are more common among adults are chondrosarcoma, metastasis, and multiple myeloma. These tumors are considered to be rare, and the exact cause that leads to their formation has remained a mystery till date.
Patients who are affected with these tumors have persistent pain in their back or limbs, and this pain will not subside with medications or rest. Paralysis and hand or foot weaknesses are symptoms patients with spine tumors usually present with.
Orthopedic cancer diagnosis
Clinical examination by a specialist and further investigations becomes necessary to diagnose orthopedic cancer; mere physical examinations of bone and soft tissue swellings will never reveal the presence of orthopedic cancerous tumor. The investigations that are usually carried out include X-Ray, MRI, PET, CT, and Bone scan. Biopsy is necessary to confirm the diagnosis.
Orthopedic cancer treatment
Tumors like Ewings sarcoma and Osteosarcoma needs a combination of treatment therapies which starts with chemotherapy, which is then followed by surgery, and eventually involves radiotherapy. Surgical treatments become necessary to treat benign tumors, and tumors like chondrosarcoma. The quality of life of patients suffering from bone metastasis can be considerably improved by subjecting them to palliative surgeries. Procedures are customized in accordance with patients when limbs or arms need to be saved from amputation. Cancer hospitals make the necessary provisions for prosthetic substitutions when amputation surgeries become necessary.
There are no known methods to prevent the occurrence of musculoskeletal tumors, and these tumors are considerably rare. Since prevention is ruled out, early detection alone can lead to proper treatment. Further, advancements in technology in the recent times has brought forward the possibility of liberating patients from definite limb or arm amputations when they are affected with bone cancers. But, amputation can be avoided only when the cancer is detected at an early stage. Numerous patients have been treated and were rehabilitated, and they are now in a position to lead a normal life; these patients have benefited from the advancements made in technology, which has made complex surgeries simpler.
Cancer hospitals use advanced technologies for soft tissue sarcoma tumor excisions including Brachytherapy, and also use of LINAC for external radiation therapy.
The orthopedic cancer treatment team of cancer hospitals comprises of medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, physiotherapists, and so forth.
Patients seeking treatment for musculoskeletal tumors can also benefit from numerous services including, limb salvaging surgery while being treated for malignant tumors, benign bone tumor management, pelvic and spine tumor surgery, treatment for skin malignancy, soft tissue sarcoma treatment, and so forth.
Head and Neck Cancer
Head and Neck Cancer are cancers affecting the Upper Aero Digestive Tract, or UADT, cancers that affect the region between the collar-bone and the brain, and cancers that originate at glands like thyroid and parotid.
Diagnosis
A good physical examination under the hands of a competent oncologist will reveal the presence of head and neck cancer. Biopsy of the affected region will give an accurate confirmation. Lumps are explored by means of a Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology, or FNAC.
Head and Neck cancer treatment
The head and neck area is associated with the personality of a person. Further, the various important functional areas, which also involve a person's senses like sight, smell, auditory, taste, speech, and swallowing, are present in this region. Hence, the treatment of cancers affecting the head and neck area needs to be a balanced one, the treatment should not compromise the aesthetics, or the functions of the sensory organs, but concurrently the treatment should be effective in containing the cancer. Thus, the most advanced of head and neck cancer treatments that are carried out is aimed at preserving the functions of the sensory organs and simultaneously controlling cancer in an effective way. Either surgery or radiation therapy is sufficient during the early stages of the onset of head and neck cancer. But, surgery combined with radiation therapy becomes necessary during the advanced stages of head and neck cancer. Chemotherapy too is used along with radiotherapy to enhance the potentiality of radiotherapy.
Further, head and neck cancer treatments also benefits from the advancements made in the domain of reconstructive surgery. These advancements has made it possible to preserve the functionality of vital sensory organs, and thereby improving the quality of life of the affected individual. Some of the surgery advancements that have aided head and neck cancer treatments include micro vascular tissue transfer, functional neck surgery, jaw preserving surgery, and so forth. Further, advanced machinery for external radiotherapy like LINACs has made it possible to deliver high intensity radiations in a precise way to tumors that are deep-seated, and also sparing vital anatomy in the vicinity of the tumor. LINACs have greatly reduced the treatment duration too.
The additional conservative services that a patient can also benefit from while being treated for head and neck cancer includes head and neck surgery, cosmetic and reconstructive surgery, preservation of voice, restoration of speech, micro-vascular regeneration, speech rehabilitation, faciomaxillary surgery, prosthodontic treatments, and so forth.
Liver Cancer
All cancers and tumors affecting the liver have come to be known as liver cancer, and this includes primary liver tumors, and secondary liver tumors also. Primary liver tumors are liver tumors that emanate within the liver, and secondary liver tumors are tumors that have spread to the liver from other cancer affected sites of the body.
Liver cancer diagnosis
Imaging techniques including ultrasound, PET, and, or CT scan is required. Biopsy will or will not be required to establish liver cancer.
Liver cancer treatment
When liver cancer is detected in the early stage, it is usually treated by surgically removing the tumor, or destroying the tumor cells using targeted chemotherapy, which is also known as TACE, or by liver transplantation. There are numerous other factors which also determines the treatment that needs to be undertaken including the condition of the liver, the size of the liver, location, tumor count, the age of the affected person, and the person's overall health. Further, the risks and the benefits associated with a particular mode of treatment is also dependent on the extension the tumor has achieved, the condition of the liver, and also the health condition of the affected person. In the usual cases, a treatment plan is tailor-made in accordance with the condition of the person being treated.
Patients undergoing liver cancer treatment at advanced cancer hospitals have the benefit of receiving chemotherapy, surgery, and radiotherapy under one roof. Further, these cancer hospitals have liver transplantation programs, and in accordance with these programs certain patients affected with liver cancer have the benefit of undergoing a liver transplant at the hospital they are being treated.
The cancer hospitals treating liver cancer have doctors in their team from various disciplines including hepatobiliary surgery, radiology, oncology, hepatology, pathology, and so forth. The entire team is well-trained and experienced in liver cancer management, and they work in unison at solving complex liver cancer problems.
Gynecological Cancer
Cancers affecting the female reproductive organs have been grouped under gynecological cancer. The cancers included under gynecological cancer include cervical cancer, vaginal cancer, ovarian cancer, vulvar cancer, and uterian cancer.
Gynecological cancer diagnosis
The symptoms that are usually associated with gynecological cancer includes vaginal bleeding that is not normal, swelling or bloating that is persistent in the abdominal region, gain in weight or loss that is questionable, persistent diarrhea, or constipation. Gynecological cancer is diagnosed only after thorough gynecological and clinical examinations. Imaging techniques like ultrasound, CT, and PET/CT scans are also used for accurate diagnosis. Biopsy may or may not be used in the diagnosis procedure.
Gynecological cancer treatment
The treatment is based on the extent of the spread of the cancer, and also on the type of cancer present. The treatment is usually a combination of surgery, chemotherapy, and may or may not use radiotherapy. Surgery involves excision of cancerous cells from the affected area. Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to stop, or control the growth of cancer cells in the affected area. The drugs are administered into the body either in the form of pills, or through Intra Venous, or IV injections. Radiotherapy involves the use of high energy radiation beams to kill the cancer cells, or preventing them from spreading further.
Gynecological cancer treatment which spares fertility have been successfully carried out. Ovarian choriocarcinoma which was in stage IV has been successfully treated by sparing fertility using a combination of surgery and chemotherapy.
The services and treatments patients can expect for Gynecological cancer from cancer hospitals includes
· Diagnostic services like hysteroscopy, biopsy, laproscopy, colposcopy, and so forth,
· Ultra-radical and radical surgeries like Wertheim's hysterectomy, radical vagino-abdominal surgery, and Japanese radical surgery for cancer at stage II B, are carried out to treat uterine cervix cancer. Para-aortic and pelvic lymphadenectomy are also carried out as part of the procedure.
· Intraperitoneal chemotherapy,
· Cytoreductive surgery for ovarian tumor management is done, and this also involves hysterectomy, omentectomy, lymphadenectomy, and diaphragmatic stripping. Intraperitoneal chemotherapy is offered to patients requiring chemotherapy, and this has a good survival rate.
· Typel hysterecotmy is used in treating endometrial cancer. Pelvic and para-aortic lymphadenectomy is also used. Progesterone therapy in high doses in undertaken to treat certain cases when fertility sparing becomes necessary.
· Radical vulvectomy, partial vaginectomy, and also partial urethrectomy with dissection of groin node is carried out in the treatment of vulval cancer.
· Surgical treatments are done to treat vaginal cancer and also fallopian tube cancers.
· Chemotherapy and hysterectomy is used in treatment of choriocarcinoma. Fertility sparing tumor excisions are also carried out in certain cases.
· Neo-vagina creation, urethral stricture treatment, vaginal dryness treatment, and so forth
· Adjuvant radiotherapy, and chemotherapy too is provided on a patient basis, as need be.
Neuro Cancer
Tumors affecting the brain, spinal cord, and the peripheral nerves are treated as Neuro cancers. Abnormal growth of cells in the brain leads to brain tumor. Likewise, abnormal cell growth in the spinal cord, and peripheral nerves leads to spinal cord tumors and peripheral nerve tumors, respectively.
Symptoms
Blurred vision, neurological defects, vomiting, persistent headaches, seizures, and so forth, are symptoms associated with brain tumors.
Back pain, disturbances in the bowels and bladder, pain in the limbs and arms, weakness associated with limbs and arms, and so forth are some of the symptoms associated with spinal cord cancer.
Swelling, feeling of weakness, pain, and so forth are symptoms associated with peripheral nerve tumors.
Neuro cancer diagnosis and treatment
Imaging techniques including CT, MRI, PET/CT scans are used for diagnosis.
The foremost technique of tackling neuro cancers is surgery. Tumors of the brain, spinal cord and peripheral nerves are surgically removed. A thorough histological diagnosis can be achieved of the tumor, as a result of this surgical intervention. Further, physical removal of the tumor also relieves the affected person of the cancer symptoms. The surgery also paves the way for a brisk recovery. The surgery can be followed by other treatment methods such as chemotherapy, and radiotherapy.
Any person affected with neuro cancer becomes eligible for neuro cancer treatment. But, early detection of neuro cancer helps annihilate the disease entirely. Tumors of the brain, spinal cord, or the peripheral nerves need immediate treatment, and if they are left untreated they can become life threatening at a later date. With advancements in technology, neuro cancer treatment has become significantly safe and manageable. Further, the treatment time, and thereby the required days of stay in the hospital has been considerably reduced.
Advanced cancer hospitals use numerous top-notch techniques in the treatment of neuro cancers including stem cell therapy, cerebral micro dialysis, and so forth. Advanced cancer hospitals have the required technology to conduct microneurosurgery, neuro surgery using navigation, neuro surgery that is guided by endoscopy, neuro surgery that is guided by imagery, and so forth.
Further, advanced cancer hospitals are also equipped with advanced top-notch operation theaters that are designed to handle neuro cancer cases, they also have advanced neuro ICUs and other associated infrastructure that helps a neuro cancer patient recover in a safe and monitored environment.
Dr. Priya Rajendran,
Manager - Queries,
International Patient Care Services,
Global Hospitals,
Bangalore, Karnataka,
INDIA.
Mobile: +919902866331,
email id: drpriya.raj@globalhospitalsindia.com
If you are on the lookout for a cost-effective and reliable cancer treatment option, then cancer treatment at Global Cancer Institute, India would be a perfect choice. Global Cancer Institute treats cancer in an organ specific way; they thus have dedicated teams who are dedicated to handle cancers affecting particular organs only. Global Cancer Institute is equipped with the TrueBeam Stx Linear Accelerator; this machine has made it possible to attack cancer cells with highly focused strong doses of radiation while ensuring that the healthy cells in the vicinity remain unaffected by the radiation. Attacking cancer cells present on organs that move during respiration is the specialty of this advanced machine. This machine has reduced cancer treatment to a daycare affair. To know more about the costs and the types of treatment available, you could write to Dr. Priya Rajendran at drpriya.raj@globalhospitalsindia.com.
Treatment costs at Global Cancer Institute costs a tenth of what it would cost to undergo the same treatment in US.
To understand more about the breakthrough researches and treatments the Global Group of Hospitals are carrying out on a daily basis you could visit http://www.globalhospitalsindia.com/


Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7350752

Thursday, October 6, 2011

Breast Cancer Awareness Month is Almost Here

One of the most important events that you can get involved with this October is breast cancer awareness. National Breast Cancer Awareness Month is recognized across the country every year as a way to educate people about the risks associated with the disease. There are tons of groups that organize to get out the message, as well as to raise money for breast cancer research. There are plenty of ways to get involved with promoting awareness, but let's examine a couple of the most popular ones. You will also see how breast cancer awareness promotional items can help inform people about the dangers of the disease, as well as encourage them to get involved with raising money for the cure.

The most popular event that takes place during Breast Cancer Awareness Month is the "Race for the Cure". This event, sponsored by the Susan G. Komen for the Cure nonprofit organization first started in Dallas in 1983. It grew from one local race to about 120 races that now exist worldwide, making it the largest fundraising event for breast cancer in the world. The "Race for the Cure" is actually a sequence of 5K runs and fitness walks which raise a significant amount of donation money for breast cancer research. The race also commemorates woman who have survived breast cancer, as well as honors those who succumbed to the disease. If you are interested in participating in the "Race for the Cure" this year, you can find the race which is closest to you at the Susan G. Komen for the Cure website.

For a very easy way to show your support in the workplace, you can participate in a "pink day". On these pink days, people wear pink clothing as a way to recognize the struggle of breast cancer victims. A pink day may also involve some type of theme party that is designed to raise money to find a cure. Many companies will participate in this activity, so see if your employer is interested in having a pink day this year.

If you have a local fundraising organization, or you just want to do your part in educating the public, there are several custom breast cancer awareness items that can help you get the word out about this issue. To start, there is the obvious choice of an item that has a pink ribbon. The pink ribbon is the universal symbol for breast cancer awareness, and it is widely recognized by almost everyone who sees it. There are plenty of items to choose from whose visual presentation involve the pink ribbon in some way.

The awareness ribbon lapel stickers for instance are a great promotional item for commemorating this occasion. You can have these stickers custom imprinted with the name of your charity event, and give them out to everyone you know. Stickers stay put wherever the recipient places them, so they will be reminded of your cause every time they see this item.

Another good pink ribbon item is the breast self exam bookmark. This item is both educational and functional. On the bookmark is a series of diagrams which explain how to give yourself a self exam in order to catch any signs of the disease in their earliest stage. Of course, this item also makes a nice placeholder for the book that you happen to be reading. This item is a fantastic way to inform people about cancer prevention, and you will save lives by passing these out.

There are other breast cancer awareness promotional items without the pink ribbon that will do equally well for promoting your message. For one, translucent pink beach balls are a great way to inform people about the disease. Even though breast cancer awareness month is not until the fall, you'll be ahead of the curve when you give these balls out to everyone on the beach before the summer is over. You want to spread an early bird message in the months before October to create as much of a buzz as possible about the upcoming awareness event. This way, people have time to clear their schedule and save some money and they will be much more likely to donate or participate in a walk.

A final suggestion for breast cancer awareness promotional items is to purchase some custom awareness bracelets. The great thing about these bracelets is that they have already been established as a symbol of cancer research support. (Lance Armstrong started the LiveStrong wristband campaign for testicular cancer several years ago.) The obvious choice is to purchase bracelets which are pink. These bracelets can be imprinted with any message you prefer. Have the name of your charity embossed on these bracelets, and hand them out as a gift when people make a donation.

Make sure to get involved this October in any way that you can. Every dollar you spend, and every minute of your time advances the effort towards finding a cure. As an added reminder, when you purchase custom breast cancer awareness items from Motivators, 10% of the proceeds will be donated to the Carol M. Baldwin Breast Cancer Research Fund, Inc.

Daniel Namm is an e-marketing specialist for Motivators, Inc., a Long Island based promotional products distributor. The company's website, Motivators.com has over 40,000 e-commerce enabled promotional products. Check out the latest selection of Breast Cancer Awareness promotional items to educate people about the disease.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Daniel_Namm

Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Businesses Supporting the Cause

Currently, the month of October is designated as the official National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (NBCAM). For over two decades, NBCAM has successfully educated women of all ages about early detection, treatment, and diagnosis of breast cancer. Non-profit organizations such as Karmanos Cancer Institute, American Cancer Society, Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation and the National Breast Cancer Foundation are devoted to raising money for breast cancer research and educating women (and men) about the disease, supporting those with breast cancer, and celebrating the individuals who have survived it.

Companies such as Macy's and Target are inviting their consumers to join them in the fight against breast cancer. The "Pink Ribbon Items" are sold to help support breast cancer research. These companies have agreed to donate a portion of the proceeds to breast cancer charities. Most items related to breast cancer awareness can be identified with a pink label or a pink ribbon. Ford Motor Company has supported breast cancer research for over 10 years by donating money and selling pink silk scarves specifically for breast cancer charities. All businesses are invited to invest in unique corporate gifts that help support breast cancer research. There are corporate gifts available that are embellished with the breast cancer awareness "pink ribbon". Some of the other gifts are manufactured in pink and can be personalized with a monogram. These breast cancer awareness business gifts [http://www.corporatesnobs.com/professional-in-pink.htm] range any where from heart-shaped luggage tags to pink leather totes.

Breast cancer awareness is not limited to woman only. Men are encouraged to support the cause as well. According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, 1600 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year. Even the most masculine man should rethink wearing pink when it comes to supporting a great cause.

Although, October is designated as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, supporting the cause can be a year-round commitment. Those who are unaffected by breast cancer should help join the fight against breast cancer for their loved ones. Whether you decide to participate in an American Cancer Society sponsored walk, donate money to breast cancer charities, or invest in business gifts that help support breast cancer research, you will certainly contribute to saving someone's life.

Maria Romain, President and Founder of Academic Success Management, Inc. is a writer for Corporate Snobs, a web-based company that offers practical and affordable corporate gifts. Find more articles on wonderful business gift ideas by visiting today.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Maria_Romain

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

Cancer is Not a Disease - It's a Survival Mechanism

It will perhaps astound you to learn that a person who is afflicted with the main causes of cancer (which constitute the real illness) would most likely die quickly unless he actually grew cancer cells. In this work, I provide evidence to this effect.

I further claim that cancer will only occur after all other defense or healing mechanisms in the body have failed. In extreme circumstances, exposure to large amounts of cancer-producing agents (carcinogens) can bring about a collapse of the body's defenses within several weeks or months and allow for rapid and aggressive growth of a cancerous tumor. Usually, though, it takes many years, or even decades, for these so-called "malignant" tumors to form.

Unfortunately, basic misconceptions or complete lack of knowledge about the reasons behind tumor growth have turned "malignant" tumors into vicious monsters that have no other purpose but to kill us in retaliation for our sins or abusing the body. However, as you are about to find out, cancer is on our side, not against us. Unless we change our perception of what cancer really is, it will continue to resist treatment, particularly the most "advanced" methods. If you have cancer, and cancer is indeed part of the body's complex survival responses and not a disease, as I suggest it is, you must find answers to the following pressing questions:

* What reasons coerce your body into developing cancer cells?

* Once you have identified these reasons, will you be able to change them? What determines the type and severity of cancer with which you are afflicted?

* If cancer is a survival mechanism, what needs to be done to prevent the body from taking recourse to such drastic defense measures?

* Since the body's original genetic design always favors the preservation of life and protection against adversities of any kind, why would the body permit self-destruction?

* Why do almost all cancers disappear by themselves, without medical intervention?

* Do radiation, chemotherapy and surgery actually cure cancer, or do cancer survivors heal due to other reasons, despite these radical, side-effect-loaded treatments?

* What roles do fear, frustration, low self-worth and repressed anger play in the origination and outcome of cancer?

* What is the spiritual growth lesson behind cancer?

To deal with the root causes of cancer, you must find satisfying and practical answers to the above questions. If you feel the inner urge to make sense of this life-changing event, (cancer that is), you most likely will recover from it. Cancer can be your greatest opportunity to help restore balance to all aspects of your life, but it can also be the harbinger of severe trauma and suffering. Either way you are always in control of your body.

To live in a human body, you must have access to a certain amount of life-sustaining energy. You may either use this inherent energy in a nourishing and self-sustaining or in a destructive and debilitating way. In case you consciously or unconsciously choose negligence or self-abuse over loving attention and self-respect, your body will likely end up having to fight for its life.

Cancer is but one of the many ways the body tries to change the way you see and treat yourself, including your body. This inevitably brings up the subject of spiritual health, which plays at least as important a role in cancer as physical and emotional reasons do.

Cancer appears to be a highly confusing and unpredictable disorder. It seems to strike the very happy and the very sad, the rich and the poor, the smokers and the non-smokers, the very healthy and the not so healthy. People from all backgrounds and occupations can have cancer. However, if you dare look behind the mask of its physical symptoms, such as the type, appearance and behavior of cancer cells, you will find that cancer is not as coincidental or unpredictable as it seems to be.

What makes 50% of the American population so prone to developing cancer, when the other half has no risk at all? Blaming the genes for that is but an excuse to cover up ignorance of the real causes. Besides, any good genetic researcher would tell you that such a belief is void of any logic and outright unscientific (as explained in the book).

Cancer has always been an extremely rare illness, except in industrialized nations during the past 40-50 years. Human genes have not significantly changed for thousands of years. Why would they change so drastically now, and suddenly decide to kill scores of people? The answer to this question is amazingly simple: Damaged or faulty genes do not kill anyone. Cancer does not kill a person afflicted with it! What kills a cancer patient is not the tumor, but the numerous reasons behind cell mutation and tumor growth. These root causes should be the focus of every cancer treatment, yet most oncologists typically ignore them. Constant conflicts, guilt and shame, for example, can easily paralyze the body's most basic functions, and lead to the growth of a cancerous tumor.

After having seen thousands of cancer patients over a period of three decades, I began to recognize a certain pattern of thinking, believing and feeling that was common to most of them. To be more specific, I have yet to meet a cancer patient who does not feel burdened by some poor self-image, unresolved conflict and worries, or past emotional trauma that still lingers in his/her subconscious. Cancer, the physical disease, cannot occur unless there is a strong undercurrent of emotional uneasiness and deep-seated frustration.

Cancer patients typically suffer from lack of self-respect or worthiness, and often have what I call an "unfinished business" in their life. Cancer can actually be a way of revealing the source of such inner conflict. Furthermore, cancer can help them come to terms with such a conflict, and even heal it altogether. The way to take out weeds is to pull them out along with their roots. This is how we must treat cancer; otherwise, it may recur eventually.

The following statement is very important in the consideration of cancer: "Cancer does not cause a person to be sick; it is the sickness of the person that causes the cancer." To treat cancer successfully requires the patient to become whole again on all levels of his body, mind and spirit. Once the cancer causes have been properly identified, it will become apparent what needs to be done to achieve complete recovery.

It is a medical fact that every person has cancer cells in the body all the time. These cancer cells remain undetectable through standard tests until they have multiplied to several billion. When doctors announce to their cancer patients that the treatments they prescribed had successfully eliminated all cancer cells, they merely refer to tests that are able to identify the detectable number of cancerous cells. Standard cancer treatments may lower the number of cancer cells to an undetectable level, but this certainly cannot eradicate all cancer cells. As long as the causes of tumor growth remain intact, cancer may redevelop at any time and at any rate.

Curing cancer has little to do with getting rid of a group of detectable cancer cells. Treatments like chemotherapy and radiation are certainly capable of poisoning or burning many cancer cells, but they also destroy healthy cells in the bone marrow, gastrointestinal tract, liver, kidneys, heart, lungs, etc., which often leads to permanent irreparable damage of entire organs and systems in the body. A real cure of cancer does not occur at the expense of destroying other vital parts of the body.

Each year, hundreds of thousands of people who were once "successfully" treated for cancer die from infections, heart attacks, liver failure, kidney failure and other illnesses because the cancer treatments generate a massive amount of inflammation and destruction in the organs and systems of the body. Of course, these causes of death are not being attributed to cancer. This statistical omission makes it appear we are making progress in the war against cancer. However, many more people are dying from the treatment of cancer than from cancer. A real cure or cancer is achievable only when the causes of excessive growth of cancer cells have been removed or stopped.

Power in the Word

Cancer is the second leading "cause" of death for Americans. According to the American Cancer Society, about 1.2 million cases will be diagnosed with cancer in the U.S. in 2008. More than 552,000 Americans will die of it. Among men, the top three cancer diagnoses are expected to be prostate cancer (180,400 cases), lung cancer (89,500 cases), and colorectal cancer (63,600). The leading types of cancer among women are breast cancer (182,800 cases), lung cancer (74,600), and colorectal cancer (66,600 cases).

Cancer is not just a word, but also a statement that refers to abnormal or unusual behavior of cells in the body. However, in quite a different context, cancer is referred to as a star sign. When someone tells you that you are a "cancer", are you going to tremble with fear of dying? It is unlikely, because your interpretation of being of the cancer sign does not imply that you have cancer, the illness. But if your doctor called you into his office and told you that you had cancer, you would most likely feel paralyzed, numb, terrified, hopeless, or all of the above.

The word "cancer" has the potential to play a very disturbing and precarious role, one that is capable of delivering a death sentence. Being a cancer patient seems to start with the diagnosis of cancer, although its causes may have been there for many years prior to feeling ill. Within a brief moment, the word "cancer" can turn someone's entire world upside down.

Who or what in this world has bestowed this simple word or statement with such great power that it can preside over life and death? Or does it really? Could it actually be that our collective, social belief that cancer is a killer disease, in addition to the aggressive treatments that follow diagnosis, are largely responsible for the current dramatic escalation of cancer in the Western hemisphere? Too far fetched, you might say! In this book, however, I will make the point that cancer can have no power or control over us, unless we unconsciously allow it to grow in response to the beliefs, perceptions, attitudes, thoughts, feelings we have, and the life choices we make.

Would we be just as afraid of cancer if we knew what caused it or at least understood what its underlying purpose is? Unlikely so! If truth were told, we would most probably do everything to remove the causes and, thereby, set the preconditions for the body to heal itself.

A little knowledge (which is what we call ignorance) is, in fact, a dangerous thing. Almost everyone, at least in the industrialized world, knows that drinking water from a filthy pond or polluted lake can cause life-threatening diarrhea, but still only few realize that holding on to resentment, anger and fear, or eating fast foods, chemical additives, and artificial sweeteners, is no less dangerous than drinking polluted water; it may just take a little longer to kill a person than tiny amoeba can.

Mistaken Judgment

We all know that if the foundation of a house is strong, the house can easily withstand external challenges, such as a violent storm. As we will see, cancer is merely an indication that there is something missing in our body and in life as a whole. Cancer shows that life as a whole (physical, mental and spiritual) stands on shaky grounds and is quite fragile, to say the least. It would be foolish for a gardener to water the withering leaves of a tree when he knows so well that the real problem is not where it appears to be, namely, on the symptomatic level (of withered leaves). By watering the roots of the plant, he naturally attends to the causative level, and consequently, the plant regenerates itself swiftly and automatically.

To the trained eye of a gardener, the symptom of withering leaves is not a dreadful disease. He recognizes that the dehydrated state of these leaves is but a direct consequence of withdrawn nourishment that they need in order to sustain themselves and the rest of the plant.

Although this example from nature may appear to be a simplistic analogy, it offers a profound understanding of very complex disease processes in the human body. It accurately describes one of the most powerful and fundamental principles controlling all life forms on the planet. However skilled we may have become in manipulating the functions of our body through the tools of allopathic medicine, this basic, highly evolved principle of evolution cannot be suppressed or violated without paying the hefty price of side-effect-riddled suffering and pain - physically, emotionally and spiritually.

I fervently challenge the statement that cancer is a killer disease. Furthermore, I will demonstrate that cancer is not a disease at all. Many people who received a "terminal" cancer sentence actually defied the prognosis and experienced total remission.

The Need for Answers

There is no cancer that has not been survived by someone, regardless how far advanced it was. If even one person has succeeded in healing his cancer, there must be a mechanism for it, just as there is a mechanism for creating cancer. Every person on the planet has the capacity for both. If you have been diagnosed with cancer, you may not be able to change the diagnosis, but it is certainly in your power to alter the destructive consequences that it (the diagnosis) may have on you. The way you see the cancer and the steps you take following the diagnosis are some of the most powerful determinants of your future wellness, or the lack of it.

The indiscriminate reference to "cancer" as being a killer disease by professionals and lay people alike has turned cancer into a disorder with tragic consequences for the majority of today's cancer patients and their families. Cancer has become synonymous to extraordinary suffering, pain and death. This is true despite the fact that 90-95 percent of all cancers appear and disappear out of their own accord. There is not a day that passes without the body making millions of cancer cells. Some people, under severe temporary stress make more cancer cells than usual and form clusters of cancerous cells that disappear again once they feel better. Secretions of the DNA's anticancer drug, Interleukin II, drop under physical and mental duress and increase again when relaxed and joyful. Thus, most cancers vanish without any form of medical intervention and without causing any real harm.

Right at this moment, there are millions of people walking around with cancers in their body without having a clue that they have them. Likewise, there are millions of people who heal their cancers without even knowing it. Overall, there are many more spontaneous remissions of cancer than there are diagnosed and treated cancers.

The truth is, relatively few cancers actually become "terminal." However, once diagnosed, the vast majority of all cancers are never even given a chance to disappear on their own. They are promptly targeted with an arsenal of deadly weapons of cell destruction such as chemotherapy drugs, radiation and the surgical knife. The problem with cancer patients is that, terrified by the diagnosis, they submit their bodies to all these cut/burn/poison procedures that, more likely than not, lead them to the day of final sentencing, "We have to tell you with our deepest regret there is nothing more that can be done to help you."

The most pressing question is not how advanced or dangerous a cancer is, but what we need to do to not end up dying from it. Why do some people go through cancer as if it were the flu? Are they just lucky or is there a mechanism at work that triggers the healing? In other words, what is that element that prevents the body from healing cancer naturally, or what is that hidden element that makes cancer so dangerous, if it is dangerous at all?

The answers to all these queries lie with the response of the person who has the cancer, and not with the degree of "viciousness" or advanced stage it appears to have progressed to. Do you believe that cancer is a disease? You will most likely answer with a "yes," given the 'informed' opinion that the medical industry and mass media have fed to the masses for many decades. Yet, the most pressing yet rarely asked question remains: "Why do you think cancer is a disease?" You may say: "Because I know cancer kills people every day." I would question you further: "How do you know that it is the cancer that kills people?" You would probably argue that most people who have cancer die, so obviously it must be the cancer that kills them. Besides, you may reason, all the expert doctors tell us so.

Let me raise another question, a rather strange one: "How do you know for sure that you are the daughter/son of your father and not of another man?" Is it because your mother told you so? What makes you think that your mother told you the truth? Probably because you believe her; and you have no reason not to. After all, she is your mother, and mothers do not lie about these things. Or do they? Although you will never really know that the person you believe to be your father is, in fact, your father, you nevertheless have turned what you subjectively believe into something that you just "know," into an irrefutable truth.

Although there is no scientific proof whatsoever that cancer is a disease (versus a survival mechanism), most people will insist that it is a disease because this is what they were told to believe. Yet their belief is only hearsay information based on other people's opinions. These other people heard it from someone else. Eventually, the "truth" of cancer being a disease can be traced to some doctors who expressed their subjective feelings or beliefs about what they observed and wrote about in some review articles or medical reports. Other doctors agreed with their opinion, and before long, it became a "well-established" fact that cancer is a vicious illness that somehow gets hold of people in order to kill them. However, the truth of the matter may be quite different.

Wisdom of Cancer Cells

Cancer cells are not part of a malicious disease process. When cancer cells spread (metastasize) throughout the body, it is not their purpose or goal to disrupt the body's vitals functions, infect healthy cells and obliterate their host (the body). Self-destruction is not the theme of any cell unless, of course, it is old and worn-out and ready to be turned-over and replaced. Cancer cells, like all other cells, know that if the body dies, they will die as well. Just because some people assume that cancer cells are there to destroy the body does not mean cancer cells have such a purpose or ability.

A cancerous tumor is neither the cause of progressive destruction nor does it actually lead to the death of the body. There is nothing in a cancer cell that has even remotely the ability to kill anything. What eventually leads to the demise of an organ or the entire body is the wasting away of cell tissue resulting from continued deprivation of nutrients and life force. The drastic reduction or shutdown of vital nutrient supplies to the cells of an organ is not primarily a consequence of a cancerous tumor, but actually its biggest cause.

By definition, a cancer cell is a normal, healthy cell that has undergone genetic mutation to the point that it can live in an anaerobic surrounding (an environment where oxygen is not available). In other words, if you deprive a group of cells of vital oxygen (their primary source of energy), some of them will die, but others will manage to alter their genetic software program and mutate in a most ingenious way: the cells will be able to live without oxygen and derive some of their energy needs from such things as cellular metabolic waste products.

It may be easier to understand the cancer cells phenomenon when comparing it with the behavior of common microorganisms. Bacteria, for example, are divided into two main groups, aerobic and anaerobic, meaning, those that need to use oxygen and those that can live without it. This is important to understand since we have more bacteria in our body than we have cells. Aerobic bacteria thrive in an oxygenated environment. They are responsible for helping us with the digestion of food and manufacturing of important nutrients, such as B-vitamins. Anaerobic bacteria, on the other hand, can appear and thrive in an environment where oxygen does not reach. They break down waste materials, toxic deposits and dead, worn-out cells.

The body sees the cancer as being such an important defense mechanism that it even causes the growth of new blood vessels to guarantee the much-needed supply of glucose and, therefore, survival and spreading of the cancer cells. It knows that cancer cells do not cause but, prevent death; at least for a while, until the wasting away of an organ leads to the demise of the entire organism. If the trigger mechanisms for cancer (causal factors) are properly taken care of, such an outcome can be avoided.

It is commonly believed that our immune system protects us against cancer. However, this is only partially true. On the one hand, the immune system readily destroys the millions of cancer cells that a healthy human body produces as part of the daily turnover of 30 billion cells. On the other hand, the immune system takes no action to eradicate cancer cells that develop in response to a build up of toxins, congestion and emotional stress.

Cancers and all other tissues in the body are larded with cancer-killing white cells, such as T-cells. In the case of kidney cancer and melanomas, for example, white cells make up 50 per cent of the mass of the cancers. Since these T-cells easily recognize foreign or mutated cell tissue such as cancer cells, you would expect these immune cells to attack cancer cells right away. However, the immune system allows cancer cells to recruit it to actually increase and spread the cancer to other parts of the body. Cancer cells produce specific proteins that tell the immune cells to leave them alone and help them to grow

Why would the immune system want to collaborate with cancer cells to make more or larger tumors? Because cancer is a survival mechanism, not a disease. The body uses the cancer to keep deadly carcinogenic substances and caustic metabolic waste matter away from the lymph and blood and, therefore, from the heart, brain and other vital organs. Killing off cancer cells would in fact jeopardize its survival. Cleansing the body of accumulated toxins and waste products through the various cleansing methods advocated in my book Timeless Secrets of Health and Rejuvenation (www.ener-chi.com) removes the need for cancer.

Cancer is not a disease; it is the final and most desperate survival mechanism the body has at its disposal. It only takes control of the body when all other measures of self-preservation have failed. To truly heal cancer and what it represents in a person's life we must come to the understanding that the reason the body allows some of its cells to grow in abnormal ways is in its best interest and not an indication that it is about to destroy itself. Cancer is a healing attempt by the body, for the body. Blocking this healing attempt can destroy the body. Supporting the body in its healing efforts can save it.

Andreas Moritz's book, Cancer is not a Disease - It's a Survival Mechanism, explains the root causes of cancer and how to eliminate them for good. Available through http://www.amazon.com or http://www.ener-chi.com.

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Monday, November 16, 2009

How I Discovered Bladded Cancer and Survived

I was out with two friends fishing from my boat, a male and his lady friend, we fished for a good part of the day. My male friend decided he had enough and wanted to go to shore but his lady friend was an ardent fisherman (Fisherlady) and she wanted to continue fishing, so I agreed to take her back out. We were anchored up in a narrow creek that didn't have an accessible shore line. I had to urinate and normally with the guys on the boat we would do so off the stern of the boat,but I didn't want to embarrass my lady guest so I waited as long as I could but could not hold out any longer. I excused myself and went to the stern of the boat to urinate. When I started to urinate it appeared that I was urinating a Merlot Wine, My urine was coming out pure blood and shortly I could not urinate at all. I mentioned to my guest the problem I was having. As it turned out my guest was a registered Nurse and the Coroner in her home town. She immediately went in to action and started hauling up the anchor and yelled to me to start the motor and head back to the dock. On the way in she called her friend and told him to meet us at the dock.

Arriving at the dock they immediately took me to the nearby hospital emergency room. I spent a half an hour filling out paper work and explaining my problem and was then told to go to the waiting room. After what seemed to be an eternity I felt I had to urinate. I went to the men's room and I was able to urinate, it started out as blood but eventually it cleared up and back to normal. I thanked my friends and I told them everything seemed to have cleared up and I was going home.

I called a doctor friend of mine and he told me that I probably ruptured a small blood vessel by waiting too long to urinate. I called my local doctor and he said I probably had an infection in my bladder. I never experienced any pain, discomfort or an inability to urinate before so I figured that it was a minor problem.

I continued to urinate normally for the next month or so and then suddenly I started urinating blood again. This time I called my local doctor and told him that I wanted to see a Urologist. The Urologist's facility was well equipped and he ran all of the usual tests, his conclusion, I had a cancer in my bladder about the size of a half dollar, but it looked like it hadn't gone so far that it couldn't be just scraped out. The Urologists facility had a surgical unit so they immediately took me in to scrape my bladder. The scraping wasn't successful as it was determined that the cancer was a not a grade two which would have made the scraping possible but a grade three which meant the cancer penetrated deeper into the tissue.

The doctor said that I had four options, Chemotherapy or Radiology which he didn't think would improve my chances of survival. The odds were somewhat greater than 50% that they would not work. The other two options were to remove my bladder and build another one from part of my intestine, which he said if it worked it would be great, if it didn't it would be a struggle for the rest of my life. The second would be to remove my bladder and surrounding tissue including prostate and nearby Lymph node. That procedure would require that I use an external bladder to replace my original one. I chose the latter and I don't regret to this day (five years later). It's slightly inconvenient but in some ways it's helpful.

What surprised me most that there weren't any signs or symptoms that I had this problem and if I didn't urinate blood when I did I wouldn't be alive today. I guess all I can say in closing is that these things don't just happen to the other guy, you're a target too. So be aware.

Paul l. Viverito

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Friday, November 13, 2009

DETECTING AND DIAGNOSING PROSTATE CANCER

Researchers can't say how to prevent prostate cancer because so little is understood about what causes it. However, it is believed that eating less fat, especially from red meat and dairy products is a smart choice. A diet that is low in fat and includes plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables can help reduce the risks for getting many types of cancer as well as reducing the risk for heart disease, stroke and diabetes. There is research that seems to suggest diets including vitamin E and a trace mineral called selenium may help to lower risks for prostate cancer.

What are the signs and symptoms of cancer of the prostate? There are very few signs of prostate cancer in its early stages. When the cancer is still confined to the prostate gland there may be no pain or discomfort or any other symptom. Having trouble urinating is a symptom often associated with this type of cancer, but it may not be a symptom of cancer at all. Men, if you have trouble urinating talk to your doctor about it soon.

As with all other cancers, the earlier it is detected the better the chances of successful treatment. If the cancer has not spread beyond the prostate gland the chances of long-term survival are very good. If the cancer has spread to other body parts then it is much more difficult to treat successfully.

A cancer screening is an important part of early detection. There are two common tests for detecting prostate cancer, a PSA blood test and a digital rectal exam (DRE). High levels of the protein known as PSA are often found with many different types of prostate conditions, including prostate cancer. The PSA test can determine if there are high levels of this protein in the blood stream.

The DRE is a slightly uncomfortable procedure that is over quickly. The doctor must feel inside the rectum area to find any firm areas which may indicate a tumor. Most cancers of the prostate usually begin growing in the part of the prostate which is easily reached by a DRE. The DRE also helps to detect early rectal tumors as well.

If the doctor finds unusual results from either the DRE or the PSA test, he will usually require further tests. To confirm a diagnosis of prostate cancer a biopsy will be taken, usually in the doctor's office. A sample of prostate tissue will be removed by a very thin needle and examined under the microscope. The entire procedure will take less than 30 minutes.

The biopsy tissue will be examined in a lab to see if cancer cells are present. Further testing will be done if cancer cells are found so they can determine what stage the cancer is in and what grade the cancer is. The stage of a cancer tells how far the cancer has spread. The grade of a cancer tells how fast the cancer spreads. A fast spreading cancer is called an aggressive cancer.

Further testing is done to determine the state of a cancer. The tests may include a bone scan, a CT or CAT scan, an MRI and a biopsy of the lymph nodes. By determining the stage of the cancer, the doctor can best prescribe a treatment plan. Ask your doctor to explain to your about the stage and grade of the cancer, as well as the treatment plan options.

Remember that early detection is the key to successful treatment. Men should have regular prostate exams performed annually past the age of 50.

Jonathan is a professional educator in the healthcare field with over 15 years of experience. You can visit his latest website Pool Tables For Sale which helps people learn about Mizerak Pool Tables.

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TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR ABOUT PROSTATE CANCER TREATMENT OPTION

There are many factors which determine the appropriate treatment choices for prostate cancer. These factors include: age, general health conditions, the stage and grade of the cancer, and personal preferences of the patient. For example, some men would prefer to decline a painful or uncomfortable treatment if it is unlikely to increase their lifespan.

There are many surgery options for men with prostate cancer, and in some cases surgery is recommended to remove the tumor. A radical prostatectomy is a removal of the entire prostate gland. This surgery is a common choice of the cancer has not spread beyond the prostate.

A transurethral resection is a procedure to remove urinary blockage caused by the tumor in the prostate gland. This surgery is common for older men who cannot have a radical prostatectomy because they are too old or ill to undergo the other surgery. Cryosurgery is a newly studied surgery for the treatment of prostate cancer. Basically it involves freezing the tumor.

Other than surgery, there is radiation therapy to treat cancer that hasn't spread to other parts of the body. High powered x-rays are used to kill or shrink the cancer cells. If the cancer has spread, then radiation therapy may be used to shrink the tumor in order to provide relief from painful symptoms.

There are two types of radiation therapy commonly used to treat cancer of the prostate. External beam radiation is similar to having a chest x-ray or dental x-ray, except that it lasts for a longer period of time, instead of a few seconds. This treatment is usually performed at an outpatient center daily during the week, lasting for several weeks.

Internal radiation, known as brachytherapy, is when small radioactive pellets (about the size of a grain of rice) are implanted into the prostate. The tiny pellets give off small amounts of radiation directly into the prostate for several weeks or even months until the radioactive material is gone. This treatment does not usually cause discomfort.

Hormone therapy is another treatment option for men whose cancer has spread beyond the prostate or has returned after being in remission. Hormone therapy is used to reduce the natural levels of testosterone (the male hormone) in the body. Lower testosterone levels tend to make prostate cancer shrink or reduce the speed at which it grows.

LHRH is the drug used in hormone therapy to reduce a man's testosterone levels. LHRH is injected at the doctor's office once per month or quarterly. There may be an increase in pain or urinary symptoms with this treatment. Research has shown that this treatment is just as effective in reducing testosterone levels as removal of the testicles.

Orchiectomy is the surgical removal of the testicles. By removing the testicles, testosterone levels are reduced dramatically, since this hormone is produced mainly in the testicles. This procedure is common and usually has few complications.

Chemotherapy is a treatment option if the cancer has spread throughout the body and hormone therapy has been unsuccessful. The goal of chemotherapy is not to kill all of the cancer cells but to slow the pace of its growth. Chemotherapy can damage non-cancerous cells also. Because of this, doctors must carefully balance chemotherapy doses to give enough drug to kill cancer cells, but not so much that it also kills healthy cells. Side effects of chemotherapy include nausea, vomiting, hair loss and heart problems.

Over the last 30+ years survival rates of prostate cancer have increased steadily. Over 75% of men diagnosed with this cancer can be expected to live 5 or more years beyond the original diagnosis. If the cancer has not spread beyond the prostate, 99% will live beyond 5 years past the diagnosis date. The average age at which men are diagnosed with this cancer is 72.

Discuss your treatment options with your doctor. Ask questions. Be informed. Remember that early detection is the key to successful treatment.

Jonathan is a professional educator in the healthcare field with over 15 years of experience. You can visit his latest website Pool Tables For Sale which helps people learn about Mizerak Pool Tables.

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