When a patient is first diagnosed with prostate cancer and has had all the relevant tests to check the extent of the disease he will normally have an appointment with his doctor to discuss what is best. Prostate cancer treatment will depend on the extent of the cancer and on the intent of the treatment. For example early prostate cancers will be treated with surgery, radiotherapy or watchful waiting. Prostate cancer surgery is a definite possibility for many men in the early stages of the disease and so the subject should be discussed with the doctor. Late prostate cancers will be treated with hormone therapy, radiotherapy, chemotherapy or a mixture of all 3. Often patients will be given a choice of treatments by the doctor and the pros and cons of each option explained. There is no best cancer of prostate treatment because the treatment you receive will depend on the extent of your cancer.

PROSTATE CANCER RADIOTHERAPY (COMMONLY CALLED PROSTATE CANCER RADIATION TREATMENT)
Many men undergo radiotherapy as it is often regarded as the best prostate cancer treatment. This may be with the aim to cure the cancer or to shrink and control it depending on the stage. Often hormone treatment is given prior to radiation treatment to help reduce the size of the cancer and improve the rate of cure. Small cancers don’t need this hormone pre-treatment.

TYPES OF PROSTATE CANCER RADIOTHERAPY
Radiotherapy is the treatment for cancer of the prostate with radiation. This is most often as X-rays which pass through the body and kill the cancer cells in its path known as “external beam radiotherapy”. The alternative way to treat the prostate is from within the body using small radioactive sources known as “brachytherapy”. Brachytherapy is only suitable for a small proportion of men with early prostate cancer and with a suitable sized prostate gland. It has the advantage of slightly fewer side effects during the treatment but would not be so effective at curing more bulky prostate cancers.

EXTERNAL BEAM RADIOTHERAPY FOR PROSTATE CANCER
The majority of men with cancer of the prostate will have this type of radiation treatment. It is given by a machine called a Linear Accelerator. This makes high energy X-rays which are good at killing cancer cells. Linear accelerators are worked by radiographers who will also help you get into the right position for your treatment and give you advice during your treatment.
For the treatment the patient has to lie on a thin couch, rather like those used in the CT or MRI scanners. The machine then moves around the patient to deliver X-rays from several different angles, all pointing towards the prostate gland. Each treatment takes approximately 10 minutes to give, and the full dose of treatment is spread out to be given every day over a few weeks. This helps to give a big enough dose to the prostate to kill the cancer whilst reducing the side effects of treatment.

To make sure you are in the correct position and the prostate is being treated properly either an X-ray picture or more usually an extra CT scan will be taken before treatment starts to locate the prostate gland accurately. At this time you will also be given several tattoos (tiny dots on the skin) so that when you lie on the couch for each treatment the radiographers can make sure you are lined up properly. This helps to make sure the prostate gland is treated fully and to reduce side effects.

Patients are not able to feel X-rays or even be aware that the treatment machine is on. However as patients go through the weeks of treatment there are a number of common side effects that can be expected. Most of these are short term side effects which slowly build up through the treatment, are worst at or just after the end of treatment and then improve quite quickly (within a few weeks). There are also some long-term or late side effects which can occur.

Adrian Jones
http://www.articlesbase.com/medicine-articles/common-forms-of-prostate-cancer-treatment-prescribed-feb-2007-107272.html

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In today’s world, is it that occurrences of breast cancer are growing much more than it was years ago, or it is just that breast cancer is getting more visibility in the press and medical journals? It appears that the answer is a little bit of both. The population is increasing and therefore the actual number of cases is more, although the actual percentage of people diagnosed with breast cancer is not significantly different (although it is higher) than in years past.

One of the things that many people fail to understand is that anyone can get breast cancer. Although it is thought to be tied somewhat to being hereditary, that does not mean that you will not get breast cancer if there is no occurrence of it in your family history.

Another thing that is equally puzzling is why more people, particularly women where breast cancer is most likely to happen, do not get regular checkups from their doctor to check for it. I know of multiple people who were diagnosed with breast cancer, and when asked when the last time they had a mammogram done to check for the presence of breast cancer, they indicated it had been a number of years. This is truly unfortunate because like most things, if breast cancer is caught as early as possible, the chances of beating it become incredibly greater.

You should be aware of the symptoms of breast cancer, sometimes also known as inflammatory breast caner so that you can see your doctor as soon as possible if these symptoms exist. These symptoms include:

* A breast that appears bruised, or is pink or purple.

* If your breast is feeling tender or firm and enlarged.

* A consistent warm feeling in the breast.

* Pain or itching in the breast that is constant.

* A ridged or dimpled skin texture, kind of like an orange peel.

* Flattened, retracted, swollen or crusted skin around the nipple.

* Lumps or enlarged lymph nodes under the arm or around the collarbone.

This is not an exhaustive list of symptoms but if you are experiencing any of these symptoms or signs, you should see your doctor as soon as possible to get checked out. Most health insurance companies will pay for this examination, because they realize that it is going to cost them much more if the cancer is allowed to grow instead of being diagnosed, caught, and remedied early on in its development stages.

Many of these same symptoms can also indicate the presence of a breast infection called mastitis. This type of infection most frequently (although not exclusively) occurs in younger women, usually under age 35, who are breast feeding young children. This is not breast cancer but is a simple infection that is most easily treated with prescription antibiotics. It is frequently accompanied by fever. The difference here is that breast cancer does not cause a fever, nor does it respond to antibiotics.

The bottom line is that you need to be aware of the classic symptoms of breast cancer, since the earlier it is diagnosed and treated, especially with the advances in today’s medicines, the better your chances of beating it.

Jon Arnold
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/be-aware-of-the-symptoms-of-breast-cancer-132773.html

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Astellas Pharma U.S., Inc, manufacturer of Protopic (tacrolimus), is now facing several lawsuits that the drug may cause cancer. Protopic has been on the market for the last five years as a topical medication for eczema. Since its launch, both Protopic and similar drug Elidel (pimecrolimus) have been prescribed to 7.5 million people, including children. Elidel is manufactered by Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation. Both Protopic and Elidel were marketed as effective and safe drugs for people with moderate eczema. After all, both these drugs are steroid free and have been considered as suitable alternatives to corticosteroids (traditionally the method of treatment for eczema).

Protopic, and similarly Elidel, can control the symptoms of eczema that includes redness, itching and inflammation. They can be used in almost all parts of the body including the neck and facial area. The recommended use of these creams were about twice a day for six weeks or as directed by your physician.

However, since early January 2006, these drugs are made known by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, of possible cancer risks. It directed that manufacturers of Protopic and Elidel to add a warning black box in their product label of possible risks.

There are now reported cases of skin cancer arising from the use of Protopic as an eczema treatment. More people now realize that Protopic and Elidel are classified as immunosuppressant. This simply means that anyone who uses this medication is exposed to a number of diseases, including cancer, because the imune system is relatively weakened.

Traci Reilly of Naperville in the U.S. thinks that the two widely prescribed medications may be responsible for her breast cancer. She first developed a lump in her right breast which was the exact area where she was using the drug.

Reilly had used both Protopic and Elidel. She was prescribed these medications as she was suffering from a condition called vitiligo that caused small patches of discolored skin on her body.

Vitiligo, a type of skin disease, may as well be the first signs of skin cancer. It is characterized with loss of skin pigmentation and may leave a milky white patch on the skin. (If you are using Elidel or Protopic for eczema pain treatment and observe this kind of symptom, stopped the medication and consult your physician immediately. )

There are also reported cases of lymphoma that are allegedly caused by Elidel. Lymphoma is a cancer of the tissues or lymph modes. Elaine Eklund had been using Elidel to treat a rash on her facial area and two weeks later she notice a lump on her neck. She is sure that Elidel is the cause of her lymphoma.

Tom Moore, an author of several books involving the pharmaceutical industry, claims that there should have been warnings from the start. In all these cases, the warning by FDA came too late.

He studied about 1,200 cases of suspected drug injuries pertaining to Protopic and Elidel reported to the FDA through 2005. Moore discovered more than 100 potential cancer cases in children and adults, although he believed that the numbers should be higher as many cases go unreported. Most of the 100 potential cases involve lymphoma or skin cancer, although it cannot be concluded that they are all directly linked to the drugs.

Moore also cited an animal study involving monkeys who were given high doses of Protopic. The monkeys developed cancer after receiving the oral form of the Protopic. Together with other studies, the conclusion was that the higher the dose of Protopic used, the higher the rates of cancer became. These studies, together with more reported cases of drug injuries, prompted the FDA to issue to the need for the black box warning.

Research laboratories are now studying more cases involving the use of Protopic and Elidel. Still, such human studies, as the FDA pointed out, can take ten years or more. At the present moment, it is best that you refrain from using these medications for eczema. Hence, if you wish to continue to use Protopic or Elidel, then be aware of the cancer risks and discuss your options thoroughly with your physician. In any case, you are strongly advised not to use these drugs if you have a weak immune system or for babies or children less than 2 years old.

Evelyn Lim
http://www.articlesbase.com/non-fiction-articles/medications-for-eczema-pose-cancer-risks-113388.html

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Inherited colon cancer represents at about 5% of all the colon cancer cases. This type of cancer is caused by genetic abnormalities inherited from someone in you family. Often, people that have cases of colon cancer in their families present colonic polyps that can become cancerous. There are more types of polyps inlcuding familial adenomatous polyps. There are variants of colon cancer that present few if any polyps like the inherited non-polyposis cancer. There are some other types that occur very rarely like the Gardner’s syndrome which is a variant of the familial adenomatous polyps cancer type and the Peutz-jeghers syndrome wich is not cancerous but it gives the patient a greater risk of developing colon cancer. Most families with a colon cancer presence have at least one of these types. Inherited colon cancer appear very often to young people, while sporadic (non-inherited) colon cancer appears very rarely before the age of 40.

Hereditary colon cancer specialists recommend that people that come from families with higher then normal colon cancer risk factor need to take regular tests even if they don’t have any symptoms. The most effective and the most spread method to identify colon cancer is colonoscopy. A very small camera and a light attached to a tiny tube is inserted trough the rectum into the colon of the patient permitting physicians to check the inside of the colon for any signs of cancer. Signs of colon cancer like colonic polyps or adenomas are easy to identify using coloscopy. The familial adenomatous polyposis and the Gardners syndrome are characterized by a huge number of polyps (thousands). Cancer can be prevented by surgery if the diseased is found in time, in its precancerous stage. If the disease has reached the cancerous state it may be possible that surgery won’t help. Colonoscopy should be performed even at the ages of 10 years for members of a family known to have a gene of one of these disease.

Even though inherited non-polyposis cancer isn’t characterized by the presence of many polyps, colonoscopy remains the best way to diagnose it. Inherited non-polyposis cancer is usually accompanied with cancers of the small bowel, stomach, urinary tract, larynx, pancreas. One type of the inherited non-polyposis cancer, called the Lynch syndrome I, starts at a young age and it is usually found in the upper colon. Families that know they had inherited non-polyposis cancer in their bloodline should begin colonoscopy since the age of 20.

Lists with all the people with inherited colon cancer can be found at local hospitals. People known to have a higher risk should be encouraged to take regular colonoscopies from an early age. By using these lists lives can be saved by preventing colon cancer from appearing of curing it in its early phases.

For more resource on different colon cancer subjects please click this link http://www.colon-cancer-center.com. You can also find valuable information about colon cancer treatment or even about metastatic colon cancer

Groshan Fabiola
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/inherited-colon-cancer-what-is-it-and-how-can-you-stop-it-88349.html

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Newly laid off from her job and suffering from Depression and asthma, Sue Clark faces a lot of hard issues. Once she lost her job in Yuma a few months in the past, she lost her health insurance, too, and a few of her prescription medicine cost a bunch.

“Having to pick between meals, mortgage, and the utilities|power|gas bill|electric bill, I occasionally don’t choose my drugs,” the 26 -year-old stated. She should not be skipping her prescription drugs as it leaves her out of breath and light headed.

After contacting an private prescription assistance company, she is fully on her direction to getting the prescription drug help that she needs. The depression and the political debate over health care reform have caused quite a lot of of the drug organizations to relax their program procedure.
Similar to most pharmaceutical companies Merck for example, operates a prescription assistance program that offers medication, for free, to individuals who meet the criteria. You must have no insurance or your medical insurance coverage is laughable. A few months in the past Merck increased the income guidelines from 200 % of the federal poverty level to 400 %.

2 other companies, Pfizer Inc. and AstraZeneca P.L.C., a short time ago announced they would ease their guidelines and let jobless patients to sign up, regardless of how much they used to take home. They still need to present confirmation that they are jobless.

Paperwork remains a major obstacle, however, since a lot of people need medication from quite a few companies and each company has their specific long forms that you have to fill out. It’s frequently a complicated process and every drug company is a little different. Generally companies want the doctor of medicine to take part in the process and generally still require substantiation of earnings. Denials for not finishing the long forms in the approved manner are not uncommon.

The Partnership for Prescription Assistance, an industry-sponsored group, states it has assisted over 4  million persons over the last five  years locate programs that help persons without presciption insurance get their medicines for free.
Today, she uses quite a few different methods to get the help with prescriptions that she desires. She purchases 3  of the generic prescription medication she needs at Costco for $4 each, per month and two  of the especially expensive brand name medication she receives for free directly from the pharmaceutical company.

She is still looking for employment and admits “I’ll accept anything”. The final time she worked was in the installation division for the cable company. Nevertheless, she is happy to have some support.”I am out of work and I have no presciption insurance” she said. “Being able to acquire help with prescription medicine is something.”

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