Friday, May 13, 2011

Most common Types of Cancer - Breast Cancer

Breast cancer
Breast cancer (malignant breast neoplasm) is a cancer that starts in the tissues of the breast either from the inner lining of milk ducts (Ductal carcinoma) or the lobules (Lobular carcinoma) that supply the ducts with milk. there is also rare cases that breast cancer starts in other areas of the breast. In 2010, over 250,000 new cases of breast cancer were expected to be diagnosed in women in the U.S. alone and the risk of getting invasive breast cancer during life time of a women is 1/8.

Signs and Symptom
Breast cancer is first noticed as a painless lump in the breast or armpit and most often discovered by you or your partner may discover the lump or or your doctor during a routine physical exam.
In early case of cancer, symptoms normally include
1. Lump (mass) in the breast
2. Lump in the armpit (lymph nodes)
3. Nipple discharge (clear or bloody)
4. Inverted or retracted nipple
5. Scaly or pitted skin on nipple persistent tenderness of the breast
6. Unusual breast pain or discomfort
7. Etc.

In advance case of cancer as cancer have spread to distance of the body, symptoms include
1. Bone pain (Secondary tumors in bone)
2. Shortness of breath (Secondary tumors in lung)
3. Unintentional weight loss and drop in appetite (Secondary tumors in liver)
4. Headaches, neurological pain or weakness (Secondary tumors in the nervous system)
5. Etc.

A rare case of breast cancer (Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC))
Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC), an aggressive cancer can occur in women of any age, grows in sheets instead of lumps invades nearby skin, leading to whole breast may go suddenly red and feel hot, resembling an inflammation and happening only about 1-6% of all breast cancer cases in the USA. It should be treated very promptly. Symptoms include
1. Rapid swelling (a cup size in a few days) sometimes
2. Associated by skin changes (pink, red, or dark-colored areas)
3. Nipple retraction
4. Persistent itching, skin hot to touch
5. Initially resembles mastitis
6. Breast skin ulcers (later stage of IBC)
7. Etc.

Risk factors
1. Gender
If you are women, your chance of getting breast cancer is 99 % higher due to more breast cells and constant exposure to growth hormones that affect the production of estrogen and progesterone.

2. Aging
Breast cancer increases proportional with age. Researchers found that out of 1/8 invasive breast cancers found in women, 2 out of 3 are women age 55 or older.

3. Heredity
About 5% of woman of breast cancer are caused gene mutation inherited from either the parents.

4. Family factor
Researchers found that if one of your direct family have developed breast or ovary cancer, your risk of getting breast cancer is increased.

5. Pregnancy
The risk of develop breast cancer for women who never get pregnant.

6. Smoking
Researchers found that the risk of women who had smoked cigarettes in their teen years have a high risk of getting breast cancer and women who smoke for 35 years or more have a 59% higher risk of developing breast cancer, compared with those who never smoked

7. BRCA1 and BRCA2
Researchers found that mutation of tumor suppressor gene BRCA1 and BRCA2 are likely to develop breast cancer later in their life.

8. Menstruation
Women who started menstruating at an early age (before age 12) or went through menopause at a later age (after age 55) have a slightly higher risk of breast cancer due to longer lifetime exposed to estrogen and progesterone hormones.

9. Ataxia telangiectasia mutated (ATM)
The alternation of The ATM gene provides instructions for making a protein in controling the rate cells grow and divide and assisting in DNA of cells repair by recognizing damaged or broken DNA strands caused by toxic chemicals or radiation. Inheriting one mutated copy of this gene increase the risk of breast cancer.

10. Tumor protein 53 or P53
P53, a tumor suppressor protein in humans encoded by the TP53 gene can cause Li-Fraumeni syndrome, increasing the risk of developing of breast cancer.

11. Dense breast tissue
Women who have denser breast tissue and more glandular tissue and less fatty tissue, have a higher risk of developing of breast cancer.

12. Previous breast lump that had atypical change
A benign breast lump which showed atypical change called atypical hyperplasia increases the risk of developing breast cancer later in their life.

13. Overweight
Overweight and obese women have a higher risk of developing breast cancer compared to women who maintain a healthy weight in BMI index, especially after menopause.

14. Etc.

Factors that reduce the risk of breast cancer
1. Breast feeding
Researchers found that women who breast feeding their babies slightly lower risk of developing of breast cancer.

2. Early age at first full-term pregnancy:
Women who have their first full-term pregnancy at an early age slightly lower the risk of developing breast cancer later in life. Researchers found the women who have a first full-term pregnancy before age 20, the risk of developing breast cancer is about half that of women whose first full-term pregnancy occurs after the age of 30 and only limited to hormone receptor-positive breast cancer.

3. Increasing number of births
The risk of breast cancer declines with the birth of number of children, Researchers found that Women who have given birth to five or more children have half the risk of women who have not given birth and only limited to hormone receptor-positive breast cancer.

4. Preeclampsia
Women who have had pregnancy conditions of high blood pressure and protein in the urine develop after the 20th week may slightly decrease the risk of developing breast cancer. Researchers suggested that certain hormones and proteins associated with preeclampsia may affect the risk of breast cancer.

5. Longer duration of breastfeeding:
Researchers found that Breastfeeding for an extended period of over a year) reduces the risk of developing of breast cancer later in their life in both hormone receptor-positive and hormone receptor-negative breast cancer.

6. Drinking more Coffee
In a new study, published in the journal Breast Cancer Research, women who drink five cups of coffee a day or more can reduce the risk of getting certain types of breast cancer. (How many women can do that without developing nervous tension)

7. Etc.

Diagnosis
1. Clinical Breast Exam (CBE)
The purpose of the clinical breast examination (CBE) is to detect early breast abnormalities or evaluate patient reports of symptoms of breast cancers at an earlier stage for more more effective treatment. In most case, cancer caught in early stage can be cured completely. In U. S. the American Cancer Society (ACS) recommended that women between the age of 20 to 39 should have a CBE once every three years and women 40 and older to get CBE annually.

2. Mammograms
If you have any symptoms is mentioned above, the first test which your doctor order is a mammogram to screen and detect any breast tissue abnormally and any sign of tumor. mammograms can detect between 85 to 90 percent of all abnormalities, including breast cancer, cysts, fibroadenomas, tumors, etc. even before you can feel a lump.

3. Breast Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
Breast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a medical test that helps physicians diagnose the breast conditions of a patient by using powerful magnetic field, radio frequency pulses to produce detailed pictures of soft tissues and internal structures of the breast. It reveals different details about many breast conditions that cannot be obtained by mammography, ultrasound, etc.

4. Elastography
Elastography, a new technology for imaging breast tissue, is a non-invasive method used to detect or classify the stage of the tumors. In a study comparing ultrasound with breast elastography measurement, researchers found that breast elastography was highly effective in distinguishing benign from malignant breast tumor.

5. Ductal Lavage (Pap smear for the breast)
Ductal lavage also known as Pap smear for the breast, is one of fluid test used in addition to CBE and mammography to detect breast cancer by with drawing fluid which contains breast cells from the breast ducts with the use of a tiny catheter inserted into the nipple.

6. Breast Biopsy
In a breast biopsy, a very small tissue sample is extracted and examined under a microscope for the presence of cancer cells by using a medical instrument (fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC), Core needle biopsy (CNB) and Stereotactic biopsy) or cutting out by a surgical procedure.

7. Etc.

Factors that influence treatment options
A. Stages of breast cancer
The stages of breast cancer are classified depending to
1. Size of the cancer
2. Invasive or not
3. whether cancer has spread to the lymph nodes
4. whether the cancer has spread to the distance parts or organs of the body.
There are 4 stages of breast cancer in TNM rating (where T is referred for tumor size, N is referred for Lymph Node status, M is referred for invasive or not)
# T:
Tumor Size is divided into four classes: T-1 is between 0 - 2 cms, T-2 is between 2 - 5 cms, T-3 is > 5cms, and T-4 is a tumor of any size growing into the chest wall or skin, including inflammatory breast cancer.
#N: No swollen nodes: N-0, some swelling but negative node (not cancerous): N-1a, swelling nodes and positive node (cancerous): N-1b, quite swollen and bunched together: N-2, quite swollen and near the collarbone:N-3.
# M: if no cancer cell is found: M-0, cancer cells found: M-1.

a. Stage 1
T-1 tumor and clear lymph nodes with no evidence of spreading (M-0), or T-1N-0M-0.
b. Stage 2

Stage 2 is the combination of combination of T-1, T-2, or T-3 tumor, N-0. N-1a and N-1b but no spreading (M-0)
c. Stage 3

Stage 3 is the combination of all T or N but no spreading (M-0)
d. Stage 4

Stage 4 is the combination of T, N-1a, N-1b, N-2, N-3 and M-1

B. Hormone receptors sites and HER2 (Human Epidermal growth factor Receptor 2)
1. Hormone receptors
A hormone receptor is a receptor protein on the surface of a cell with the function of binding to a specific hormone in its interior. Estrogen receptors are that bind estrogen hormone and progesterone receptors are cells with the same.
Estrogen and progesterone receptor status tests
They are the tests to determine whether the tumor's growth is influenced by the hormones estrogen and/or progesterone by taking a sample of breast cancer tissue obtained during a biopsy.
a. Cancer with hormones sensitive is always slower growing
b. Reponses well to hormones suppression treatment
c. If there is negative found in both tests (ER- and PgR-), hormone suppression treatments are not required (tuomor is not driven by hormones). Further testings are required to determine the best options.
d.
# ER-0, PgR-0 is no estrogen and progesterone receptor found
#Er-1+, PgR-2+ small numbers of estrogen and progesterone receptors found accordingly
#ER-2+, PgR-2+ a medium numbers of estrogen and progesterone receptors found accordingly
# ER-3+, PgR-3+ large numbers of estrogen and progesterone receptors found accordingly.

2. Testing HER2 (human epidermal growth factor receptor 2)
About 30% of breast cancers are caused by over expression of its protein product or HER2.
If your cancer is no driven by either hormones estrogen or progesterone, you doctor my order the testing of HER2. HER2, a gene with function of signaling the growth and differentiation of cells. and a healthy breast has only 2 copies of the HER2 gene.
A test of HER 2 positive can be treat by the amplification of other genes and the use of the drug Herceptin, in combination with other chemotherapy drugs, otherwise your cancer is not caused by gene HER2.
a. IHC test
IHC is the most commonly used test ordered by your doctor to determine the number of HER2 receptor protein on the surface of the cancer cells done by a special staining process performed on fresh or frozen breast cancer tissue removed during biopsy.
*HER2-0 or HER2-1+ is considered HER2 negative
*HER2-2+ or HER2-3+ is considered HER2 positive.

b. FISH test (Fluorescence in situ hybridization test)
If the IHC test can not clearing provide results of the HER2 positive or negative then FISH will be required. FISH is considered more accurate to determine whether the cells have extra copies of the HER2 gene by vitalizing gene HER2 in breast cancer tissues removed during biopsy. HER2-positive or negative)


The main types of invasive and non invasive breast cancer
1. Invasive breast cancer
Invasive breast cancers grow by alternation of the DNA of the breast cells and either have a tendency to spread to the lymph nodes then to distant parts of the body or already do so. Most breast cancers are invasive.
Common types of invasive breast cancers include:
a. Infiltrating/Invasive Ductal Carcinoma (IDC)
This is the most common type of breast cancer accounted for about three-quarter of all breast cancer, originated in the milk ducts, then spread out to nearby breast tissue including Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC), Medullary carcinoma, Metaplastic breast cancer, Paget's disease of the nipple, Tubular carcinoma, etc.

b. Infiltrating/Invasive Lobular Carcinoma (ILC)
Lobular breast cancer is another common types of invasive breast cancers, originated in the glands or lobes, that has broken through the wall of the lobule and begun to invade the tissues of the breast. Infiltrating Lobular Carcinoma accounted for about ten percent of all breast cancer.

2. Non invasive breast cancer
Non invasive breast cancer is also known as carcinoma in situ of which breast cancer cells stay within the milk ducts or lobules in the breast.
a. Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS)
DCIS is one the most common type of non-invasive breast cancer as it has tendency not to beyond the milk duct into surrounding breast tissue and treated differently than other types of invasive cancer. DCIS isn’t life-threatening, but it increases the risk of developing an invasive breast cancer in the future of the patient life.

b. Lobular Carcinoma In Situ (LCIS)
LCIS, is another types of invasive breast cancer, originated from the abnormal cells growth in the breast lobules, but not spread to the surrounding breast tissues. Researchers found that 25 percent of patients who have LCIS will develop breast cancer at some point in the future.

Depending to your diagnosis, your breast cancer is ranked in stage and grade by your oncologist and radiologist and treatment will be suggested or given accordingly.

Phytoestrogen and breast cancer
Since there is controversy of phytoestrogen protects against or induces breast cancer, we would like you to read this research from The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition 2oo4

Prevention and after treatments
A. With Foods
1. Food with high amount of beta carotene
All yellow orange vegetables contains high amount of beta carotene, a precursor of vitamin A which can be stored in the liver. Researchers found that eating foods high in beta- carotene lowers the risk of breast cancer.

2. Food with high amount of Indole -3-carbinol
Cruciferous vegetables, such as broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, turnips, brussel sprout, etc. contains high amount of indole -3-carbinol which inhibits the breast cancer promoting estrogens such as the 16-hydroxy- estradiol and 16-hydroxy-estrone.

3. Nuts and seeds
Most but and seeds contain high amount of linoleic acid which found to prevents and reduces the risk of breast cancer in some studies.

4. Foods contain high amount lycopene
Lycopene is a bright red carotene and carotenoid but no vitamin A activity pigment and phytochemical found in tomatoes and other red fruits and vegetables, such as red carrots, watermelons and papayas. Reseachers found that lycopene inhibits tumors cells. Eat cooked tomatoes reduces the risk of breast and prostate cancer.

5. Foods with high resveratrol
Drinking no more than 150 mg of red wine or eating red grape helps to reduce the risk of breast cancer due to high amount of resveratrol. Researchers found that resveratrol has the ability to prevent the estrogen process that leads to cancer by blocking the formation of the estrogen DNA abducts.

6. Food with high amount of Omega 3 fatty acid
Cold water fish such as salmon, tuna, etc and nuts and seeds such as walnut, pumpkin seeds, flaxseeds contain high amount of Omega 3 fatty acid. Researchers found that omega-3 fatty acids not only combat breast cancer but also prevent the breast cancer from spreading to other issue or organs.

7. Food with high amount of anthocyanins
Cherries contain high amount of anthocyanins. In some studies, found that cherries inhibit colon cancer and breast cancer cells.

8. Food with amount of limonoids
Researcher found that the peel and white membrane of oranges, lemon, tangerine contain high amount of limonoid, a chemical compound showed inhibition of breast cancer in test tubes. Eat whole fruit oranges and tangerines.

9. Eating whole grains
Study showed that women who ate one serving a day of a cereal high in wheat bran reduces the risk of breast cancer by increasing intake of high levels of vitamin and mineral and reducing in take of artificial ingredients added in refine grain which promotes estrogen.

10. Avoid trans and saturated fat
Diet high in trans and saturated fats increase the production of bad estrogen that induces the risk of breast cancer.

11. Polyphenol Epigallocatechin-3 Gallate (EGCG)
Green tea contains high amount of EGCG, a compound has been known to inhibit breast cancer cells. A new study has elucidated the molecular mechanisms by which (-)-Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), a compound found in green tea, exerts anti-cancer effects in tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer cells.

12. Top your olive oil instead of high heat
Oil becomes trans fat in high heat increases the risk of breast cancer as mentioned above.

13. Diallyl trisulfide
Garlic and onion contain sunstance diallyl trisulfide that can suppress breast cancer cell invasion and metastasis.

14. Isoflavinoids
Soy caontains high amount of isoflavonoid which can block the more powerful estrogens from stimulating estrogen sensitive cancer cells by occupying the estrogen receptors in breast cells.

15. Lignan
Lignan also known as mammalian lignan in flaxseed is a chemical structural similarity to the natural estrogen, 17-Beta-estradiol which has a weak estrogenic or antiestrogenic properties to inhibit breast cancer cells.

16. Etc. Please read 100+ Healthy Foods Classification

B. With Antioxidants
Antioxidants reduce the risk of oxidation causes of tissues damage and mutation of DNA of cells which can cause breast cancer and recurrence of breast cancer by scavenging or stopping them before causing damage to the normal cells.
You can read more details of above at this link Antioxidants, Free Radicals, Cancers, Diseases

1. Lycopene
Lycopene found abundant in cooked tomatoes as a powerful antioxidants counterbalances the detrimental oxygen free radicals before they can damage cellular structures in the breast as well as other types of cancer.

2. Vitamin A
Vitamin A plays an important role as an antioxidant as it scavenges free radicals by preventing them to become cancerous. including breast tissues but vitamin A have had mixed results in treating cancer according to W. Byers, Ph.D., a professor of oncology and cell biology at Georgetown's Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center as vitamin A may cause some breast cancer cells to form blood vessels brings up the rather disturbing notion that treatment with these drugs may actually stimulate tumor growth,..."

3. Vitamin C
As an antioxidant and water soluble vitamin, vitamin C can be easily carry in blood and operate in much of the part of body. By restoring vitamin E, vitamin A and E helps to fight against forming of free radicals by scavenging in inhibiting any cause of oxidation.

4 Vitamin E
It beside is important in protecting muscle weakness, repair damage tissues, lower blood pressure and inducing blood clotting in healing wound, etc, it also is one of powerful antioxidant, by moving into the fatty medium to prevent lipid peroxidation, resulting in lessening the risk of chain reactions by curtailing them before they can starts.

5. Coenzyme Q10
Coenzyme Q10 enhances energy production by promoting the process of the production of ATP then serving as fuel for the cells and acts an antioxidant to prevent the generation of free radicals during this process, thus reducing the risk of breast cancer and other types of cancers.

g. Etc. Keladi Tikus is also known as Rodent Tuber, a genus of Typhonium in Araceae family native to Eeast Asian. The herb has been used in traditional herbal
medicine
in treating cancer, including leukemia. Researcher Sheen Lai Choo from Malaysia Science Research Center found that compound Fitol in keladi tikus expresses apoptosis property by activating PPARy to causes cancer cells die by suicide (Apaptosis).

2. Eruca sativa
Eruca sativa is also known as Arugula herba genus of Eruca, belongs to the family Brassicaceae, native to Europe and western Asia and It is a type of cruciferous vegetable like broccoli, cauliflower and cabbage. Study showed that Eruca sativa promotes apoptosis, suppresses cell cycle progression and inhibits angiogenesis of human breast cancer cells.

3. Anethum graveolens (Dill) seeds
Anethum graveolens is also known as dill, a genus Anethum, belongs to the family Apiaceae. Monoterpenes, the substance of essential oil activates the secretion of glutathione-S-transferase is an anti carcinogens and carcinogens neutralizing agent.

4. Trifolium pratense
Trifolium pratense is best known as Red clover, a genus Trifolium, belongs to the family Fabaceae, native to Europe, Western Asia and northwest Africa. Researcher found that genistein inhibits of cancer cell growth, promotes apoptosis

5. Actaea racemosa
Actaea racemosa is also known as black cohosh, a genus Actaea, belongs to the family Ranunculaceae, native to eastern North America. researchers found that black cohosh can block cell growth, Rebbeck and colleagues note. The herb contaons high amount of antioxidanta, and has been shown to have anti-estrogen effects. Taking black cohosh may reduce the risk of breast cancer by more than 50 per cent, suggested by an epidemiological study from the United States.

6. Punica granatum essential oil
Punica granatum is also known as pomegranate, a genus Punica, belongs to family Lythraceae, native to native to the Iranian Plateau and the Himalayas in north Pakistan and Northern India. Researcher from the Technion-Israel Institute of Technology found that pomegranate essential oil triggers apoptosis, a self-destruct mechanism in breast cancer cells.

7. Etc.

Ban Zhi Lian
Ban Zhi Lian is also known as scutellaria. The bitter and cool herb has been used in TCM as diuretic and to treat tumors and cancer as it clears heat, expels toxins, eliminates stagnation, stops bleeding and calms pain by enhancing the functions of lung, liver, spleen, stomach and large intestine channels. In vitro study, essential oil extract of 200mg/ml of the herb possesses the effect of inhibiting the tissues of rectum cancer or colon cancer.
In lab tests of animals and breast-cancer cells, BZL101 caused apoptosis or cell death, researchers found.

2. Qing Hao
Qing Hao is also known as Worm Wood. The bitter and cold herb has been used in TCM as anti malaria agent and to trealupus, schistosomiasis as it disperses cold and dampness, expels wind and calms pain by enhancing the functions of kidney, liver and gallbladder channels.
Researchers found that qing hao elevates the calcium ions of leukemia white cells, triggering apoptosis, a self-destruct mechanism in cancer cells. A University of Washington study showed that qing hao selectively kills several cancer cell lines in the test tube.

3. Huang Lian
Huang Lian is also known as Figwortflower. The bitter and cool herb has been used in TCM to treat indigestion, diabetes, inflammation of intestine, diarrhea caused by bacterial infection, high fever, restlessness and insomnia, etc. as it clears heat, dries dampness, disperses fire and expels toxins by enhancing the functions of heart, large intestine, liver, and stomach channels.
Researchers at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) found that huang lian extract has been shown to induce apoptosis and to arrest cell growth by up-regulating Interferon beta and tumor necrosis factor-alpha genes in breast cancer cells.

4. Yun Zhi
Yun Zhi is also known as Turkey Tail Mushroom. The sweet, bland and cold herb has been used in TCM as an antibiotic, anti-viral, and anti-tumor agent and to treat hepatitis B, tumors in the digestive system, respiratory system and in the cervix uteri as it clear heat and dampness, transforming phlegm and expels toxin by enhancing the functions of liver, spleen, lung channels.
Researchers found that Yun Zhi significantly improves survival rates and lifespan for gastric, esophageal, colorectal, breast and lung cancers.

5. Bai Hua She She Cao
Bai Hua She She Cao is also known as spreading hedyotis, The bitter, sweet and cold herb has been used in TCM as anti-bacteria, anti-inflammation, anti-tumor, anti-virus agent and to treat snakebite and enhances immune system as it clears heat, drains dampness, expels toxins and resolves abscesses by enhancing the functions of liver, stomach, large intestine channels.
The Sanjiv Kumar YADAV, Shao Chin LEE(Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore researcher results showed that the ethanol extract from Bai Hua She She Cao effectively evokes cancer cell apoptosis, possibly through burst-mediated caspase activation.

f. Etc.

Treatments
A. Types of treatments

Most invasive cancers are treated with combination of the below types of treatment
1. Surgery
Most patients with invasive or non invasive breast cancer are required surgery to remove the cancer from the breast. While non invasive cancer patients are not needed further treatment, invasive cancer patients usual needed to have some of the lymph nodes removed and examined under a microscope by pathologist to see if they contain cancer cells.
1.1. Breast-conserving surgery
The operation only removes the breast cancer cells but conserves the other healthy breast cells. It only works well with patients with small size of tumors.
a. Lumpectomy:
Operation used to remove the breast cancer cells and some the tissue around the breast.
b. Partial mastectomy
Normally, partial mastectomy required 2 incisions in the surgery. One incision for removing the breast cancer cells and tissue around it, the others is for removal for lymph nodes tissues for examination.
1. 2. Mastectomy
a. Total mastectomy
The complete removal of the breast that has cancer and some lymph node tissues are taken as the same time in the operation.
b. Modified radical mastectomy: The surgery not only to remove the whole breast that has cancer, many of the lymph nodes under the arm, the lining over the chest muscles, but sometimes, also parts of the chest wall muscles as well.This types of operation may only perform with patient with advance stage of breast cancer.
c. Radical mastectomy:
Beside removing the breast that has cancer, radical mastectomy also remove the chest wall muscles under the breast, and all of the lymph nodes under the arm.

1.3. Side effect
a. Soreness, tenderness, and pain at the incision site.
b. Nerve damage
c. Lymphedema
d. Shift in weight
e. Tightness in skin
f. Poor wound healing, bleeding, or
g. reaction to the anesthesia

2. Radiation therapy
2.1 By using high-energy x-rays or other types of radiation, radiation therapy kills breast cancer cells and keep them from growing or regrowing. Depending to stage or grade of the breast cancer of the patient, there are two types of radiation therapy.
a. External radiation
By using a machine outside the body to send direct high-energy x-rays or other types of radiation toward the cancer.
b. Internal radiation
Internal radiation
By placing a radioactive substance direct into or near the cancer by a medical intrument with the aim to kill nearby cancer cells.

2.2 Side effects
a. Fatigue
b. Chest pain
c. Heart problem
d. Short of breath
e. Skin discoloration or pinkness, irritation.
f. Etc.

3. Chemotherapy
3.1. Chemotherapy is most used to treat breast cancer patience with advance stage or grade, as it has spread to a distant parts of the body by using drugs taken by mouth or injected into a vein or muscle of the patient to stop the growth of or to kill cancer cells.
3.2. Side effects
a. Nausea
b. Vomiting
c. Hair loss
d. Fatigue
e. Anemia
f. Mouth sores taste and smell changes
g. Infection
h. Etc.

4. Hormone therapy
4.1. If the breast cancer is due to hormone related actions, hormone therapy is most effective to blocks their action and stops cancer cells from growing. Tamoxifen is often given to patients with early stages of invasive breast cancer by suppressing the production of estrogen for over period of 5 years.

4.2. Side effects
a. Headache
b. Nausea
c. Breast pain
d. Constipation or diarrhea Nausea
e. Loss of or decrease in appetite
f. Tenderness in the breasts
g. Trouble sleeping
h. Etc.

5. Biological therapy
a. By enhancing the body's own immune or hormonal system to kill cancer cells, while leaving healthy cells relatively intact with the use of antibodies to attack cancer cells or block their activities or interrupting the hormonal or chemical pathways of the cancers with certain drugs composed of small molecules .
b. Side effects
b.1. Allergic reactions,
b. 2. Difficulty breathing, swelling,
b. 3. Nausea,
b.4. Fever or chills, and
b. 5. Dizziness and fatigue
b.6. Etc.

6. Target therapy
6.1. Target therapy is a treatment used to treat breast cancer caused by specific cells by killing them but without harming normal cells.
Trastuzumab (Herceptin) is a drug that used effectively to treat breast cancer caused by growth factor protein HER2, while lapatinib inhibits the HER2 protein and other proteins effects inside tumor cells.

6.2. Side effects
a. Shortness of breath
b. Leg swelling
c. Severe fatigue
d. Weakness
e. Nausea
f. Vomiting
g. Cough
h. Diarrhea
i. Headache
j. Etc.

The main objective of all treatments is to remove all the primary cancerous and non cancerous tumors but leave the breast as undisturbed as possible and prevent the cancerous tumors from reoccurring.

Male breast Cancer
Although it is rare, it can happen, approximate 1% of breast cancer patients are male. It is most common in older men, but can occur at any age. Symptoms are a similar to those of femal breast cancer. Therefore, if you notice any usual symptoms of your breast, please see your doctor imediately, because early diagnosis have a good chance to be cured. Treatments are also similar to those of above, depending to the grade and stage of the tumors. (We will come back with a article of male breast cancer later).

Breast reconstruction
Breast reconstruction after mastectomy for patient with breast cancer are always discussed before the surgery. Although, the reconstruction of breast is no longer giving back the natural breast but most women are graceful. There are many ways for breast reconstruction and general anesthesia is required in all stages. No matter what types of breast reconstruction you choose. Before mastectomy, your breast reconstruction and breast removal surgeons will provide you with all information, made sure you understand, discuss and ask, if you have any question before going into operation room.
1. Implant
1.1. If you chose to have breast reconstruction after surgery with implant, you may be advised to have implanted done after the would of the surgery area is completely heal. In this type of treatment, the surgeon will remove enough skin over your breast during the mastectomy to be able to close the skin flaps for the reconstruction breast and placed a expander is a pouch made out of silicone, it will be slowly filled until it reach the right size, before the permanent breast implant is placed.
This type of breast reconstruction is done over stages and general anesthesia is necessary.
1.2. Side effects
a. leaking
b. Scar may become permanent
c. Shifting
d. Infection
e. Uneven breasts
f. Etc.

2. Breast reconstruction with natural tissue
If you chose to have breast reconstruction with natural tissue and later after surgery
2.1. Trectus abdominous muscle flap
Using skin, fat, and muscle in your lower belly, from one hip to the other, by tunneling this tissue under the skin of your abdomen up to the breast area with the blood vessels cut and reattached to blood vessels under your arm then made to the size and shape that match your other breast.

2.2 The latissimus muscle flap
Using skin, fat, and muscle of your upper back, on the side of your breast that was removed by tunnelling this tissue under your skin to the breast area with blood vessels will remain connected to the area where the tissue was taken off then made to the size and shape that match your other breast.

2.3. Side effects
a. Loss of sensation
b. Scar
c. Uneven breast size
d. Etc.

Most breast reconstruction are done over stages with general anesthesia.
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Most common Types of Cancer - Brain and Spinal Cord Cancer

Brain and Spinal Cord Cancer
Brain and spinal cord make up the nervous system. Brain and Spinal Cord tumors originating is not very common. Most primary tumors are caused by abnormal cells growth that surround and support neurons, with a small number may be caused by gene defect from exposure to radiation or toxic chemicals. Benign tumors are noncancerous, and malignant tumors are cancerous. More than 190.000 people in US are diagnosed with a brain tumor each year alone.

Types of brains and spinal cord cancer
1. Non-infiltrating astrocytomas
Noninfiltrating astrocytomas are tumors that grow slowly and usually do not grow into the tissues around them and is considered as benign tumors.
a. Juvenile pilocytic astrocytomas
Juvenile pilocytic astrocytomas occur most often in the cerebellum in young children and is a neoplasm of the brain that occurs more often in children and young adults (in the first 20 years of life).
b. Subependymal giant cell astrocytomas
Subependymal giant cell astrocytomas grow in the ventricles and are almost always seen in children with tuberous sclerosis, but it can can become aggressive and cause obstructive hydrocephalus usually in older children and adolescents.

2. Low-grade astrocytomas (Infiltrating or diffuse astrocytomas)
An astrocytoma is a type of glioma that develops from star-shaped cells (astrocytes) that support nerve cells and accounts for about 10 percent to 15 percent of gliomas, a primary brain tumor that originates from the supportive cells of the brain. Low-grade astrocytomas is classified as a grade II tumor.
3. Intermediate- and high-grade astrocytomas
a. Intermediate- grade astrocytomas
Intermediate-grade astrocytomas (grade III) have more anaplasia and readily detectable mitotic activity, but not necrosis. The white arrow points to a mitotic figure. Glioblastomas, which are the most malignant grade of astrocytoma, are highly anaplastic and contain mitotic activity and tumour necrosis.
b. High-grade astrocytomas
High-grade astrocytomas are very different from secondary brain tumors, which originally developed elsewhere in the body and spread (metastasized) to the brain and generally respond poorly to surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy.

4. Oligodendrogliomas and anaplastic oligodendrogliomas
a. Anaplastic astrocytomas
Malignant or anaplastic astrocytoma is a glioma that develops from star-shaped glial cells (astrocytes) that support nerve cells. It is an infiltrating, primary brain tumor, with tentacles that may invade surrounding tissue and is classified as more aggressive grade III astrocytomas.
b. Glioblastomas
Glioblastomas is the most common and most aggressive malignant primary brain tumor in humans, involving glial cells and accounting for 52% of all parenchymal brain tumor cases and 20% of all intracranial tumors and is and is classified as more aggressive grade IV astrocytomas.
5. Ependymomas and anaplastic ependymomas
a. Ependymomas
Ependymoma is malignant glioma originated in ependyma, a tissue of the central nervous system. Usually, in children the location is intracranial, while in adults it is spinal. The common location of intracranial ependymoma is the fourth ventricle. Rarely, ependymoma can occur in the pelvic cavity.
6. Anaplastic ependymomas
Anaplastic ependymoma is a malignant tumor of ependymomas, a tissue of the central nervous system commonly found in children and adults that are younger than 25 years old. These tumors grow rapidly and most patient eventually die if the tumor is not diagnosed and treated early.

7. Schwannomas (including acoustic neuromas)
Schwannomas is a noncancerous nerve sheath tumor arises from the nerve sheath and consisted of Schwann cells in a collagenous matrix, which normally produce the protective covering to peripheral nerves. As it grows, it can cause pressure, irritation or damage to the nerve and affect the sensations of hearing and balance.

8. Spinal cord tumors
Primary cancerous tumors of spinal cord are not common. Most of spinal cord tumors are secondary tumors, and are spread from other parts of the body but they can interfere with the transmitting signals from the brain to the spinal cord, leading to loss of function and sensation.

9. Lymphomas
Lymphomas is a cancer in the lymphatic cells of the immune system, including Hodgkin disease and non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
a. Hodgkin disease
Hodgkin disease is a type of lymphoma found in the lymph nodes, named after Thomas Hodgkin who published the first description of lymphoma in 1832 and can spread systemically from one lymph node group to another.
b. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
Non-Hodgkin lymphomas are caused by abnormal growth of cancerous white blood cells (T and B cells) due to mutation or alternation of cells DNA. They can spread to almost any other part of the body.

10. Brain tumors that occur more often in children
a. Astrocytomas
Astrocytomas in children age from 5 -8 age are usually benign, low grade which are localized and grow slowly.
b. Ependymomas
Ependymomas arises from cells of the ependymal lining located in tiny passageways (ventricles) in the brain and interfered with the flow of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), causing problem of speak, walk, eat, see and other normal functions in children.

c. Medulloblastomas
Medulloblastomas are the most common types of brain cancers in children originated in the cerebellum (10-20%) or posterior fossa (40%) and occurred more often in boys than girls between age 5 to 10.

11. Etc.

Grades of a tumor
The grades of tumor is classified according to abnormal cancer cells how quickly the abnormal cancer cells in the tumor grow and spread look under a microscope by using tissue removed for biopsy.
1. Grade I
Slow growth tumor, rarely spreads into nearby tissues can beremove the entire tumor by surgery.
2. Grade II
Slow growth tumor grows slowly may spread into nearby tissue and become a higher-grade tumor.
3. Grade III
Quickly grows tumor and is likely to spread into nearby tissues.
4. Grade IV
Aggressive growth tumor likely spread to nearby tissues and other parts of the brain. It is difficult to treat successfully. The chance of recovery depends on the type, grade, and location of the tumor.

Symptoms
1. Headache
Headache is one of first symptoms for person with brain ans spinal cord tumors. The symptom is worse when wake up and gradual improve throughout the day.

2. Seizures
Seizure happened due to sudden, abnormal electrical activity in the brain, can be last in 2 minutes or less. Not all seizure are convulsions, but some os them are. It cab be divided into two main groups. Focal seizures or partial seizures, happen in just one part of the brain, a common symptom of a brain tumor and generalized seizures happens to both sides of the brain.

3. Mental and personal change
Not all patients with brain and spinal cord cancer may result in mental and personal change, but depending to the location of the tumors, it may affect the ability of memory, speech, communication, etc.
4. Mass effect
If the tumor growth affect the normal intracranial pressure (IICP) volume such as accumulation/restriction of fluid, it may cause mass effect, leading to vomiting, nausea etc.

5. Focal symptoms
Many patients with brain and spinal cord tumors may result in certain focal symptom which affect a specific region of the body such as weakness in the left arm, the right leg, buzzing sounds in the ears or hearing loss, decreased muscle control, etc. These types of symptom are important for the doctors to determine the exact location of the tumors.

6. Loss of appetite
May be caused by the use of medication in chemotherapy

7. Etc.

Causes and risk factors
1. Family history
Although many people with brain and spinal cord cancer do not have a family history of the diseases, but if one of you direct family have the following disorders, you may be at a high risk
a. Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF-1)
Neurofibronatosis type 1 is a genetic disorder which can either caused by inherited from the parent or genetic change after birth of the single gene NF-1 as a result of the mutation of a gene on the long arm of chromosome 17, leading to cognitive and learning disability.

b. Neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF- 2)
Neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF- 2) is associated with vestibular schwannomas (acoustic neuromas) and, in some patients, meningiomas or spinal cord ependymomas. Changes in the NF2 gene are responsible for neurofibromatosis type 2. Like NF1, the gene changes are inherited from parent or occurred before birth in children without a family history.

c. Tuberous sclerosis
Tuberous sclerosis is a rare, multi-system genetic disease. People with this condition may have causes non-malignant tumors to grow in the brain and along with benign tumors of the skin, heart, kidneys, and other organs. It is caused by changes in either the TSC1 or the TSC2 gene. These gene changes can be inherited from a parent, but in most cases they develop in people without a family history.

d. Von Hippel-Lindau disease
Von Hippel-Lindau disease is a rare, autosomal dominant genetic condition associated with an inherited tendency to develop benign or cancerous tumors in different parts of the body, including hemangioblastomas (blood vessel tumors) in the brain, spinal cord, or retina, as well as tumors of the inner ear, kidney, adrenal gland, and pancreas, due to change in the VHL gene on the short arm of chromosome 3. In most cases the gene changes are inherited, but in some cases the changes happen very early in life in people whose parents don't have them

e. Li-Fraumeni syndrome
Li-Fraumeni syndrome is a rare autosomal dominant hereditary disorder. People with this condition are at higher risk for developing gliomas, along with certain other types of cancer caused by changes in the p53 tumor suppressor gene.

f. Turcot syndrome
Turcot syndrome is a condition associated with biallelic DNA mismatch repair mutations during DNA replication and recombination such as repairing erroneous insertion, deletion and mis-incorporation of bases.

g. Etc.

2. Immune disorder
People with impaired immune systems have an increased risk of developing lymphomas of the brain or spinal cord. Lymphoma is a cancer in the lymphatic cells developed within the lymphatic system, a part of the body’s immune system at birth or caused by treatments that required to suppress the immune system such as preventing rejection of transplanted organs, or the result of diseases such as the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS).

3. Radiation exposure
Radiation exposure is considered as one the environmental risk factor for brain tumors, such as radiation therapy. Researcher found that children with ringworm of the scalp (a fungal infection)and leukemia were treated with low-dose radiation therapy have an increased risk of brain tumors as they got older.
But for most patients with other brain cancers, the benefits of radiation therapy far outweigh the risk of developing a brain tumor years later.

4. Toxic chemicals
Prolonged period of exposure to toxins in months or years can mutation of DNA of cell in replication and division. Study found that chemicals identified as being causally associated with cancers in humans, have all been shown to produce cancer in laboratory animals.

5. Infection with certain viruses
Virus can cause genetic changes in cells by deleting and adding genes and genetic materials into your cells, causing DNA alternation, such as Cervical cancer can be caused by human papilloma virus (HPV), primary liver cancer caused by hepatitis B and C viruses and lymphomas caused by Epstein-Barr Virus.

6. Exposure to electromagnetic fields
Study in adults, found that long term exposure to electromagnetic field exposure showed very small increases in leukemia and brain tumors.

7. Etc.

Diagnosis
1. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
By using radio waves and magnetic fields to take pictures, MRI scan provides very high quality of a cross-sectional slice and lengthwise slices of the brain and spine, thus providing the better and detail image of location of tumor and the surrounding structures. It is one of most likely early test ordered by a doctor for people suspected to have brain and spinal cord tumor.

2. Positron emission tomography (PET) scan
Positron emission tomography (PET) scan is a nuclear medicine imaging technique with radioactive material may be injected into a vein, inhaled or swallowed to produce a three-dimensional image or picture of functional processes in brain with an aim to detect location of the tumor and surrounding structure. More radioactive material accumulated often corresponds to areas of disease and shows up as brighter spots on the PET scan.

3. Computerized tomography (CT)
CT scan is always the first test to be done if there is any suspicious of tumors. It is useful to detect the location of the tumor as it takes many X-ray images, creating detailed cross section pictures.

4. A myelogram
A myelogram, an x-ray examination after injecting dye (oil-based liquid that is removed after the x-ray exam while water-based liquid that is not removed) into the fluid-filled space around the spinal cord with aim to detect any abnormality of the spinal cord and surrounding structures. Radiologist who performs the test interprets the information then reports to your doctor.

5. Biopsy
A biopsy is a test of removal sample of cells or tissues for examination and determination of the grade and type of the tumors by examining them under a microscope by a pathologist or chemically, if the location of the tumor allows the test to be done without major risk to the patient.

6. Etc.


Treatment Options
The objective of any cancer treatment is to eliminate the cancer and prevent the chance of recurrence and types of the treatment are depended on types of caner, position and grade.
A. General treatments
1. Surgery
Surgery is one of most common treatment of choice for many brain and spinal cord tumors if they can be removed without causing major neurological problems. Sometime surgery is necessary to relieve the pressure on your brain from the tumor and conbined with other treatment depending such as radiation therapy. Complications during or after surgery are rare, but it can happen, such as side effects of bleeding, infections, or reactions to anesthesia.

2. Dexamethasone
Dexamethasone is a class of steroid drugs and used as immunosuppressant for patient who undergoing chemotherapy to counteract certain side-effects of their anti-tumor treatment to relieve the symptoms of vomiting and nausea, prevent the development of edema and treat spinal cord compression.

3. Radiation therapy
Radiation therapy is another most effective treatment for brain and spinal cord tumors locally by using X-rays or other high-energy rays to destroy cancer cells before and after surgery and shrink tumors if necessary. It most of the time used in combination with other treatments but can be used alone depending to diagnosis. The treatment is performed by radiation oncologist. The aims of radiation therapy is to kill tumor cells but normal cells of normal brain and spinal tissue is also damaged.

4. Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy most of the time uses medications to eliminate cancer cells with IV by giving of medicine directly into a vein or taking orally. As the medications travel through our bloodstream, they kill cancer cells throughout the body including the cancers in brain and spinal cord. Chemotherapy can be given orally or through a needle in the vein. Since it is designed to kill cancer cells which divide quickly, it also affects the normal cells in the bone marrow, the lining of the mouth and intestines, and the hair follicles and causes symptoms of hair loss, mouth sores, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, low white blood cell and low blood platelet counts.

5. Etc.






Most common Types of Cancer - Bowel (Colorectal ) Cancer

Bowel cancer
Bowel cancer also known as colorectal cancer, is defined as a condition of the abnormal proliferation of cells in the colon, rectum, or vermiform appendix. Bowl is divided in 2 parts, the first part of the bowel, the small bowl, is involved with the digestion and absorption of food. The 2nd part, the large bowel which consist the the colon and rectum, is involved in absorption of water from the small bowel contents and broken down of certain materials in the feces into substances of which some of them to be re absorbed and reused by the body. Bowel cancer is relatively very common and slowly growing and progress cancer and in predictable way.
Bowel cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer in developed countries, including U>S and Canada.

Types of bowel cancer
1. Adenocarcinomas

Most bowel cancers are adenocarcinomas, originated in epithelium tissues, including the surface layer of skin, glands and their tissues that line the cavities and organs of the body.

2. Squamous cell cancers
Squamous cells are the skin like cells that make up the bowel lining together with the gland cells. Squamous cell cancers are rare with the risk of 25 per 100000.

Other bowel tumours
3. Carcinoid
Carcinoid is an unusual type of slow growth neuroendocrine tumor. It looks benign but might spread to other parts of the body as they grow in hormone producing tissue in the digestive system.

4. Leiomyosarcomas
Leiomyosarcomas are the rare and resistant types of bowel cancer and generally not very responsive to chemotherapy or radiation. They are malignant abnormal mass of tissue of smooth muscles of colon, comprising between 5–10% of soft tissue sarcomas.

5. Lymphomas
Bowel lymphomas are rare and more likely to start in the rectum rather in the colon. Many patients with lymphomas are diagnosed in the late stage and already spread to other organs.

6. Melanomas
Melanomas are rare malignant tumor of cells that produce the dark pigment. This type of bowel cancer usually originates from somewhere else and then spread to the bowel.

7. Etc.

Symptoms
1. Changes in bowel habits
2. Narrow stools
3. Constipation
4. Diarrhea
5. Irritable bowel syndrome
6. Intermittent
7. Ulcerative colitis
8. Crohn's disease,
9. Diverticulosis
10. Peptic ulcer disease
11. Abdominal pain
12. Unintentional weight loss
13. Loss of appetite
14. Unexplained fatigue
15. Nausea or vomiting
16. Anemia
17. Jaundice
18. Etc.

Causes and Risk factors
1. Age
The disease is more common in people over the age of 50 and increase with age. Regular colonoscopy after age of 50 is valuable to detect the disease in the early stage and decrease the risk of development of bowel cancer.

2. Bowl inflammatory diseases
Prolonged period of inflammatory diseases of the colon, such as Ulcerative Colitis and Crohn’s Disease, can increase your risk of colon cancer due to long term inflammation of the lining of the colon.

3. Family History of Bowel Cancer
If a patient's parents, siblings, children who has had colorectal cancer are more likely to develop bowel cancer.

4. Inherited Syndromes
Genetic syndromes passed through generations can increase the risk of developing colon cancer.
a. Familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP):
Familial adenomatous polyposis is an inherited condition in which numbers of benign polyp form mainly in the lining of the large intestine, but they can become malignant due to the mutations in the APC gene that a patient inherits from the parents.
b. Hereditary non-polyposis colon cancer (HNPCC)
HNPCC is also known as Lynch syndrome. It can increase the risk of developing bowel cancer than the general population due to mutation of genes in repairing DNA damage.
c. Turcot syndrome
Turcot syndrome is also a rare inherited condition in which cells become abnormal and form multiple adenomatous colon polyps anf eventually turn malignant.
d. Peutz-Jeghers syndrome
Peutz-Jeghers syndrome is an autosomal dominant genetic disease with condition of the development of benign hamartomatous polyps in the gastrointestinal tract and hyperpigmented macules on the lips and oral mucosa due to mutations in the gene STK1.
e. MUTYH-associated polyposis
MUTYH is a human gene encoding a DNA glycosylase. Mutations in the gene MUTYH increases the risk of develop colon polyps which eventually become cancerous if the colon is not removed.

5. Race and ethic background
a, African Americans have the highest risk of bowel cancer with unknown reasons (E. Mitchell, et al., 2009)
b. Ashkenazi Jews have a highest risk of development of bowel cancer due to several genes mutation (I. Shapira et al., 2002; DS. Weinberg et al., 2006)

6. Personal history of other cancer
Research shows that the risk of developing bowel cancer is increased for women with history of other cancer such as ovarian, uterine, endometrial or breast cancer.

7. Diet
Diet with high in animal and trans fat and less in fiber, vegetables and fruits is associated with high risk if bowel cancer. Cooking meats at very high temperatures such as frying, broiling or grilling create chemicals that increases the risk of bowel and other cancer.

8. Physical Inactivity
Researchers in Utah and northern California at the Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program between 1997 and 2002 found that vigorous or moderated physical activity reduced the risk of bowel cancer in both men and women.

9. Diabetes
Abnormal glucose metabolism increases the risk of bowel cancer. Research from Cancer Research UK and the Medical Research Council studied 9600 participants. at the American Association for Cancer Research's Sixth Annual International Conference on Frontiers in Cancer Prevention Research found that women with diabetes are 1.5 times more likely to develop bowel cancer than women who don't have the metabolic disorder.

10. Obesity
The George Institute for International Health in Sydney, Australia report showed that obese individuals (Body Mass Index* (BMI) >30 kg/m2) have a 20% greater risk of developing colorectal cancer compared with those of normal weight (BMI < 25 kg/m2) and people who are obese have an increased risk of bowel cancer and an increased risk of dying of bowel cancer when compared with people considered normal weight.

11. Smoking
Long-term cigarette smoking increases a person's risk of developing bowel cancer due to the effect of carcinogens and development of polyps which can become malignant.

12. Alcohol
A study by Dr. Morten Gronbaek of the National Institute of Public Health in Copenhagen, has found that heavy drinkers (especially non-wine drinkers) significantly increase their risk of contracting rectal cancer.The findings are based on a population study of over 29,000 Danish men and women aged between 23 and 95.

13. Acromegaly
Acromegaly is an endocrine disorder characterized by sustained hypersecretion of growth hormone (GH) with concomitant elevation of insulin-like growth factor (IGF) may increase your risk of colon polyps and bowel cancer.

14. Nigh shift work
Study that exposures to light at night suppresses the production of melatonin, a hormone that has antiproliferative effects on intestinal cancers. The result also suggested that working a rotating night shift at least three nights per month for 15 or more years may increase the risk of bowel cancer in women.

15. Previous Radiation Therapy for Certain Cancers
According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, colon cancer has been caused by doses of about 1,000 millisieverts (mSv).

16. Gender
According to Heinz-Josef Lenz, M.D., professor of medicine at USC's Keck School of Medicine There has been increasing evidence that gender plays a significant role in the development and progression of bowel cancer are higher among men due to protective effect of female hormones.

17. Etc.

Diagnosis and tests
Since bowel cancer is considered as one of most slow growth cancer and most of the discoveries are in the late stage and older than 50 years of age, implement bowel cancer screening methods can detect the cancer in its early stage resulting in a 29 percent drop in cancer deaths in 20 years.
1. Digital rectal exam
It is an internal examination of the rectum. The exam taken about a few minutes by first examining the external area (anus and perinium) for any abnormalities such as hemorrhoids, lumps, etc. Then, as the patient strains down, the physician gently puts a lubricated, gloved finger into the rectum through the anus and palpates the insides to check for large lumps for approximately sixty seconds.

2. Fecal occult blood test (FOBT)
It is the test to check for invisible blood in the stool. you are asked to eat red meats for a week to look for globin, DNA, or other blood factors including transferrin with the purpose is to detect subtle blood loss in the gastrointestinal tract.

3. Endoscopy
An endoscope is an instrument used by your doctor to pass through a natural opening of the body or by a small incision. Depending to the circumstance, you doctor may refer either the rectum Sigmoidoscopy or whole colon Colonoscopy.
a. Sigmoidoscopy
Sigmoidoscopy is a test to exam the large intestine from the rectum through the last part of the colon by either using a flexible endoscope (flexible sigmoidoscopy) or a rigid device (rigid sigmoidoscopy) to look for benign and malignant polyps, early signs of cancer in the descending colon and rectum, as well as any intestinal bleeding, inflammation, abnormal growths, etc.
b. Colonoscopy
Colonoscopy is a whole bowel examination to detect inflamed tissue, ulcers, and abnormal growths, benign and malignant polyps, early signs of cancer.

4. Double contrast barium enema (DCBE)
DCBE is a x-rays of the colon and rectum after injecting a liquid containing barium into the rectum to screen for bowel cancer and abnormalities. If there is any suspicious, your doctor may order a screening test such as a colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy that we mentioned above.

5. Barium Enema
The exam, most of the time performs in the out patient in hospital and in the doctor office, you will be asked to move into different positions to get different views. Barium enema is the use of barium to highlight your large intestine and delivers air into the colon to expand it for better image as x-ray is taken.

6. CT Colonography scan and/or liver scan
a. CT colonography scan
With the same purpose, CT colonography scan is to screen for polyps or cancers in the large intestine by taking the cross-sectional images of bowel then be examined on a computer monitor, printed or transferred to a CD.
b. Liver scan
Liver scan is the test to gather information about liver and spleen function or used to help confirm that the tumor has spread with injecting a radioactive material called a radioisotope into one of your veins. After the liver has soaked up the material, under the scanner images are displaying on a computer.

7. Caricinoeembroyic antigen (CEA)
Caricinoeembroyic antigen (CEA) is a type of protein molecule found in many different cells of the body. CEA measurement is mainly used as a tumor marker to detect any recurrences after surgical resection, or localize cancer spread though dosage of biological fluids.

8. Etc.

Treatments
Treatments are depended totally in the stage and grade of the cancer of each patient. If the cancer is only limited to the mucosa such as a single layer of epithelial cells, a layer of connective tissue, and a thin muscle layer, than it can be cured in most cases. If the cancer have spread through the muscular layer of the bowel or the lymph note, the curable rate is lower. If the cancer has spread to other organs, the curable rate are even lower. Grade of the cancer is calculated dependently to how aggressive the cancer is.
1. Surgery and colostomy
a. Surgery
Types of surgery is depending to the stage, grade and position of the tumor needed to remove, and surgery with complete removal of the cancer offers the best chance to cure the disease.
b. colostomies
A colostomy is surgery to prevent the leakage of bowel content by diverting them away from the weaken part of bowel to prevent damage and infection after surgery to allow them to heal properly because of damage of bowel due to tumor removals to provide an alternative channel for feces to leave the body. After the weaken parts of bowel is recovered, further surgery is required to reconnect the bowel and close the colostomy.
Unfortunately, if the tumor is very close to the anus, bowel can not reconnected safely or in the late stage of the cancer, a permanent colostomy is required and small bowel is diverted to the surface.
2. Radiotherapy
2.1. Radiotherapy is the medical use of ionizing radiation to treat cancer by destroying the cancer cells but doing as little harm as possible to normal cells, if cancer happens to the place where surgery is impossible. In fact, radiotherapy has a minimum effect in treating bowel cancer.
2.2. Side effects
a. Diarrhea
b. Tiredness,
c. Frequent urinary
d. Sore skin in the treatment area
5. Etc.

3. Chemotherapy
3.1. Chemotherapy, in bowel cancer used to stop the spreading of the cancer cells and is most helpful treatment for bowel cancer with moderate advance such as bowel cancer has only spread to bowel wall or to the lymph note with combination of some medications, such as 5-fluorouracil, leucovorin, and oxaliplatin (FOLFOX) with bevacizumab or 5-fluorouracil, leucovorin, and irinotecan (FOLFIRI) with bevacizumab, etc.
3.2 Side effects
a. Nausea
b. Hair loss
c. Sore mouth
d. Diarrhoea
e. Sore eyes
f. Etc.

4. Biological therapy
4.1. Biological therapies are new type of treatments in active research by using substances that occur naturally in the body, such as Cetuximab and bevacizumab are used to treat colon or rectal cancer that has spread to other parts of the body.
4.2. Side effects

a. Tiredness
b. Diarrhea
c. Skin changes
d. A sore mouth, weakness
e. Loss of appetite
f. Low blood counts
g. Swelling of parts of the body due to a build up of fluid
Etc.




Sunday, May 8, 2011

Most common Types of Cancer - Bone Cancer In Traditional Chinese Perspective

Bones cancer
Bones cancer is defined as a health condition of abnormal cells growth of the bone, including marrow, endosteum and periosteum, nerves, blood vessels and cartilage due to alternation of DNA in division and replication the bone malignant bone cells. It can be primary or secondary cancers.

Symptoms
1. Anaemia,
2. Lack of power
3. Nutrients deficiency, stabbing
4. Pain in the affect area
5. Lumps
6. Skin is dark red color
7. Broken bone or deformity
8.Weight loss
9. Loss of appetite
10. Fever
11. Numb in the affect area
12. Etc.

Causes
1. Kidney essence deficiency
In traditional Chinese medicine, The Kidney essence or Jing is the vital life force of the human body and of many of its functional activities in the development of Blood, spinal fluid, bone marrow, teeth and bones.
Kidney essence consists of two parts:
a. Congenital (Prenatal Jing)
As it is inherited from you parent and
b. Acquired (Postnatal Jing)
As it is transformed from the food nutrients by the spleen and stomach.
Deficiency of kidney essence or Jing leads to abnormal growth of the above.

2. Bone marrow void
Since kidney is responsible in nourishing the bone marrow to perform its function in producing of new blood cells and assisting lymphatic system to prevent the back flow of lymph. Deficiency of kidney essence cause abnormal bone marrow that leads to abnormal blood cell and fluid retention and stagnation, causing cancer

3. Damp heat and toxin accumulation
As the kidney no longer perform its function in transporting fluid, leading to water retention. Over prolonged period of time, it transforms to phlegm, leading to cancer.
Since kidney is one of defensive system in protect our body against toxins, deficiency of kidney essence causes accumulation of the toxins. Over prolonged period of toxins in the bone, it can lead to bone cancer.

4. Etc.

Treatments
Treatment in The traditional Chinese medicine is to nourish kidney deficiency essence, remove and clear away toxin, damp heat, smooth circulation to dissolve cancer and tumor. Since each formula is unique to each patient, depending to the observation and diagnosis.
A. General Treatments
A.1. Tonifies kidney essence
Complement Jing and tonify the bone marrow
1. Lu Rong (Cornu cervi Parvum)
Lu Rong is also known as Deer Antler. The salty and warm herb has been used in TCM to treat lack of appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, leukorrhea, frequent urination, incontinence, vaginal bleeding not during menses, and lymph node inflammation as it strengthens sinews/bones, nourish Qi and blood and tonifies kidneys by enhancing the functions of liver and kidney channels.

2. Lu Jiao Jiao (Colla Cornus Cervi)
Lu Jiao Jiao is also known as Antler Gelatin. The sweet, salty and warm herb has been used in TCM to treat impotence, spermatorrhea, weak and cold loin and knees, tuberculosis with emaciation, blood in stool, blood in urine, gangrene with pain as it tonifies liver and kidneys, strengthens kidney Essence and blood and stops bleeding by enhancing the functions of liver and kidney channels.

3. Dong Cong Xia Cao (Cordyceps Sinensis)
Dong cong Xia Cao is also known as Cordyceps. The sweet and warm herb has been used in TCM to treat impotence, chronic lower back pain, chronic cough and wheezing from deficiency, blood in phlegm, as it tonifies the lung and kidney, stops bleeding and transforms phlegm by enhancing the functions of kidney and lung channels.

4. Gui Ban Jiao (Colla Plastrum Testudinis)
Gui Ban Jiao is also known as fresh water turtle Shell. The sweet, warm and neutral herb has been used in TCM to treat chronic ache in join and knees, weakness in knees and feet of the aged, spermatorrhea and chronic cough, soft bones in small children, late development of teeth in small children and late in fusing of the anterior fontanel, fright and palpitation, insomnia and forgetfulness and improves anti-cancer ability function, as it tonifies Kidney-essence, nourishes kidney yin and blood and stops bleeding, by enhancing the functions of liver, kidney and heart channels.

5. Etc.

Tonify kidney yin
1. Di Huang (Radix Rehmanniae)
Di huang is also known as Rehmannia. The sweet and cold herb has been used in TCM to tonify blood tonic and treat weakness caused by tuberculosis, vomiting blood, nose bleeding, coughing blood, bleeding in the uterus as it eliminates heat, disperses heart and liver fire, expels toxins; invigorates Blood, reduces blood accumulation by enhancing the function of heart, liver and kidey channels.

2. Tian Men Dong (Tuber Asparagi Cochinchinenses)
Tian men Dong is also known as asparagus tuber. The sweet bitter and very cold herb has been used in TCM to treat chronic bronchitis, spermatorrhea, weakness in legs, thirst, lung deficient with heat, dry cough, thick phlegm with difficulty to expel as its clears the lungs, moves fire downwards, nourishes yin by enhancing the functions of lung and kidney channels.

3. Gou Qi Zi (Fructus Lycii)
Gou Qi Zi is also known as Wolfbery. The sweet and neutral herb has been used in TCM to alleviates sore back, leg, and stomach; improves night vision, blurred vision and treat diabetes and premature white hair, as it tonifies and nourishes liver and kidneys, improves vision, moistens the lungs by enhancing the function of liver, kidney and lung channels.

4. Sang Shen Zi (Fructus Mori)
Sang Shen Zi is also known as Mulberry. The sweet, sour and cold herb has been used TCM to treat vertigo, tinnitus, insomnia with palpitation, weak digestion, premature white hair, thirst, diabetes with heat, as it nourishes yin, tonifies blood promotes generation of body fluids, by enhancing the functions of liver kidney and lung channels.

5. Nu Zhen Zi (Fructus Ligustri Lucidi)
Nu zhen Zi is also known as privet fruit. The bitter, sweet and neutral herb has been used in TCM as anti inflammatory, anti cancer and anti oxidization medicine and to regulate immune system, lower blood sugar as it tonifies the liver and kidney, benefits the liver and kidney and clears heat by enhancing the function of liver and kidney channels.

6. Etc.

A.2. Removes damp heat and Dissolves modules
1. Long Dan Cao (Radix Gentianae longdancao)
Long Dan Cao is also known as Gentian Root. The bitter and cold herb has been used in TCM to treat red-swollen-sore throat/eyes/ears, jaundice, painful-swollen genitals, leucorrhea, cystitis, inflammation of the urethra, boils on skin, feverish malaria, chronic gastritis, eczema, conjunctivitis, hypertension with dizziness and tinnitus, malaria, and herpes zoster as it drains damp heat from liver and gallbladder, clears ascending liver fire by enhancing the functions of gallbladder, liver and stomach channels.

2. Huang Qin (Radix astragali)
Huang Qi is also known as Astragalus root. The sweet and warm herb has been used in TCM to treat numbness of limb, morbidity after stroke, sweating, promoting pus discharge and tissue regeneration and diabetes and promotes diuresis to reduce edema as it tonifies qi, enhances Yang, strengthens the defensive-qi and the exterior and expels toxins and as diuretic to resolve oedema by promoting the functions of lung and spleen channels.

3. Zhi Zi (Fructus Gardeniae Jasminoidis)
Zhi Zi is also known as Gardenia. The bitter, cold and non toxic herb has been used in TCM as as antipyretic agent and to treat,insomnia and irritability, high fever with delusion and infection as its disperses fire, calms anxiety, clears heat, drains dampness, cools blood and expels toxins by enhancing the functions of heart, liver, lung, stomach and triple burner channels.

4. Di Huang (Radix Rehmanniae)
Di huang is also known as Rehmannia. The sweet and cold herb has been used in TCM to tonify blood tonic and treat weakness caused by tuberculosis, vomiting blood, nose bleeding, coughing blood, bleeding in the uterus as it eliminates heat, disperses heart and liver fire, expels toxins; invigorates Blood, reduces blood accumulation by enhancing the function of heart, liver and kidey channels.

5. Gan Cao (Radix Glycyrrhizae Uralensis)
Gan Cao is also known as Licorice Root. The sweet and neutral herb has been used in TCM as am anti ulcer, anti convulsion, anti inflammation, anti allergy and anti cancer agent and to treat stomach weakness, tired and lack of strength, palpitation and short of breath, cough as it tonifies the spleen, enhances qi, moistens lungs to calm cough and to relieves acute pain by enhancing the functions of all channels.

6. Etc.

A.3. Detoxification
1. Jin Yin Hua (Flos Lonicerae japonicae)
Jin Yin Hua is also known as Honeysuckle. The sweet and cool herb has been used in TCM to treat respiratory tract infection, influenza, acute infection of the tonsils and the mammary glands, lobar pneumonia and bacterial type of dysentery as it clears heat and damp hear and expels toxins and damp wind by enhancing the functions of lung, heart, large intestine, and stomach channels.

2. Lian Qiao (Fructus Forsythiae Suspensae)
Lian Qiao is also known as Forsythia fruit. The bitter, acrid and cool herb has been used in TCM as antimicrobial, antiparasitic, antiemetic, antibiotic and anti inflammatory agent and to protect liver, stop vomiting, help blood circulation, promote urination as it clear heat, expels toxins, resoloves abscesses and disovoles nodules by promotinf the functions of heart, liver and gall bladder channels.

3. Pu Gong Yin (Herba Taraxaci Mongolici cum Radice)
Pu Gong Yin is also known as Dandelion. The bitter, aweet and cold herb has been used in TCM as a diuretic and laxative agent and to improves digestion. promote bile secretion and protect liver as it drain dampness, clear heat and expels toxins by enhancing the functions of liver and stomach channels.

4. Ban Lan Gen (Radix Isatidis)
Ban Lan Gen is also known as Indago Root. The bitter and cold herb has been used by TCM to treat chicken pox, chronic myelogenous leukemia, digestive tract ulcer and infection,epilepsy, hepatitis with jaundice, herpes simplex II, herpes zoster and influenza as it clears heat, expels toxins, cools blood and resolves exanthema by enhancing the functions of heart, lung and stomach channels.

5. Ma Chi Xian (Herba Portulacae)
Ma Chi Xian is also known as Purslane. The bitter and cool herb has been used in TCM as
anti-cancer, anti-bacteria, anti-coagulation and anti-hypertensive and anti-fungus agent and to promote functions of epithelium and treat ulcers as its clear heat, expels toxins, cool blood and stops bleeding by enhancing the functions of liver and large intestine channels.

6. Etc.

A.4. Improves blood circulation
1. Chuan Xiong (Radix Ligustici Wallichii)
Chuan Xiong is also known as Szehuan lovage root. The acrid and warm herb has been used in TCM to relieves pain, headaches, abdominal ache, chest pain, muscle pain, boils, difficulty in menses, amenorrhea as it moves blood and qi, expels wind and calms pain by enhancing the functions of liver, gallbladder and pericardium channels.

2. Bai Shao (Radix Paeoniae Alba)
Nai Shoa is also known as White Peony roots. The bitter, sour and cool herb has been used in TCM as anti-spastic, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, antibiotic, anticonvulsant, analgesic, and agent sedative and to lower blood pressure, dilate peripheral blood vessels and coronary arteries as it nourishes liver and blood, preserves yin, calm pain by enhancing the function of liver and spleen channels.

3. Dang Qui (Radix Angelicae Sinensis,)
Dang Qui is also known as Chinese Angelica root. The sweet, acrid, bitter and warm herb has been used in TCM to regulat the menses, lubricates bowels to correct constipation, reduce swelling, expel pus, relieve pain as it tonifies and moves blood, calms pain, moistens the intestines by enhancing the functions of heart, liver and spleen channels.

4. Tian Nan Xing (Rhizoma Arisaematis)
Tian Nan Xing is also known as Jack In The Pulpit. The bitter, warm and acrid herb has been used in TCM as anti convulsion, expectorant, sedation, analgesia, sedative and anti-cancer agent and used extenally for insect and snake bites as it dries dampness, transforms phlegm, expels wind and calms convulsions by ehancing the functions of liver, lung and spleen channels.

5. Bing Pian (Borneolum)
Bing Pian is also known as borneol. The warm, acrid toxic herb has been used in TCM as sedative, anti bacterial agent and to relieve local pain as it opens the orifices,r estores consciousness, clears Heat and calms pain by enhancing the functions of heart, spleen, liver and lung channels.

6. Etc.

A.5. Etc.

B. Specific treatments
B.1. Osteosarcoma
Osteosarcoma is the most common type of bone cancer that usually develops in adolescence, and teenager during the period of rapid growth and has a tendency to spread.
1. Shu Di Huang (Shu Di Huang)
Shu di Huang is also known as Rehmannia Root. The sweet, bitter and warm herb has been used in TCM as diuretic agent and to strengthen the function of the heart, increases blood pressure constrict blood vessel and decreases the blood sugar as it nourishes yin, Jing and blood and strengthens the bone marrow by enhancing the functions of heart, kidney and liver channels.

2. Lu Jiao Jiao (Colla Cornus Cervi)
Lu Jiao Jiao is also known as Deer Antler Glue. The sweet, salty and warm herb has been used by TCM to impotence, spermatorrhea, weak and cold loin and knees, excessive bleeding not during menses, blood in stool, blood in urine as it tonifies liver and kidneys, strengthens Jing and blood and stops bleeding by enhancing the functions of kidney and liver channels.

3. Bai Jie Zi (Semen Sinapsis Albae)
Bai Jie Zi is also known as White Mustard Seed. The warm, acrid and toxic herb has been used in TCM to treat pain in limbs and joints, migrating sores, chronic bronchitis, emphysema and neuralgia as it warms the lung, eliminates phlegm, moves qi and disperses nodules and enhances channels' circulation by promoting the function of lung and stomach channels.

4. Rou Qui (Cortex Cinnamomi Cassiae)
Rou Qui is also known as Cinamon Bark. The sweet, acrid and very warm herb has been used in TCM to treat cold limbs, cold limbs, diarrhea, muscle spasm, headache, back pain, sweating and impotent and promote urination as it tonifies fire, enhances yang, disperses cold and promotes circulation in the channels by enhacing the functions of heart, ling and gallbladder channels.

5. Gan Cao (Radix Glycyrrhizae Uralensis)
Gan Cao is also known as Licorice Root. The sweet and neutral herb has been used in TCM as am anti ulcer, anti convulsion, anti inflammation, anti allergy and anti cancer agent and to treat stomach weakness, tired and lack of strength, palpitation and short of breath, cough as it tonifies the spleen, enhances qi, moistens lungs to calm cough and to relieves acute pain by enhancing the functions of all channels.

6. Etc.

B. 2. The relatively slow course of malignant bone tumors (Chondrosarcoma)
Cancers are composed of cells derived from abnormal cells of the cartilage.
1. San Leng (Rhizoma Sparganii Stoloniferi)
San Leng is also known as Burreed Rhizome. The acrid, bitter and neutral herb has been used in TCM to treat painful and absence of menses, postpartum complication, absence of menses, prmote digestion and inhibits pain as it eliminates blood accumulation, moves qi and calms pain by enhancing the functions of liver and spleen channels.

2. Hong Hua (Flos Carthami Tinctorii)
Hong Hua is also known as Safflower. The acrid and warm hern has been used in TCM to treat rheumatoid arthritis, promote menstruation, get rid of blood clots and treat enlargement of the liver and spleen as it moves blood; eliminates blood stasis by enhancing the functions of liver and heart channels.

3. Sheng Chuan Wu (Radix Aconiti Lateralis Preparata)
Sheng Chuan Wu is unprepared Monkshood Daughter Root. The acrid hot and toxic herb has been used in TCM to treat muscle spasm in cholera, pain and cold in chest and abdomen, chronic diarrhea, tightness and pain in joints and muscles, edema and coldness in the lower legs and raise body temperature as it restores and benefits yang, tonifies fire, disperses cold and calms pain by enhancing the functions of heart kidney and spleen channels.

4. Tao Ren (Semen Persicae)
Tao Ren is also known as Peach Seed. The bitter, sweet and neutral herb has been used in TCM as anti coagulation, anti hypertensive, inhibits pain, anti inflammation, detoxification, anti-allergenics agent and to inhibit pain and promote bowel movements as it moves blood, eliminates accumulations, moistens intestines by enhancing the functions of heart, large intestine, liver and lung channels.

5. Ru Xiang (Gummi Olibanum)
Ru Xiang is also known as Frankincense Carterii. The acrid, bitter and warm herb has been used in TCM to improve circulation, repair muscle and treat gingivitis, rheumatoid arthritis, cirrhosis of liver and amenorrhea as it moves blood, calms pain, resolves edema and promotes tissue regeneration by enhancing the heart, liver and spleen channels.

6. Etc.


B. 3. Uncommon tumor (Giant cell tumor of bone)
Giant-cell tumor of the bone (GCTOB) is a relatively uncommon tumor. It is characterized by the presence of multinucleated giant cells. These tumors are generally benign, with unpredictable behavior and formed by fusion of several individual cells into a single, larger complex.
1. Dang Qui
(Radix Angelicae Sinensis,)Dang Qui is also known as Chinese Angelica root. The sweet, acrid, bitter and warm herb has been used in TCM to regulat the menses, lubricates bowels to correct constipation, reduce swelling, expel pus, relieve pain as it tonifies and moves blood, calms pain, moistens the intestines by enhancing the functions of heart, liver and spleen channels.

2. Dang Shen(Radix Codonopsitis Pilosulae)
Dang Shen is al;so known as Codonopsis Root. The sweet and neutral herb has been used in TCM to improve immune system, body function, stimulates nervous system, increase red blood cells, white blood cells, enhances blood coagulation as it tonifies the middle burner, strengthens qi, nourish blood and promotes generation of body fluids by enhamcing the functions of lung and spleen channels.

3. Chen Pi (Pericarpium Citri Reticulatae)
Chen pi is also known Tangerine Peel. The bitter, acrid and warm herb has been used in TCM as anti-biotic agent and to improve digestion, stop bleeding, increase blood pressure, stimulate blood vessels, inhibits movements of digestive tract and uterus as it regulates qi and the middle burner, drains dampness and transforms phlegm by enhancing the functions of lung and spleen channels.

4. Hai Dai (Thallus Laminariae)
Hai Dai or Kung Pu is also known as Kelp. The salty and cold hern has been used in TCM as diuretic agent and to treat thyroids and lymph glands tumor, swollen testes, edema., swollen testes, edema as it resolves phlegm and softens hardness and promotes water metabolism by enhancing the functions of liver, kidney and stomach channels.

5. Huang Qi (Radix astragali)
Huang Qi is also known as Astragalus root. The sweet and warm herb has been used in TCM to treat numbness of limb, morbidity after stroke, sweating, promoting pus discharge and tissue regeneration and diabetes and promotes diuresis to reduce edema as it tonifies qi, enhances Yang, strengthens the defensive-qi and the exterior and expels toxins and as diuretic to resolve oedema by promoting the functions of lung and spleen channels.
6. Etc.

B. 4. Ewing's Sarcoma
1. Huai shan (Radix Dioscoreae Oppositae)
Huai Shan or Shan Yao is also known as Yam Rhizome. The sweet and neutral herb has been used in TCM as antibiotic and anti aging agent and to improve digestive system, promote urination, lower blood sugar and pressure as it nourishes yin and Jing, tonifies qi, spleen, lung and kidney by enhancing the kidney, lung and spleen channels

2. Sang Ji Sheng (Ramulus Loranthi)
Sang Ji Sheng is also known as Mulberry Mistletoes. The bitter and neutral herb has been used in TCM as diuretic, sedative and antiviral agent and to lower blood pressure, improve circulation and inhibits certain types of virus as it expels wind-damp, tonifies liver and kidneys, strengthens the sinews and bones and prevents miscarriage by enhancing the functions of liver and kidney channels.

3. Bai Shao (Radix Paeoniae Alba)
Bai Shao is also known as White Peony roots. The bitter, sour and cool herb has been used in TCM as anti-spastic, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, antibiotic, anticonvulsant, analgesic, and agent sedative and to lower blood pressure, dilate peripheral blood vessels and coronary arteries as it nourishes liver and blood, preserves yin, calm pain by enhancing the function of liver and spleen channels.

4. Chuan Niu Xi (Radix Cyathulae)
Chuan Niu Xi is also known as Cyathula Root. The sweet, bitter and neutral herb has been used in TCM as aborptive agent to promote blood circulation, metabolism, flow of bile juice and enhance immune system as it expels wind ,disperses dampness and soothes the joints by enhancing the functions of liver and kidney channels.

5. Dan Shen (Radix Salvia miltiorrhizae)
Dan Shen is also known as Salvia Root. The bitter and slightly cold herb has been used in TCM as antithrombotic, antihypertonic, antimicrobial, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory and sedative agent and to release pain, get rid of clot blood, treat dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea, restlessness, insomnia and irritability as it invigorates blood, break up blood stasis, clear heat and calm stomach pain by enhancing the invigorate heart and liver channels.

6. Etc.

Friday, May 6, 2011

Most common Types of Cancer - Bladder Cancer In Traditional Chinese Medicine Perspective

Bladder cancer
Bladder cancer occurs when cells amass in the inner lining of the bladder and form a malignant growth, or tumor. Cancer develops only in the bladder lining may become invasive, spreading through the bladder wall to nearby organs such as the prostate gland in men or the uterus in women.

Symptoms
1. Traditional Chinese medicine indicated that urinary with blood is one of the first symptom discovered by bladder cancer patient. Sometimes, red blood cells can be viewed by naked eyes but most of the times, it required blood test.
2. Back pain
3. Fluid retention in the kidney
4. Fever
5. Other symptoms are similar to the conventional medicine.
Most patient with early bladder cancer my experience blood in urine with no pain at all.

Risk Factors
1. Occupation
Occupation required to contact with chemical toxins daily and over a prolonged period of time have a high risk of bladder cancer. Most workers do not experience any symptom of bladder cancer until later in their life. We are taking about the period over 30 years.

2. Smoking
Cigarette contains certain harmful chemicals which can cause cancer. In China, due to social culture difference, the risk of male and female with bladder cancer is 41%, 30% accordingly.

3. Age
The risk of bladder cancer increases with age. The older you are, the higher the risk.

4. Sex
The risk of bladder cancer of male is 4 time higher than women

5. Race
Certain race are high risk of bladder cancer

6. Chemicals tryptophan
By products of tryptophan such as 3-hydroxy-2-amino-acetophenone and 3-Hydroxyindazole
can promote the risk of bladder cancer due to reaction of β-glucuronidases.

7. Diet
Diet high in saturated fat increases the risk of bladder cancer.

8. family history
Bladder cancer risk increase if a member of the direct family have bladder cancer.

9. Infection
Prolonged infection or frequent infection increase the risk of bladder cancer.

10. Medication
Certain types of medication can promote the forming of bladder cancer.

11. Etc.

Causes of Bladder cancer in TCM
The traditional Chinese medicine defined bladder cancer is a health condition caused by
A. Heart Fire Shifting Downwards to the small intestine
Heart Fire is an excess problem, due to elevating yang or yang rise is out of control. Since heart is associated with the fire, excessive yang leading to fire and heat. If heart fire with extra heat move downward to the small intestine, it affects the bladder in functioning of urinary secretion.
If left untreated, it can cause inflammation and bleeding, leading to bladder cancer.
1. Symptoms include
1.a. Heart palpitations
1.b. Thirst
1.c. Feeling of heat
1.d. Urination with blood
1.e. Hot, dark urine
1.f. Bitter taste in the mouth
1.g. Frequent urination
1.h. Urgent need to urinate
1.i. Etc.

2. Chinese Herbs
a. Shui Niu Jiao (Bubalus bubalis)
Shui Niu Jiao is also known as water buffalo horn. The salty, cold herb has been used in TCM as sedative, anti-inflammatory, anti-virus medicine and to shorten bleeding time, enhance quality of capillaries as it clears heat, relieve fire, cool blood, stop nosebleed, vomiting blood by enhancing the function of heart, liver, spleen, stomach channels.

b. Lian Qiao (Fructus Forsythiae Suspensae)
Lian Qiao is also known as forsythia fruit. The bitter, cool, and slightly acrid herb has been used in TCM as anti inflammatory medicine and to stop vomiting, promote blood circulation and urination as it helps to clears heat and toxin and expels externally wind heat by enhancing the function of heart, liver gall bladder channels.

c. Zhu Ye (Herba Loaphatheri Gracilis)
Zhu ye is also known as bamboo leaves. The sweet, cold and bitter herb has been used in TCM to
treat mouth sores and inflamed gums caused by heat, promotes urination and treat insomnia as it helps to clear damp heat, heart fire and stomach heat by enhancing the functions of heart, small intestine, stomach channels.

d. Lian Zi Xin (Lotus Plumule)
Lian Zi Xin also known as Lotus Flower. The bitter and cold herb has been used in TCM as an astringent and to treat insomnia, irritability, stop bleeding and vomiting blood as it promotes the draining of heart fire and bind essence by enhancing the functions of heart and pericardium channels.

e. Etc.

B. Damp heat moves downward to the bladder
It is caused by kidney inability to move fluid upward, causing fluid accumulated in the abdomen. Prolonged period of fluid accumulation promote arise of heat that affect the urinary secretion of the bladder, resulting of bleeding and damage the functioning of the bladder, leading to bladder cancer, if untreated for a prolonged period of time.
1. Symptoms include
1.a. Frequent urination
1.b. Urgent need to urinate
1.c. Urinary pain, back pain, edema of lower limbs
1.d. Thirsty,
1.e. Difficult to go to sleep at night
1.f. Red tongue with yellow and greasy fur
1.g. Slippery and taut pulse
1.h. Etc.

2. Chinese Herbs
The function of the herbs are for diuresis, to eliminate dampness, clear heat, cool blood and stop bleeding.
a. Che Qian Zi (Semen Plantaginis)
Che Qian Zi is also known as Plantain seed. The sweet and cold herb has been used in TCM as an antibiotic and to promote urination and to excret mucus of the bronchial tubes as it helps to clear Damp heat in the lower burner channel and damp heat cause of painful urinary, diarrhea , red eyes and sexual dysfunction by enhancing the functions of bladder, kidney, liver, lung channels.

b. Bian Xu (Herba Polygoni Avicularis)
Bian Xu is also known as common knotgrass. The slight cold and bitter herb has been used in TCM to treat urinary infection, get rid of skin parasites and fuild and worms and stop itching as it drains damp heat in bladder, calms pain on urination by enhancing the function of bladder channel.

c. Bo Ye (Cacumen Biotae Orientalis)
Bo Ye or Ce Bai Ye is also known as biota leaves. The bitter, tart and slightly cold herb has been used in TCM to stops bleeding, harmonize blood, inhibit cough, anti-bacteria and anti-inflammation as it purifies and lowers the lung-Qi , clears heat and blood heat, eliminates phlegm by enhancing the function of heart, liver, large intestine and lung channels.

d. Yi Yi Ren (Semen coicis)
Yi Yi Ren is also known as Coix Seed. The sweet, bland, slightly cool herb has been used in TCM to improve digestion, enhance the lung function, get rid of bacterial or fungal infection and treat neualgia, difficulty in urination, lung abscess as it drains water, strengthens the Spleen; eliminates obstruction and clears Heat by promoting the functions of spleen, stomach, lung channels.

e. Pu Gong Ying ( Herba Taraxaci Mongolici cum Radice)
Pu Gong Ying also best known as Dandelion. The bitter, cold and sweet herb has been used in TCM as a diuretic and to promote bile secretion, protect the liver, inhibit staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa as it clears heat, expels toxins, drains Dampness by enhencing the function of liver and stomach channels.

f. Etc.

C. Kidney and liver yin deficiency
Kidney and liver yin deficiency cause of yang elevation, toxin accumulation and blood stagnation, leading to the forming of tumor in the bladder
This type is mostly seen at the advanced age, or chemotherapy or radiotherapy cause of heat reaction or complicated by infection.
1. Symptoms include
1.a. Frequent urination, sometimes
1.b. Blood in the urine
1. c. Abdominal distension and pain
1.d. Back pain
1.e. Dry mouth but don't like to drink
1.f. Constipation
1.g. Light red tongue with little fur, or uncoated and smooth tongue
1. h. Thready pulse
1. i. Etc.

2. Herbs
The main functions of herb are to nourish yin, invigorate kidney, clear stagnation and detoxify.
a. Mai Dong (Tuber Ophiopogonis Japonici)
Mai Dong is also known as Ophiopogon Root. The sweet, slight bitter and cold herb has been used in TCM to improve contraction of heart muscles, recovery of cells of the pancreas and immune system, protect heart muscle, lower blood sugar and anti-arrhythmia as it
moistens the lungs, nourishes Lung-Yin, benefits the stomach and the heart, promotes generation of body fluids, clear heat by promoting the functions of heart, lung, stomach channels.

2. Shi Hu (Herba Dendrobii)
Shi Hu is also known as Dendrobium. The sweet, bland, slightly cold herb has been used in TCM to treat weakness after febrile diseases, thirsty, thromboangitis obliterans, chronic throat infection, blurry vision and weak lower back as it nourishes the stomach and yin, clear heat, promotes generation of body fluids by enhancing the lung and stomach channels.

c. Nu Zhen Zi (Fructus Ligustri Lucidi)
Nu Zhen Zi is also known as Glossy Privet Fruit. The bitter, sweet and neutral herb has been used to promote immune system and circulatory system, anti inflammatory, anti cancer properties, lower blood sugar and protect the liver as it tonifies the liver and kidneys, clears heat and improves vision by soothing the functions of liver and kidney channels.

d. Long Kui (Herb Solani nigri)
Long Kui is also known as wonderberry. The bitter, cold, slightly sweet and toxic herb has been used in TCM as diuretic and antipyretic and to treat acute kidney inflammation, chronic bronchitis, throat cancer, larynx Cancer, uterus cancer as it clears heat, eliminates toxin, improve urination by enhancing the function of liver, kidney and stomach channels.

e. Fu Ling (Sclerotium Poriae Cocos)
Fu Ling is also known as Indian Bread. The sweet, bland, neutral herb has been used in TCM as a diuretics and to treat insomnia or forgetfulness, loss of appetite and inflammation of the uterus and chronic sinusitis as it eliminates water, strengthens the spleen, calms the mind, clear damp-heat by enhancing the function of heart, spleen, lung, kidney channels.

f. Etc.

Foods
In traditional Chinese medicine, the herb, Ling Zhi (Reishi mushroom) is viewed to contain certain substances which process the antibacteria, antivirus and antitumor properties over thousands of year. In general public, most mushrooms contain the same values but differing in volume.
1. Shiitake or Chinese black mushroom
Shiitake contains protein, glutamic acid, low cholesterol, β-glucosidase and 18 amino acids. Some researchers found that shiitake mushroom may stimulate the immune system, possess antibacterial properties, reduce platelet aggregation, and possess antiviral properties, possibly through antiviral agents known as proteinase inhibitors. Lentinan in Shiitake enhances the immune function and prevents our body against cancer. The substance of interferon inducer may be used to treat cancer.

2. Agaricus campestris
Agaricus campestris contains high amount of B vitamin and inorganic salts. In rat study, researchers found that Agaricus campestris inhibits the progression of cancer cells.

3. Hericium erinaceus
One of the favorite food in many Chinese expensive recipe, Hericium erinaceus may inhibit the growth of tumor. In China, Some of the pharmaceutical drug company have made them in form of Mushroom slices for use in preventing and treating stomach and Esophageal cancer.

4.Tremella
Tremella contains high amount of fiber, protein, calcium, polysaccharides, etc. Researchers found that tremella enhances the immune system scavenging, T cells and B lymphocytes functions, thus preventing the progression of cancer cells.

5. Flammulina
Beside it has been used in TCM to treat liver inflammation, ulcer and lower blood cholesterol, in 1982 study, researchers in Japan found that certain substances in flammulina help to protect our body against cells DNA mutation cause of cancer.

6. Etc.

Recipes
Coix Seed, Shepherd's purse and pig Tripe soup
Coix Seed 100g,Shepherd's purse 60g,pig Tripe 150 g,dried Tangerine Peel 6 g
a. Take away fat from pig tripe the cut to small slice, then clean it well with water after stirring with a little bit of salt and corn starch
b. Clean Coix seed, Sherpherd'spurse and dried tangerine peel in water
c. Put all of them in the pit with high heat, after boiling, turn to lower heat for 1-1/2 hours
 The recipe is for the use to clear heat, move fluid, nourish yin and cool blood, thus treating bladder, kidney and diuretic related tumors or after surgery or chemotherapy.
** Use only for symptoms of urination with brown color blood, back and joint pain, thirsty, redden tongue, little coating.

** Not suitable for patients with liver and kidney yin deficiency, prolonged urination with blood, little color in urine, fatigue, short of breath, back and joint cold with pain, thirsty but don't like to drink, pale yellow and smooth and tender tongue.

** Do not use this formula for patients with exogenous heat
** If you can replace pig liver with pig tripe

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