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Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Bone Cancer

Bone cancer is a type of cancer that can occur in children and adults, although the trend is more common in children and adolescents. Bone cancer are grouped based on the source of the cancer, said to be primary if the original source of the bone itself and said to be secondary if the cancer that occurs is the result of other cancers spread to the bone. Secondary bone cancer can be derived from breast cancer cells or other cancer cells that spread to bone, this type is more common than primary bone cancer. So in fact the primary bone cancer relatively rare. In the discussion this time we will be more focus on primary bone cancer.

There are several types of primary bone cancer, namely:

     * Osteosarcoma
     * Kondrosarkoma
     * Ewing's sarcoma
     * Malignant fibrous histiocytoma
     * fibrosarcoma
     * kordoma

Osteosarcoma, and Ewing's sarcoma kondrosarkoma is a type of bone cancer that most commonly diagnosed. Other types of cancers can occur in the bones is the lymphoma and multiple myeloma. Most lymphomas develop in lymph nous, but can begin in the bone. Multiple myeloma can affect the bone marrow cells, bone cells rather than actual, so it is more often classified not as an actual bone cancer.


Causes of Bone Cancer

Although the exact cause is not known about the occurrence of bone cancer, the researchers found that genetic factors may increase the risk of bone cancer. Examples of genetic factors that may increase the risk of bone cancer are:

     * Multiple exostoses
     * Rothmund-Thomson syndrome
     * Genetic retinoblastoma
     * Li-Fraumeni syndrome

Adults who have Paget's disease are at high risk for developing bone cancer.

Radiation treatment has ever been done before can be associated with bone cancer. These correlations were strongest when radiation therapy is given during childhood. But that does not mean that radiation therapy is used in the treatment of cancer into something dangerous or unsafe. For people who have cancer, radiation therapy benefits outweigh the risks that arise. This risk is not included in the radiation exposure is continuous with the x-ray.

Bone Cancer Symptoms

Symptoms that appear may vary depending on the type of bone cancer, but the most common is pain. Bone cancer more common in long bone shape (arms and legs), so that these places are the most often feel pain. Not all bone tumors are cancerous, but some are benign. Bone pain generally indicates that the tumor was benign. Some symptoms of bone cancer include:

     * Swollen joints and inflammation
     * Bone fractures caused by fragile bones

Non-specific symptoms such as fever, weight loss, severe fatigue, and anemia can also be a symptom of bone cancer, but can also be an indicator of other diseases.


Bone Cancer Diagnosis
The combination of several symptoms with some findings during the physical test may be a reference to the existence of bone cancer, but it takes some extra tests to take a definite conclusion.
Imaging tests such as x-rays, MRIs and CT scans, to help identify any bone abnormalities. A bone scan can identify areas of bone that has a new bone growth or fracture.
Biopsy is a method in place to mengkonformasi whether there is cancer or not. Bone biopsy is done by taking a bit of bone tissue and then observed under a microscope. Generally lasts less than an hour and can be performed while the patient ambulatory.
Perform biopsies in people suffering from primary bone cancer can be more difficult, this is because of the possibility the cancer would have spread during the procedure. A biopsy should be performed by surgeons who are quite experienced in dealing with primary bone cancer.
If the cancer has been found, it is then carried out by patologist staging. Staging is based on the type of bone cancer. Ideally, patologist the test sample is also experienced in diagnosing bone cancer. Many types of bone cancer is not common, it is helpful if the work is done in a team with experience in dealing with bone cancer. Collection team consisting of doctors hemato oncology, radiation oncology, radiology, surgical oncology, orthopedic oncology and pathology will be very helpful in dealing with this case.


Bone Cancer Treatment

There are three standard forms of primary bone cancer treatment: surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Sometimes it takes a combination therapy of three. Treatment depends on the type of cancer, the rate of spread, or metastasize, and other health factors.

Surgery: Bone cancer is generally treated with surgery. Surgery performed on the cancer has not spread and remove tissue and cancerous tissue around it. Some tumors may still require chemotherapy or radiation in addition to surgery.

Radiation therapy: Radiation therapy uses a specific radiation energy to shrink tumors or eliminate cancer cells. Radiation therapy works by damaging the DNA of cells, so that cells unable to grow. Although radiation therapy can damage healthy cells around it, the cancer cells more sensitive to radiation and will die when irradiated. surrounding healthy cells will be damaged by radiation, but they will soon recover.

Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy is often given for the treatment of bone cancer. Chemotherapy drugs work by eliminating cells that have the speed in the divide, such as cancer cells. However, there are several types of normal cells that also have properties such as the cells rapidly divide the hair. So sometimes chemotherapy causes hair loss.
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Saturday, September 17, 2011

Tues European Scientists Discovered Cancer Busters

Research to find a cure for cancer continues to be done by experts from all over the world. Now present a speck of hope for cancer patients following the discovery of a unique kind of virus by scientists in Europe.
In the latest study, researchers from LIFE - Faculty of Life Sciences, the University of Copenhagen Denmark found that the vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) has a great potential that was not previously known. The virus has two great abilities that is, kill the cancer cells as well as stop the expression of certain molecules of the type of hidden cancer cells in the immune system.
According to researchers, some types of cancer cells known to express immunostimulatory molecules are so much liquid, thereby blocking the ability of the immune system to recognize them, and allow these cells evolve toward cancer
Vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) is a rhabdovirus. This virus originated from the same family with the rabies virus, and causes a disease similar to foot and mouth disease in cattle.
"Excessive expression seen in cancers such as melanoma, testicular cancer, ovarian cancer and certain types of leukemia that significantly damage the immune system, thus reducing the chance of recovery of patients," Soren Skov, associate professor of immunology of LIFE.
Skov was the leader of a research team that recently launched a major project in the European Union to study the potential to improve cancer treatment by strengthening the immune system. In one part of his research are also published in the Journal of Virology, the researchers infected human cancer cells with VSV.
"We were able to show that the virus (VSV) can kill cancer cells. The results also showed that the VSV is highly effective in inhibiting the production of immunostimulatory molecules - which act to destroy the immune system-and thus would allow someone to survive," says Skov.
Important breakthrough
Skov assess these findings as a breakthrough that is clear and a big leap towards better cancer treatment, where the immune system will be able to more effectively stop the progression of cancer. Skov hope in the future these findings can be an alternative to chemotherapy, and tailored to each patient's disease.
"The next step will be clinical trials in humans. The test has been conducted in the United States," said Helle Jensen, a researcher who has conducted research in the LIFE project in collaboration with the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Copenhagen and the National Veterinary Institute at the Technical University of Denmark ( DTU).

Thursday, September 15, 2011

Cell Phone Radiation Causes Brain Cancer One

Reveal the cell phone radiation can cause brain cancer. Cell phone radiation is categorized as a dangerous carcinogenic substances such as lead, smoke exhaust, and chloroform.

This was announced by the World Health Organization, World Health Organization (WHO), as quoted by AFP from CNN, on Wednesday (01/06/2011).

The study was conducted by a team of 31 scientists from 14 countries, including the United States. The decision was made after more in-depth review on the safety of using cell phones. The team found sufficient evidence to categorize as a type of cell phone radiation harmful substance to humans.

The team found evidence of increased risk of glioma brain cancer and the enhancement of acoustic neuroma for mobile phone users. But can not draw conclusions for other types of cancers.

Currently the European Environment Agency has been pushing for further study. This independent body could cause the phone reveals an equally large risk with smoking, asbestos and leaded gasoline.

The head of a prominent cancer research institute at the University of Pittsburgh sent a memo to all employees urging them to limit cell phone use because of possible cancer risks.

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Cervix Cancer

Cervical cancer or also known as cervical cancer is a cancer that occurs in the female reproductive system precisely at the mouth of the uterus. The cervix is ​​located at the bottom of the uterus that connects the upper vagina to the uterus. Length is about 2 inches. Childbirth will occur dilatation (widening) the cervix so the baby can pass from the uterus into the vagina.

How Often Occurrence of Cervical Cancer?

Breast cancer and cervical cancer is the second most common type of cancer that occurs in women, but the estimated number of women diagnosed with cervical cancer each year has decreased, whether this is because most women begin to know and understand about its prevention, are still required further investigation. In the U.S. alone in 2007, there were 3670 women die from this cancer.

What are the Symptoms of Cervical Cancer?

In the early stages of cervical cancer, there is usually no symptoms. Symptoms of cervical cancer began to appear when the cancer has entered a more advanced stage, invasive cervical gets deeper and affect the surrounding tissue. Some symptoms that may arise are as follows:

Including the bleeding vaginal bleeding after sexual intercourse
Arising pain during sex, but this can be things that umu and not associated with cervical cancer
Pain in the pelvis
The emergence of redness and rashes on the vagina

What Are the Risks Becoming Cervical Cancer?

One of the major risk factor for development of cervical cancer are infected with Human Pappilomavirus (HPV). HPV is a virus that is transmitted through sexual contact. Other cervical cancer risk factors are having sex early age, smoking, multiple sex partners and have a weak immune system.

How Diagnosing Cervical Cancer?

The initial step is to diagnose cervical cancer by doing a pap smear. A Pap smear is a simple test that is done by taking cervical cell samples (mouth of uterus) and then observation under miskroskop. If the sample cell that refers to cells found in cancer cells then the next step is to perform colposcopy. Colposcopy is a tool that aims to be able to see more in the cervix and closer. While doing the colposcopy, biopsy can also be aiming to take samples of cancer cells. Some tests may be required in accordance with stage of cancer.

How to Treat Cervical Cancer?

Cervical cancer can be treated in several ways. Types of cancer and the stage is to determine the type of treatment will be done. Cervical cancer treatment can be done with surgery, like hysterectomy, can also chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Treatment will vary in each patient. Certain patients may only undergo surgery, but other patients could have undergone surgery and chemotherapy. And everything depends on the type and stage of cervical cancer.