Showing posts with label chemotherapy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label chemotherapy. Show all posts

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Popular Therapies against Stage 4 Breast Cancer

By Tyler Weber

Today, many cancer therapies are very sophisticated and effective on fighting off cancer. The days are gone when humans are powerless against cancer and its consequences. It is common knowledge that cancer up to now is still difficult to cure however, the advancements in treatment strategies today make these therapies better than before.

Breast cancer is perhaps one of the most common and feared cancer types. When this type of disease is discovered at stage 4 breast cancer or the malignant stage, it is very difficult to treat. Many therapies may be available but it will still be very hard if cancer is already on the metastatic stage.

Many people can seem at a loss when faced with the different treatment options for stage 4 breast cancers. To help you with this, let us examine some of the most popular and effective medical treatment for breast cancer: Surgery to excise the cancer cells - Surgery aimed at taking away cancerous cells in the body is one of the treatments to eradicate cancer. When it is possible to remove the cancerous cells through surgery without affecting much of the organ or body function, this alternative may be the best option. Surgery for cancer treatment is ineffective if the cancer has spread throughout the body already. This therapy is only effective against some localized tumors or those that have not spread into the body systems. This means that cancer has to be at the early stages so that this surgery can be effective.

Radiation - Radiation is also one of the most popular therapies when it comes to cancer treatment. It makes use of a radioactive energy source to kill the cancer cells and stop it from multiplying uncontrollably. There are essentially two ways to deliver the radiation to the target cancer cells: an external radiation source or an internal radioactive implant. In external radiation sources, the radiation beams come from a device or equipment that does not essentially come in contact with the body. Unlike the internal radiation source that needs to be implanted inside the person's body to be effective.

Chemotherapy against cancer - The use of special medications that have properties to fight cancer is called chemotherapy. Although the cancer medicines work in different methods, they all have an end goal of stopping the cancer progression. This can lead to an end or merely a break in the cancer cycle. There may be side effects with this treatment however it still has a great potential in helping cancer stop its deadly course.

This article has hopefully shed some light on the subject of cancer treatments and therapies.

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Saturday, March 19, 2011

Information On Chemo For Asbestos Cancer Patients

By Peggy Browning


Mesothelioma is a dangerous kind of cancer that affects the lining of the organs and is caused by exposure to asbestos board, a naturally found substance that is seen in building supplies and metals. Through the diagnosis of mesothelioma cancer can be scary, it is important for the patient to realize that there many treatments that are available for the sufferer; including surgical removal of the mesothelioma, chemotherapy to treat asbestos cancer and radiation to complete the mesothelioma treatment.

Learning about the options that are available for therapy of asbestos cancer can assist the client to take control of asbestos cancer and begin to cite their goals within the treatment plan. Here are some of the considerations that should be made when determining between the various mesothelioma treatment options:

Chemotherapy treatment plan for Asbestos cancer

Chemotherapy is a treatment commonly used for asbestos cancer, as it can be a great way to eradicate the cancer cells causing the mesothelioma from the body, with the hopes of allowing the patient to enter into remission from asbestos cancer, allowing the person to be cancer free.

How does chemotherapy treatment for mesothelioma work?

Although one of the most effective ways to combat mesothelioma, it is necessary to understand that chemotherapy can have harsh side effects for the person that is undergoing the treatment after being diagnosed with mesothelioma. Two of the most common side effects of the treatment include nausea and being sick.

Other side effects that are associated with the use of chemotherapy for asbestos cancer include baldness and sores in the mouth and through the gums. Unfortunately, chemotherapy for mesothelioma cancer treatment is toxic to the cancer cells but also to many of the other cells in the body, causing the body to have a number of adverse side effects from the mesothelioma treatment.

Developments in asbestos cancer Therapies

Fortunately however, there are new asbestos cancer medications being developed all the time that can provide the patient undergoing chemotherapy with many options for mesothelioma cancer treatment with not as many side effects.

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Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Get the brief details about colon cancer

By Tyron Raugh

Cancer is the growth of too many cells in a certain part of the body, and depending on which part of the body it occurs, it is given different names. An important organ that aids in the digestion of food in humans in the colon, commonly known as the large intestine. It is the last organ involved in the digestive tract. If cancer cells form in the inner lining of this colon, or at the rectum, that kind of cancer is called colon cancer. Colon cancer has become a common ailment in today's world.

All cells in a human body undergo the process of life and death. This growth is considered cancerous when it occurs against the natural rhythm and cannot be controlled by the immune system. These cells then form a mass, better known as tumors. Tumors are called benign or malignant, depending on how much the cells affect other regions of he body. Benign tumors do not spread or invade any other part of the body. Malignant tumors on the other hand keep dividing uncontrollable and can invade other parts of the body and destroy the healthy cells in the body.

There are many known risk factors that may increase the chance of colon cancer occurring in a human. Those over the age of 40 are said to be at a higher risk of developing colon cancer, and colon cancer has rarely been diagnosed in those under forty. Having a family history of colon cancer can also increase the chances of developing the disease. Other factors like having had benign tumors or polyps removed before, having a diet that is high in fat but low in fiber and having another illness that may increase chances of developing colon cancer are all considered to be risk of getting colon cancer.

There are many symptoms that are linked with the presence of colon cancer but having one or more of them does not necessarily mean colon cancer is present. Symptoms like bleeding from the rectum should never be ignored, but they do not mean you have colon cancer. Changes in bowel habits, pain in the abdomen or rectum and a feeling that bowel movement cannot be completed are also symptoms. Again having these symptoms does not mean you have colon cancer but they should be taken seriously and a doctor has to be consulted to find out what may be causing these irregularities.

Researchers have gone far in identifying ways to cure colon cancer, and success rates are very high. Treatments for colon cancer include surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy, and usually a combination of these therapies is given to a patient to increase the efficiency of treatment.

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Monday, December 29, 2008

3 Mesothelioma Treatments Explained

Mesothelioma is one of the most uncommon types of cancer and is almost always caused by past exposure to asbestos. It is believed to affect around 2000 people in the UK each year. There are two different forms of mesothelioma; pleural mesothelioma (which makes the lining of the lungs become thicker) and peritoneal mesothelioma (which makes the lining of the abdomen become thicker). Being diagnosed with this type of cancer is not a pleasant experience. However, there are treatment options available. In this article I will be explaining three of the top mesothelioma treatments.

1) SURGERY:- If you have pleural mesothelioma and it is in the early stages, surgery may be a viable treatment option. However, it cannot usually be used to treat peritoneal mesothelioma. When surgery is possible it will usually involve a pleurectomy (removing part or all of the pleura and the surrounding lung tissue) but sometimes an extra-pleural pneumonectomy (removing the pleura, the diaphragm, the tumour and the whole lung) is required for more advanced cancers.

2) CHEMOTHERAPY:- This mesothelioma treatment involves using anti-cancer medications to slow the growth of the tumour. It can also help reduce any undesirable symptoms. Unfortunately, in most cases chemotherapy alone is not enough to cure mesothelioma and instead helps provide sufferers with a better quality of life. However, it can be effective after surgery for killing off any remaining cancer cells and reducing the risk of recurrence.

Chemotherapy treatment does come with some undesirable side effects. The main side effect is that the drugs used often kill some non-cancerous cells too which makes you more susceptible to infections and can make you tire more easily. There are other associated side effects which include hair loss, nausea and diarrhoea. However, these depend upon the type of chemotherapy drug being used.

3) RADIOTHERAPY:- This involves using high energy radiation beams to destroy the cancerous cells. Radiotherapy is often used to relieve any undesirable symptoms but can sometimes prove an effective treatment for mesothelioma. It can also be used to shrink the tumour before surgery and to reduce the risk of the cancer returning after surgery.

Radiotherapy treatment also has comes with some unwanted side effects. These include nausea, vomiting and tiredness. However, these side effects and their severity varies depending upon the strength of the radiation used and the length of the radiotherapy treatment.

Mesothelioma is very rare but like any other cancer it can prove fatal if ignored. No one wants to be diagnosed with a condition like this but it can be treated. This article has discussed three of the options that are available but to get the full picture you need to go see your doctor. They are the professionals and they will be able to choose the best type of treatment for you and your circumstances.

Whilst every intention has been made to make this article accurate and informative, it is intended for general information only. Mesothelioma is a very serious, life threatening condition and you should discuss any concerns, treatments or lifestyle changes fully with your doctor.

Tom Parker owns and operates a number of useful fitness resources and websites. You can learn more about mesothelioma by visiting http://blog.freefitnesstips.co.uk/mesothelioma-explained.html

Thursday, October 30, 2008

Oxygen and Cancer Do Not Get Along

There are a number of things we can do to enable us to live a long healthy life that is full of energy and without disease. There are some basics that range from what we put in our bodies, how active or sedentary our lifestyle is, and how are thught life is managed in regard to stress, worry, outlook,etc.

What I want to target is cancer and it's prime cause. There are a lot of various types of "cancer awareness", which is a good thing, with monies being raised for more and more research to stop this disease. What we need to look at is not letting cancer get a foothold to begin with. And it starts with oxygen.

Without a dependable supply of oxygen, the cells in our bodies cnnot function properly. Nutrients in our diets must have oxygen present to convert their potential energy into usable energy. In order for new cells to be formed, hundreds of amino acids must link together using oxygen as the source of their energy.

The prime cause of cancer is the replacement of the respiration of oxygen in normal body cells by a fermentation of sugar. All normal body cells meet their energy needs by respiration of oxygen, whereas cancer cells meet their energy needs in great part by fermentation.

Poor oxygenation comes from a buildup of carcinogens and other toxins within and around cells, which blocks and then damages the cellular oxygen respiration mechanism. Clumping up of red blood cells slows down the bloodstream, and restricts flow into capillaries. This also causes poor oxygenation. Even lack of the proper building blocks for cell walls, essential fatty acids, restricts oxygen exchange.

There are some factors that rob us of oxygen on a daily basis. Toxicity, emotional stress, physical trauma and infections, reduction of atmospheric oxygen, improper diets and lack of exercise. Some of these factors we can control and some we cannot. For instance, scientific analysis reveals that the oxygen content of the air appears to be declining in our atmosphere, especially in larger cities.

It is not a surprise then that we see concurrent increases in human illness and disease. Is this chance, or a direct correlation to the decreased levels of oxygen. I go with the latter and is something not to take lightly.

Biochemist Dr. Otto Warburg, who awarded the Nobel prize regarding his cancer research, was convinced that cancer cells can only begin to proliferate in the human body when the cells become oxygen deficient and that cancer cells cannot proliferate at all when exposed to an oxygen-rich environment.
Recent research just confirms this, that indeed, lack of oxygen in cells and tissue is the underlying root cause of not just cancer but, quite possibly, of all chronic degenerative disease.

Cancer cells produce excess lactic acid as they ferment energy. Lactic acid is toxic, and tends to prevent the transport of oxygen into neighboring normal cells. Over time as these cells replicate, the cancer may spread if not destroyed by the immune system.

Chemotherapy and radiation are used because cancer cells are weaker than normal cells and therefore may die first. However, chemo and radiation damage respiratory enzymes in healthy cells, and overload them with toxins, so they become more likely to develop into cancer. The underlying cancer causing conditions are worsened, not improved. And the cancer usually returns quickly a second time unless you make changes to support the health of your body.

The implication of this research is that an effective way to support the body's fight against cancer would be to get as much oxygen as you can into healthy cells, and improving their ability to utilize oxygen. Raising the oxygen levels of normal cells would help prevent them from becoming cancerous. And increasing oxygen levels in cancer cells to high levels could help kill those cancer cells.

Medical researchers when working with cell cultures in a lab, if they want the cells to mutate, they turn down the oxygen. To stop the mutation, the oxygen is turned back up. One type of white blood cells kills cancer cells by injecting oxygen creating hydrogen peroxide into the cells.

So, how can we make sure that are cells are oxygenated? There are liquid oxygen supplements available that release oxygen into the blood that will literally produce more oxygen in your cells. In a nutshell, a stabilized oxygen supplement contains oxygen molecules in a liquid solution that is taken orally, usually 10-20 drops in glass of pure water which makes pure oxygen available to be immediately absorbed directly into the bloodstream. The hemoglobin then carries this oxygen straight to your body's cells and tissues, highly saturating them with oxygen in the process.

Joni Bell has many years of experience in the area of natural cancer prevention and treatment. He has numerous success stories of people being diagnosed living cancer free with use of alternative methods. http://www.bigcure4cancer.com/

Wednesday, August 27, 2008

Cancer Treatment - Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer.

By Meng Y

Doctors and experts alike feel that for the majority of breast cancer cases, chemotherapy isn't always the best treatment choice. For the women it is right for, chemotherapy is capable of providing results that are both long term and effective.

Chemotherapy consists of using drugs to combat cancer. With the increasing sophistication of pharmacology, those drugs are safer, more effective and more targeted, with fewer side effects than ones of the past. Today, it's common to use a drug 'cocktail' in order to offset side effects and provide a more effective treatment.

The drugs used typically interfere with the cells' ability to divide, since that is one of the chief characteristics of cancers, an uncontrolled growth from abnormal cell division in breast cancer tissue.

Typically chemotherapy is used when a person's cancer is so advanced that it requires an intense and rigorous treatment to eliminate the cancer cells effectively. Cancer cell clumps are capable of growing and spreading to other areas. When this happens it is often a given that chemotherapy is the best solution.

Cancers can reappear. The causes of recurrence are not completely understood. In some cases it is possible that the original cancer wasn't completely gotten rid of. It is also possible that the true problem that originally caused the cancerous tumor is active and still present within the body, thus causing the cancer to rear its ugly head. Whatever the reason may, physicians typically use chemotherapy.

But one of the more serious complications with chemotherapy treatments is related to its side effects. Though the drugs are improving in this regard, chemotherapy treatments sometimes affect healthy cells as well as cancerous ones. That results in healthy systems being harmed and lessened in function.

Since some of that function is to fight disease such as the cancer itself, a double harm occurs. Radiation therapy has a similar drawback in that it compromises the immune system, which is part of what helps to fight the cancer and its effects.

Often an individual's digestive system is negatively affected. They might experience nausea, hair loss, and even have poor bone marrow composition. Bone marrow is used for different bodily functions. Most importantly it assists in the production of both white and red blood cells.

An individual might experience kidney, heart and other organ damage, but it is uncommon because the cells contained in these organs do not divide as frequently under normal circumstances. In a few studies concentration and memory loss were noted for some patients who underwent chemotherapy treatments. Females who are older sometimes find that their reproductive system might change, forcing them into premature menopause.

The drugs that are used today are tolerated better and more cancer specific than the drugs used in the past. They might help to cut off vessels that are responsible for supplying blood to the tumors thus encouraging the growth of the vessel. There are many different chemotherapy regimens, with each one being designed patient specific based on his or her circumstances.

Though it is not a pleasant experience, chemotherapy offers individuals the opportunity to fight against a formerly always fatal disease. Today, it is possible to survive long term, with fewer long term side effects. This is thanks to chemotherapy.

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Sunday, August 10, 2008

Breast Cancer Treatment

By Ray Lam

At present rate it is estimated that more than 40% of the population in America and industrialized world will develop some form of cancer in their life time. This epidemic could swamp the health care system and cause colossal loss. Breast cancer is the second leading cause of death in women. Every year more than 250,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer. Though in many cases state will fund the cost of diagnosis and detection treatment costs can quickly run up to $200,000.

It can spread to the back and hip bones, lungs, liver and brain. What are the treatments for breast cancer? Breast cancer is treated by surgery, radiation, chemotherapy and hormonal therapy. Generally two or more treatments are combined together for better effect. Doctors combine surgery, chemotherapy, hormonal therapy and radiation. The treatment varies depending on many factors like the patient, the stage of breast cancer and instance of reoccurrence.

Surgery: Lumpectomy or the removal of the lump is a technique in surgery. Doctor may need to remove lymph nodes from your armpit or breast depending on the stage.

Chemotherapy: Drugs and medicines are used which restrict or stop cancer cell growth. These medicines may also reduce the size of the lumps and tumors. Some medicines even kill the tumours.

Hormonal therapy: Doctors use some anti-estrogen, aromatase inhibitors or LHRH analogues to stop the hormone estrogen production and effects. Estrogen is a sex hormone found in women body which helps in growth of the breast cancer. When Estrogen is stopped then the growth of the tumours also ceased.

Every woman diagnosed with breast cancer wants complete recovery and the ability to return to a normal life. The path to total recovery may be filled with time consuming treatments and recovery processes.

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Tuesday, August 5, 2008

What Are The Treatments For Breast Cancer

By Roselyn Capen

There are several options for treatments, when the disease is breast cancer. People, today, can choose from the many options available, to defeat breast cancer, unlike several years ago. There are at least three types of treatments for any stage of breast cancer.

Certain forms of surgeries, like biopsies, are used to diagnose breast cancer. These focus on specific areas of the body, like the breasts and lymph nodes, and not the whole body. When cancer is positively diagnosed, the patient has two options. Either she can opt for complete removal of breasts, as is the case with mastectomy, or removal of just a part of the breast, like in partial mastectomy. These two surgeries are most effective when the patient has small malignant tumors. Also, they are effective when the patient has had large tumors previously which are now small and have been successfully shrunken by chemotherapy.

Systemic therapy is good in order to get rid of any cells that may have spread to other parts of the body. If the cancer has spread and has formed tumors elsewhere this treatment can help shrink the cancer and hopefully lead to a remission, which would be ideal for everyone.

This treatment is mainly decided by the characteristics of the cancer. The more aggressive the caner is then it will have a higher risk of spreading outside that area and into other areas where treatment can be harder to do. Treatments are dependent on the status and harmful effects of cancer. The more advanced the stage, the harder it is to treat it, since it's more likely that the cancerous cells are not confined to just the breasts, then. This means the treatment has to extend outside the breasts, and can make the procedure complicated and tiresome.

Therapies are taken by either a pill or even sometimes by injection. Chemotherapy can be administered by either way and is used to destroy cancer cells that it finds. Immune therapy is widely unknown and not used as much as the other therapies just because it is new. It works the same way that getting a flu shot works, it makes the body think that something is attacking it, so that it was use its defense systems which are the while blood cells to fight the infection, or whatever the problem may be.

Many people are turning to what is known as Complementary therapy. The principle behind Complementary therapy is that it restores the body's natural health so that the body becomes capable of fighting infections on its own. Complementary therapies include yoga, massages, chiropractic, herbal remedies' intake and acupunction. People who have tried this therapy are more than just satisfied by the results, and they can reaffirm that it makes them feel a lot better while they're surviving the disease. There is absolutely nothing to lose by trying this therapy, only a chance to feel better and healthier.

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Friday, August 1, 2008

New Breast Cancer Treatments

By Roselyn Capen

When it comes to treating breast cancer there are more than a few options. There are many options that people can choose to help fight their cancer. For every stage of breast cancer, you can consider three types of treatment.

Breast cancer is usually diagnosed through some form of surgery, like a biopsy, which is concerned specifically with specific parts or the body, and in this case, with the breast or lymph nodes. Once it is diagnosed for certain, two very effective surgeries can be used for treating it. Mastectomy, which includes removal of the entire breast, and partial mastectomy, which entails with removal of a part of the breast. These surgeries are most effective when the malignant tumor is small and the cancer has not spread out. Also, for women who had large tumors, which have shrunken due to chemotherapy, partial mastectomy is a great option.

Systemic therapy is good in order to get rid of any cells that may have spread to other parts of the body. If the cancer has spread and has formed tumors elsewhere this treatment can help shrink the cancer and hopefully lead to a remission, which would be ideal for everyone.

This treatment is mainly decided by the characteristics of the cancer. The more aggressive the caner is then it will have a higher risk of spreading outside that area and into other areas where treatment can be harder to do.

Treatments are administered in various manners. For breast cancer, oral treatment, along with injectibles, are prevalent in treatments today. A very effective therapy, Chemotherapy, kills cancerous cells, and can be taken either orally or injected. Another therapy, called the Immune therapy, makes the body produce antibodies by introducing a foreign article, and the body fights back, reacting to the foreign invasion. This is much like the flu shots work. However, this is widely unknown and not used much on grounds of being new.

Unconventional methods such as yoga asana, acupuncture, massages, intake of herbal remedies, chiropractic, are also in practice. A lot of people suffering from breast cancer claim to get "healed" for the simple reason that these practices help make the body healthier and enable it to fight the ailment itself. They feel rejuvenated during the course of the action, and forget their ailment. There is nothing to lose trying these Complementary therapies, and just a healthier body to gain.

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Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Cancer Treamtment - Chemotherapy, an option for Breast Cancer

By Meng Y

Experts agree that for most breast cancer cases, chemotherapy is not the first treatment of choice. But for those for whom it is appropriate, it can provide effective, long term results.

Chemotherapy consists of using drugs to combat cancer. With the increasing sophistication of pharmacology, those drugs are safer, more effective and more targeted, with fewer side effects than ones of the past. Today, it's common to use a drug 'cocktail' in order to offset side effects and provide a more effective treatment.

The drugs used typically interfere with the cells' ability to divide, since that is one of the chief characteristics of cancers, an uncontrolled growth from abnormal cell division in breast cancer tissue.

Usually Chemotherapy is utilized when an individual's cancer has be advanced and requires a treatment that is more rigorous so that it more efficiently and more effectively eliminates cancerous cells. Clumps of cancer cells can grow and spread to other areas. When this occurs it is often indicative that chemotherapy should be utilized.

Cancers can come back. The causes of this is not currently understood. In some instances it could be that the original cancer was not completely eradicated. It could also be the case that the true cause that originally generated the cancerous tumor is still both active and present, causing the cancer to show itself. Whatever the reason is, Chemotherapy is typically used.

One of the major complications associated with chemotherapy is the side effects. Even though the drugs are beginning to improve, chemotherapy treatments can from time to time affect an individual's healthy cells in addition to the ones that are cancerous.

Since some of that function is to fight disease such as the cancer itself, a double harm occurs. Radiation therapy has a similar drawback in that it compromises the immune system, which is part of what helps to fight the cancer and its effects.

Often an individual's digestive system is negatively affected. They might experience nausea, hair loss, and even have poor bone marrow composition. Bone marrow is used for different bodily functions. Most importantly it assists in the production of both white and red blood cells.

Someone undergoing chemotherapy might experience heart, kidney, and other organ damage. This is extremely uncommon because the cells in these organs aren't capable of dividing as frequently under normal instances. In some studies individuals lost their memory and concentration. Older females often find that their reproductive system changes, causing premature menopause.

Still, drugs in use today are better tolerated and more targeted that those of previous generations. They may help cut off vessels that supply blood to the tumors which encourage the growth of just such vessels to feed themselves. There are a variety of chemotherapy regimens, with each one designed for the individual patient and his or her circumstances.

Though never pleasant, chemotherapy provides an important tool in the fight against what was once an almost always fatal disease. Today, long term survivability is greater than ever with fewer long-term side effects. Chemotherapy is one of the reasons.

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Breast Cancer Treatments That Work

By Gerardo Hunnell

The treatments for breast cancer vary according the stage, type, location and size of the cancer. The non-surgical treatments are hormone therapy, chemotherapy and radiation. Surgeries for breast include the removal of a tumor, mastectomy (breast removal) and the removal of lymphatic tissue.

The Beginning Stage

If a woman has very small blockages in her mammary glands called "lobular carcinoma", usually nothing is done except to watch her very carefully. Some women who have lobular carcinoma choose to have both of their breasts removed because the chances of getting breast cancer in the other breast are very slight. In the case of ductal carcinoma, women can often have only a lumpectomy - the lump is removed without having to remove the breast. She will then be treated with radiation therapy. Again, some women also choose to have both of their breasts removed as a preventative.

The Middle to Late Stages

In these stages, women are often treated with chemo, radiation and hormones before surgery is attempted. If the cancer is larger and is spreading quickly, a mastectomy is done followed with the removal of the lymph nodes in the axillary area. Radiation, chemotherapy and hormone therapies are used after this major surgery.

Chemotherapy is often given before a woman has surgery to see if the tumor will shrink. If it does, there is a better chance that she will not have to have her entire breast taken off.

The non-invasive treatments are almost always used regardless of whether or not surgery is done. Treating the cancer intensively makes survival more likely.

Once the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes, there is no choice but to remove them from the axillary area. A mastectomy is also performed in this case.

The Last Stage of Cancer

In the fourth stage, it is too late to operate with any success. A woman may be treated with radiation, hormones and chemotherapy to allow her to live a while longer. Many women don't have these therapies and instead choose to be given supportive care. Supportive care offers pain management and stress therapies for a woman who is dying. Nothing is done to prolong her life but instead, the focus is on the quality of her life in the short time she has to live.

If the cancer is treated and reoccurs or if some of the cancer is missed, a mastectomy and lymph tissue removal is followed by therapies if the cancer has not reached the last stage. Otherwise, supportive care is recommended.

Though it seems unlikely, men have been known to get breast cancer. They are treated in the same manner as women are when this happens.

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Cancer Treatment - Surgery as Breast Cancer Treatment Option.

By Meng Y

No person wants to undergo surgery. Luckily, breast cancer surgery that is performed today is targeted than it has been in the past. Individuals today do not experience as much scarring and are able to quickly recover while also receiving treatment that is effective enough to lower the odds of recurrence.

Diagnostic tools are more precise and the disease is better understood. Traditional options still largely apply, but employing them is no longer automatic. Each case is unique and individually analyzed. The breast cancer patient has choices and is an active participant in the decision making process.

One of the most common choices made is known as a lumpectomy. Just what it sounds like, a lumpectomy is the surgical removal of the lump that constitutes the cancer tumor. Even here there are a wide range of choices. The amount of tissue removed around the lump varies. Surgeons make a judgment call about how much is needed to reduce the chances of the cancer returning.

Depending upon where the tumor is located, its size, and how long it has been growing a surgeon might have to remove one or more lymph nodes during the lumpectomy process. Lymph nodes are bean-sized glands that are typically oval in shape. They operate as part of a system that operates throughout the body. Lymph nodes are necessary in the immune system. Lymph nodes help to fight off bacteria and the invasion of foreign bodies.

Once cancer has reached a lymph node it can easily and quickly be spread throughout the body by way of the blood vessels that connect lymph nodes together. When and if this occurs cancers become extremely difficult to treat. Sometimes chemotherapy or even radiation treatments are necessary at this stage.

To minimize the likelihood of that happening, surgeons will sometimes remove one or more lymph nodes near a cancerous tumor. Then, lab tests are performed to check for any spread of the cancer. Here again, each case is unique and the options and likely actions should be discussed with all the physicians involved.

Like other cancers, breast cancer develops in different stages. The stages are determined by the location, size and type of tumors that the cancer is comprised of. When breast cancer reaches a stage where it is necessary surgery may extend beyond a lumpectomy. The patient and the doctor might decide that a segmental or partial mastectomy is necessary.

In that procedure more breast tissue is removed than in a simple lumpectomy. In many cases radiation therapy may be part of the follow up treatment regimen, often extending for six or eight weeks. The goal is to ensure that all the cancer was removed, or that any remaining malignant tissue the surgeon was unable to get is destroyed by the radiation.

In more extreme cases, which are fortunately recommended much less often today, a mastectomy may be performed. Most or all of the breast is removed. When no lymph nodes are taken, the procedure is called a simple or total mastectomy. When all the breast tissue is removed, along with the nipple and lymph nodes in the armpit, the surgery is termed a modified radical mastectomy.

When the surgeon has to go further and remove the accompanying chest wall muscles the procedure is called a radical mastectomy. Fortunately, this extreme action is rarely called for today. Even when required, reconstructive surgery or prosthetics can often restore appearance almost entirely.

Hospital stay varies with the type of treatment, ranging from outpatient, same-day release for a simple lumpectomy to a week for more intensive procedures. Explore all your options and research the effects carefully. Ask questions and don't be put off by too-busy physicians. Finding one willing to answer questions at length in layman's terms is the first step toward proper treatment.

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