Leukemia – Causes and treatment of Leukemia

Cancer : Leukemia – Causes and treatment of Leukemia
By: Corwin Brown

Leukemia is a cancer of blood-forming cells in the bone marrow. These deranged, immature cells accumulate in the blood and within organs of the body. They are not able to carry out the normal functions of blood cells. Normal blood contains 3 major groups of cells: white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets. All 3 types of blood cells develop from one immature cell type, called blood/marrow stem cells, in a process called hematopoiesis.

In leukemia, your bone marrow produces a large number of abnormal white blood cells. They look different from normal blood cells and don't function properly. Eventually, they block production of normal white blood cells, impairing your ability to fight off infection. Leukemia cells also crowd out other types of blood cells produced by the bone marrow, including red blood cells, which carry oxygen to tissues throughout your body, and platelets, which help form blood clots.

Causes of Leukemia

Acute leukemia: In acute leukemia, the abnormal blood cells are immature blood cells (blasts). They can't carry out their normal work, and they multiply rapidly, so the disease worsens quickly. Acute leukemia requires aggressive, timely treatment.

Viruses: The human T-cell leukemia virus I (HTLV-I) is related to acute T-cell leukemia. This type of leukemia is well documented in parts of the Caribbean and Asia, but it is uncommon in the United States and Europe. Higher rates of leukemias also have been reported in workers who are exposed to animal viruses (e.g., butchers, slaughterhouse workers, veterinary practitioners).

Chronic leukemia: This type of leukemia involves more mature blood cells. These blood cells replicate or accumulate more slowly and can function normally for a period of time. Some forms of chronic leukemia produce no signs or symptoms and can go unnoticed or undiagnosed for years.

Genetics–Leukemia risk is increased 15-fold among children with Down's syndrome, which is a genetically linked chromosomal abnormality (usually an extra copy of chromosome 21). Three rare inherited disorders—Fanconi's anemia, Bloom's syndrome, and ataxia telangiectasia—also have an increased risk for leukemia.

Treatment for Leukemia

Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy is the major form of treatment for leukemia. This treatment uses chemical agents to kill leukemia cells. Depending on the type of leukemia you have, you may receive a single drug or a combination of one or more drugs. These drugs may come in a pill form, or they may be injected directly into a vein.

Interferon Therapy: Interferons are a class of proteins that are released by virus-infected cells. They help normal cells to make antiviral proteins. Interferons also help the body to reduce leukemia cell proliferation (growth and reproduction), while strengthening the body's immune response.

Kinase inhibitors: For most people with CML, the drug imatinib mesylate (Gleevec) is the first line of therapy. Imatinib mesylate is a type of cancer drug called a kinase inhibitor. It was specifically developed to inhibit the BCR-ABL protein, and it has proved effective in treating the early stages of chronic myelogenous leukemia. Several newer kinase inhibitors are in development.

Surgery is generally not used to treat leukemia. Occasionally, a person with leukemia that has spread to the spleen has the spleen removed. This is usually done only if the spleen is so large that it is causing problems for nearby organs.

Radiation therapy: Radiation therapy uses X-rays or other high-energy rays to damage leukemia cells and stop their growth. You may receive radiation in one specific area of your body where there is a collection of leukemia cells, or you may receive radiation directed at your whole body

A Should Read About A Simple Urine Test That Observes Early Prostate Cancer

Cancer : A Should Read About A Simple Urine Test That Observes Early Prostate Cancer
By: Jackson Neshah

Did you identify with the fact that the growth of human cells is unending? Well, studies have made it obvious that the cells of the human body continuously renew during a life time. This is so that the body can always replace deceased cells with new cells in the same tissues of organs to take over same functions as the dead cells once did. This is the cause of body development and longevity.

But an aberration may happen in the route of body development to stimulate cells to start growing unrestrained and thus form a mass called tumor, which can be detected as cancerous if found to be malignant. Growth refers to when cells overgrowth begins or is seen to head towards encroaching on other tissues, and if unchecked is very likely to spread all over the body and cause death.

Prostate cancer is a style of cancer that distresses the prostate gland of men so that the cells of the prostate start to duplicate without control, and may thus spread outside the prostate gland onto neighboring organs causing them harm.

There are lots of different kinds of treatments for prostate cancer depending on the extent of the cancer. As with any treatment, early uncovering through regular screening can help in treatment.

Digital rectal examination (DRE) or the course of using a gloved finger inserted in the rectum to feel and measure how big the gland has grown, to ascertain the possibility of prostate tumor, used to be the common screening method for monitoring the prostate of men, especially by age of 40, when they are thought to be more at the risk of developing prostate cancer.

Afterwards, as men arrive age 50, it is even mandatory medically that a yearly PSA test should be carried out to help detect early prostate cancer. This method is known to be more effective in diagnosing the minutest sign of cancerous cells advancement in the prostate gland.

However, even a better test for becoming aware of early prostate cancer is now a trouble-free urine test that enables the detection of the presence of the protein thymosin B15 in the urine. This is very easy to see, because only cancerous cells are known to make this particular protein that aids the spreading of cancerous cells.

About the Author :

Jackson Neshah is a skilled webmaster and has succeeded in writing several entertaining articles on issues such as Prostate Cancer Erection Free Helpful Guidepost. Get more information from the above link and learn all you need to know about Prostate cancer in its different ramafications in the United States

Ovarian Cancer – Don’t Ignore the Warning Signs

Ovarian Cancer – Don’t Ignore the Warning Signs
By: Anne Wolski

Around 1.5 percent of women are likely to develop ovarian cancer at some stage of their life. It is less common than breast cancer but is considered as the most serious and fatal of all gynecological cancers.

The reason for this is that the cancer is usually advanced before it is diagnosed, making treatment difficult. The ovaries cannot be easily examined and, because the warning signs are unclear, late diagnosis is common.

Because of the lack of screening tests available, it is imperative to know the early symptoms and the possible risk factors.

Understanding ovarian cancer

The ovaries are two small organs that are a part of the female reproductive system and they are situated each side of the uterus. These ovaries contain germ cells that become eggs which are released when the woman menstruates.

They also produce estrogen and progesterone, the hormones that adjust the menstrual cycle and have an effect on the growth of breasts and body hair as well as affecting the development of the female body shape.

What types of tumors are there?

This normally happens in an organised manner but occasionally they grow abnormally and form a growth that we know as a tumor.

This tumor may be benign or it may be malignant. If it is benign, it is not cancerous and does not spread to other parts of the body. A malignant tumor, on the other hand, is cancerous and will often spread, making mestastases or secondary cancers.

Ovarian cancer is malignant and can occur in either one or both of the ovaries. There are three main groups that are related to the cells where the cancer starts.

Epithelial ovarian cancer, as its name implies, grows in the epithelium which is the surface of the ovary. It is the most common and accounts for around 90 percent of ovarian cancer. It mainly affects post menopausal women.

Another kind of epithelial tumor is a borderline tumor which grows much more slowly than its regular counterpart. These can normally be removed successfully even if diagnosed at an advanced stage.

There is a very rare form of ovarian cancer called germ cell ovarian cancer that starts in the cells that develop into eggs. This only accounts for about 5 percent of ovarian cancers and usually occurs only in women under 30.

The other five percent of ovarian cancers are generally sex-chord stromal cell ovarian cancer that affects the ovary cells responsible for female hormones. It can affect women of all ages.

Who is at risk of getting ovarian cancer?

The cause of ovarian cancer is unknown but there are some risk factors that have been identified through research. Although having these risk factors may increase your chances of developing ovarian cancer, they do not mean that you will necessarily get the disease. However, knowledge of these risk factors can be helpful. If you are concerned by having any of these risk factors, it is important to talk to your healthcare professional.

Factors that may increase your risk of ovarian cancer include:

Age- Around 90 percent of ovarian cancers affect women over 40.

Cultural background - Caucasian women in western society have higher rates of ovarian cancer than African or Asian women.

Number of pregnancies – Women who have never been pregnant appear to have a higher risk of ovarian cancer.

Family history - Between 5 and 10% of ovarian cancers are genetic. Researchers believe that the genes responsible for breast cancer (BRCA1 and BRCA2) are involved in almost all cases of familial ovarian cancer as well as familial breast cancer. It is also thought that these same damaged genes may be responsible for some endometrial and colon cancers. If you are genetically predisposed to any ovarian, breast, endometrial or colon cancers, you may have an increased risk of getting ovarian cancer.

Infertility and taking fertility drugs – Women who have had fertility drugs may be at a higher risk although infertility itself is a risk factor so this cannot be taken as a clear indication.

Hormone Replacement Therapy – The use of estrogen only HRT which is usually when you have had a hysterectomy, has been identified as a possible risk factor for ovarian cancer, particularly if you have been on this therapy for over ten years.

Lifestyle factors – Obesity is a risk factor associated with ovarian cancer as is a diet that is high in fat.

Can I reduce the risk of ovarian cancer?

Currently, there are no known procedures to prevent or detect early ovarian cancer but there are ways to reduce the risks. Some of these are:

Oral contraceptives - Research has found that the use of oral contraceptives can cut the risk of ovarian cancer by up to 60 percent if taken for a period of five years during your life.

Pregnancy and breastfeeding – Breastfeeding delays ovulation after childbirth and therefore decreases your risk of ovarian cancer. However, there is no guarantee that breastfeeding will stop you from developing ovarian cancer.

Enjoy a low fat diet – A high fat diet has been identified as a risk factor in ovarian cancer. Therefore, it makes sense to stick to a low fat diet with lots of fresh fruit and vegetables.

Tubal ligation or hysterectomy – These operations are only performed with a valid medical reason but it is believed that they both reduce the risk of ovarian cancer.

People with a strong family history of ovarian cancer may opt to speak to a genetic counselor that can assess whether you are at risk of developing the disease. If your family history suggests the damaged genes associated with ovarian, breast, endometrial, or colon cancer, it may be wise to have genetic testing. If these tests show the damaged BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes, you may be refe.rred to a gynecological oncologist to consider ways to reduce your risk.

Early symptoms of ovarian cancer

Because there is no screening test available for ovarian cancer, it is recommended that you have a regular pelvic vaginal checkup to see if there are any changes in your ovaries. It is also vital that you consult your healthcare specialist if you notice any possible signs of this illness. Because the symptoms are often common to many other medical conditions, diagnosis of ovarian cancer can be difficult

However, if you have any of the following symptoms that are unusual for you and that persist for more than a week, see your doctor without delay.

Some symptoms of ovarian cancer may include:

Stomach discomfort of pain in the pelvic area

Persistent nausea or wind.

Feeling constantly bloated or ‘full’.

Unexplained weight gain.

Loss of appetite or unexplained weight loss

Bowel changes

Frequency or urgency in urination

Lethargy.

Pain during intercourse.

Unexplained vaginal bleeding.

Sometimes, ovarian cancers are wrongly diagnosed as irritable bowel syndrome or menopause so if you are concerned, ask to be referred to a gynecological oncologist who can order tests to rule out ovarian cancer. It is rare that these symptoms will be ovarian cancer but if it is, early detection gives an excellent chance of survival.

Diagnosing ovarian cancer

If your doctor suspects ovarian cancer, you will be referred to a gynecological oncologist who will organize tests which may include any or all of the following:

An internal pelvic examination.

Blood tests

Chest and stomach x-rays.

A barium enema to rule out bowel problems

Ultrasound scans

If the results show a likelihood of ovarian cancer, you will be recommended to have an operation to confirm the diagnosis (none of the abovementioned tests can be sure). During the operation, if the surgeon finds ovarian cancer, they will normally remove the cancer as well as the ovaries.

It is important to understand before the surgery that this may happen so learn all you can about your illness and the outcomes before the operation.

About the Author :
Anne Wolski has worked in the health and welfare industry for more than 30 years. She is a co-director of http://www.magnetic-health-online.com and http://www.betterhealthshoppe.com which are both information portals with many interesting medical articles. She is also an associate of http://www.timzbiz.com which features many articles on internet marketing and resources

Helping Fight or Cause Lung Cancer

Cancer : Helping Fight or Cause Lung Cancer

Since Beta Carotene breaks down into Vitamin A in the body, it has basically the same antioxidant qualities of Vitamin A and may affect the chances of getting lung cancer. For a long time it was thought that mega doses of Beta Carotene would help prevent cancer and even fight cancer because it's an antioxidant.
It is shown that low to moderate doses of Beta Carotene reduce the risk of cancer in people. Recently, scientists carried out studies to test the theory that regular higher doses of Beta Carotene and Vitamin A can be even more effective. The studies were the Alpha-Tocopheral, Beta Carotene Cancer Prevention Trial and the Beta Carotene and Retinol Efficacy Trial (CARET) and the Physician's Health Study.

The Cancer Prevention Trial invited male smokers between the ages of fifty and sixty nine to take part in a study to determine if certain vitamin supplements would prevent lung and other types of cancer. They were given a pill with either 50mg of a form of Vitamin E, 20mg of Beta Carotene or a placebo daily for five to eight years.

CARET studied if the combination of Beta Carotene and Vitamin A supplements would actually prevent lung and other cancers in both genders between the ages of fifty to sixty nine who were smokers or former smokers and men between the ages of forty five and sixty nine who had been exposed to asbestos.

The Physician's Health Study tested whether Beta Carotene supplements and low-dose aspirin reduced the risk of cancer and heart disease in American male doctors, only 11 percent of the participants smoked.

Each of these trials showed that Beta Carotene wasn't helping many of its smoking participants and was in fact hurting some of them. The CARET interim results showed that there were twenty eight percent more lung cancers in the group taking Beta Carotene and Vitamin A. While there were seventeen percent more deaths for the Beta Carotene takers. These results were so similar to the Cancer Prevention Trial final results from 1994 that they told the participants to stop taking the supplements twenty one months before the trial was scheduled to end. The Cancer Prevention Trial showed eighteen percent more lung cancer and eight percent more deaths. While the Physician's Health Study showed that there were no significant benefits or problems associated with taking Beta Carotene.

Ultimately these trials showed that while Vitamin A and Beta Carotene are antioxidants in moderate amounts and even helped to lower the risk of cancers in nonsmokers in the case of smokers it gives a higher risk of lung cancer. There are several possible theories for why it does this but the leading thought is that it acts as a pro oxidant in cells exposed to the tar created over time by smokers, and exacerbating the oxidative damage that's already been done and causing changes in the cell which lead to abnormal cell growth.
Author Vincent Platania represents the Stanley Home Products. Stanley Home Products has been in business since 1936, and offers high quality home and personal care products to keep your home and your body clean. Visit http://www.stanleybeautycare.com/

Lifestyle Choices May be a Predictor of Bladder Cancer

Bladder Cancer : Lifestyle Choices May be a Predictor of Bladder Cancer
by: Jon M. Stout

The thought itself is astounding: a way possibly exists to predict if a person could possibly contract bladder cancer in the future. In recent studies, debate is emerging in regards to one theory – that lifestyle choices and the impact of living life a certain way may be related to bladder cancer. A recent study by the Department of Preventive Medicine of Nagoya University School of Medicine indicates that there might, in fact, be a strong and credible link between lifestyle and bladder cancer.

The department studied 258 bladder cancer patients in order to determine if lifestyle choices played a role in allowing medical professionals to prognosticate the possibility that patients might be susceptible to bladder cancer. This was a follow-up study of patients who had suffered from bladder cancer in metropolitan Nagoya, Japan and were recruited for study. Their personal survival information was derived from a database that was maintained by the Nagoya Bladder Cancer Research Group.

After reviewing the tests and their results, researchers were able to pinpoint several key factors that impact the occurrence and reoccurrence of this type of cancer. Univariate analysis showed that there was a significant relationship between 5 year survivorship and the level of education a person possessed, their marital status, drinking habits, and the degree of green tea consumption in males. Additional factors were the age at which the cancer was diagnosed, the histological type and grade of the any tumors, the degree of metastasis, and the state of metastasis in both sexes.

The results were adjusted for age, stage, histology (histological type and grade), and distant metastasis by means of a proportional hazards model.The consumption of alcoholic beverages was also significantly associated with the prognoses of bladder cancer in males. The ratio of adjusted hazard was 0.46 with a 95% confidence interval of 0.26 – 0.79 among males that consumed alcoholic beverages.

Detailed analysis revealed that former drinkers and every level of current drinkers exhibited hazard ratios smaller than unity, although no correlation between dosage amounts was detectable. Other factors, such as smoking habits, uses of artificial sweeteners and hair dye, and consumption of coffee, black tea, matcha (powdered green tea), and cola were detected, leading one to believe that it is reasonable to conclude that drinking any type of beverage, not just alcohol, plays a significant role in the development or reoccurrence of bladder cancer.

The significance of this is vague in terms of prognosis, although that ratio seems to indicate that at least among those who participated in the study and were bladder cancer survivors, drinking alcohol is not a very good idea. Additionally, the study showed that the higher risk factor in regards to bladder cancer and males can be correlated directly to drinking in terms of reoccurrence propensity. If you are male and have had bladder cancer, along with dietary changes and other lifestyle choices, avoiding alcoholic beverages might increase the possibility of avoiding the sickness in the future.

This, however, is not, and should not be considered conclusive, but merely the very compelling result of one specific study. Also, the indication that other factors, such as smoking, did not seem to increase the risk of reoccurrence, should not be construed as rock solid justification for those behaviors.

For instance, the fact that smoking does not apparently increase the risk bladder cancer does not in any way obviate the fact that smoking has been risked to other diseases or maladies such as heart disease, lung cancer, strokes, or degradation of blood circulation. All of these conditions are just as life-threatening as bladder cancer.

One significant factor seems to be that dosage amounts of alcohol do not seem to correlate with the propensity of reoccurrence. In fact, this study seemed to show that among moderate to heavy drinkers, the reoccurrence rate was unaffected. If one were to take this at face value, one could conclude that any drinking at all increases the chances of bladder cancer coming back.

About The Author :
Jon M. Stout is the Chairman of the Golden Moon Tea Company. Golden Moon Tea carefully selects the finest rare and orthodox teas, which are processed slowly and handcrafted with extreme care. At their website, you can learn more about their current tea offerings, including their exceptional green tea, white tea, black tea, oolong tea (also known as wu-long and wu long tea) and chai. Visit http://www.goldenmoontea.com/ for all details concerning the Golden Moon Tea Company's fine line of teas.

Health Benefit of Green Tea: Cancer Prevention

Health Benefit of Green Tea: Cancer Prevention
by: Patricia Hammond

There have already been numerous studies that prove that green tea helps protect drinkers against cancer. Statistics show that cancer rates are lower in countries where people regularly drink green tea. Research has shown that polyphenols are one source of the health benefit of green tea. Researchers believe that these substances found in green tea are influential in preventing the development of cancer.

Studies involving animal tests have shown that green tea reduces the formation of tumors for cancers of the skin, esophagus, bladder, pancreas, ovary cancer and prostate. The antioxidant activity in green tea has been reported to produce such results. Researchers are also of the belief that polyphenols are essential in destroying cancerous cells and stopping their progression.

Skin Cancer

Scientific research suggests that the main polyphenol in green tea, which is called epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), and other green tea polyphenols possess anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer properties. One study has been done on the health benefit of green tea on the skin. The study showed that drinking tea helps prevent the onset and growth of skin tumors.

Esophageal Cancer

Animal studies have also been conducted and they showed that green tea polyphenols help stop the growth of esophageal cancer cells. However, studies done on people have various results regarding the health benefit of green tea. One study showed that green tea consumption is an effective way to be protected from esophageal cancer, specifically among women. But another study showed that drinking green tea increased the risk of developing esophageal cancer. This shows that before green tea can be recommended for esophageal cancer prevention, more research has to be done.

Bladder Cancer

A few studies have been conducted on the health benefit of green tea on the human bladder. Research has been done to determine if there’s a connection between bladder cancer and consumption of green tea. One study revealed that women who drank green tea reduced their probability of developing bladder cancer. The study was followed with another one revealing that patients with bladder cancer, specifically men, who consumed green tea had a significantly improved chance of surviving compared to those who did not drink tea.

Pancreatic Cancer

Research has also been done on the health benefit of green tea on the pancreas. A study found that men and women who drank green tea had lesser chances of developing cancer in the pancreas. However, the study didn’t particularly point out that green tea was exclusively responsible for reducing the risk of pancreatic cancer. Researchers still need further studies before they can start recommending green tea for pancreatic cancer prevention.

Ovarian Cancer

In China, a study was conducted on patients with ovarian cancer. It was observed that women who drank a cup of green tea a day were able to survive longer and lived the longest compared to women who did not drink tea at all.

Prostate Cancer

Green tea extracts have been shown in laboratory studies to prevent the development of prostate cancer cells in test tubes. A large study showed that people who drank green tea with increasing frequency, quantity and duration reduced their risk of developing prostate cancer.

About The Author :
Patricia Hammond is an green tea enthusiast. Get her FREE 7-Day GREEN TEA eCourse at http://www.yourhealthcenter.info/greentea/ or visit her site at http://www.yourhealthcenter.info for more health tips on weight loss, sleeping disorder, and others

New Method To Test For Lung Cancer Developed

Cancer : New Method To Test For Lung Cancer Developed
ScienceDaily (Apr. 4, 2008) — Researchers from Boston University School of Medicine have developed a new 'clinicogenomic model' to accurately test for lung cancer. The model combines a specific gene expression for lung cancer as well as clinical risk factors. These findings currently appear on-line in the journal Cancer Prevention Research.

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the United States and the world, with more than one million deaths worldwide annually. Eighty-five to 90 percent of subjects with lung cancer in the United States are current or former smokers with 10 to 20 percent of heavy smokers developing this disease.

A previous study by the same researchers reported a gene expression biomarker capable of distinguishing cytologically normal large airway epithelial cells from smokers with and without lung cancer. However, the biomarker has limited sensitivity depending on the stage and the location of the cancer.

Studying current and former smokers undergoing bronchoscopies for suspicion of lung cancer, the researchers compared the likelihood of the subjects having lung cancer using the biomarker, the clinical risk factors and a combination of the two -- clinicogenomic model. They found patients using the clinicogenomic model had increased sensitivity, specificity, positive value and negative predictive value of their cancer compared to the other methods.

"Our data suggests that the clinicogenomic model might serve to identify patients who would benefit from further invasive testing, thereby expediting the diagnosis and treatment for their malignancy," said senior author Avrum Spira, MD, an assistant professor of medicine and pathology at Boston University School of Medicine.

According to the researchers, it is hoped this prediction model will expedite more invasive testing and appropriate therapies for smokers with lung cancer as well as reduce invasive diagnostic procedures for individuals without lung cancer.

Funding for this study was provided by the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation and National Institutes of Health and National Cancer Institute grants.

Spira is a pulmonary and critical care medicine physician at Boston Medical Center and is one of the founders of Allegro Diagnostics Inc., a molecular diagnostics company that plans to market the gene expression biomarker.

Adapted from materials provided by Boston University.