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Scientists have found a genetic link that makes certain people at a greater risk of becoming addicted to tobacco. This genetic link supposedly makes people smoke more cigarettes, increases their risk of lung cancer, and makes it harder for them to quit smoking.
Three separate teams of scientists have made the strongest case to date for the biological reasons behind cigarette addiction. With these new research findings in hand, possibly different treatments can be added to help those who haven’t been able to quit.
New York Times
Sandy Robinson also is the blogger for her own website, Fighting Fatigue and the Fighting Fatigue Forum. On the WebbleYou Network, Sandy is co-blogger for the American Idolist blog.
Posted on April 7th, 2008 in
Cancer | Tags:
Cancer,
smoking | Author:
Sandy Robinson |
1 Comment
Researchers from Israel have found that a new test that analyzes tumor genes can give doctors insight and the source on some of the mysterious cancers found today.
Rosetta Genomics said its test that is still not perfected uses microRNAs, a type of genetic material that regulates genes and known to be involved in cancer.
Source
Posted on March 24th, 2008 in
Cancer | Tags:
Cancer | Author:
Sandy Robinson |
No Comments
You have made it through your colorectal cancer scare, your cancer is gone - now what do you do? What can you expect to happen?
Completing cancer treatment can be both stressful and exciting. I’m sure a lot of patients are worried also about whether or not their cancer is going to return. If you have recovered from cancer, but are not sure how to move on and are worried about cancer recurrence and how to deal with that, the ACS has a great page on their website that you can read:
Living With Uncertainty: The Fear of Cancer Recurrence
Usually what happens after treatment ends are:
Follow-Up Care
Probably for years after your cancer treatment has ended you will be required to have regular exams, colonoscopies, rectal exams, blood tests, etc. to tell if the cancer has returned or not. The regularity of your check-ups will depend on what stage your cancer was in.
Lifestyle Changes
I’m sure after having a life-threatening scare such as cancer many people figure out how to live a healthier life and they are eager to do so. If there were things that you did before your cancer that were unhealthy, cut those out. Drinking and smoking are two big factors in cancer and those bad habits definitely need to go!
Diet, nutrition and exercise changes can be beneficial to your health as well. Seeing a dietitian who can help formulate for you what your own personal food needs are and getting regular exercise will build up your body and hopefully help deter cancer from returning!
According to the American Cancer Society, there are typically four main types of treatment used for patients with colorectal cancer:
- Surgery
- Radiation therapy
- Chemotherapy
- Targeted therapies
A combination of these four therapies may be used depending on what stage the cancer is in. Another option is that multiple treatments may be used not at the same time, but one after the other.
Surgery
Surgery is usually an option recommended for earlier stages of colon cancer. The cancer is removed along with areas of colon on either side of the cancer and lymph nodes. The two ends of the colon are sewn back together again.
Surgery is usually the main treatment for rectal cancer as well but radiation and chemo are often given before the surgery. There are different types of surgery for rectal cancer. These include:
Low anterior resection
Abdominoperineal (AP) resection
Pelvic exenteration
To find out more about these types of rectal surgeries, visit the American Cancer Society website.
Radiation Therapy
Radiation therapy is treatment with high-energy rays (such as x-rays) to kill or shrink cancer cells. The radiation may come from outside the body (external radiation) or from radioactive materials placed directly in the tumor.
After surgery, radiation can kill small areas of cancer that may not have been removed during surgery. If the size or location of a tumor makes surgery hard, radiation may be used before the surgery to shrink the tumor. Radiation can also be used to ease symptoms of advanced cancer such as intestinal blockage, bleeding, or pain.
Chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is the use of very strong drugs to kill off cancer cells. The drugs can either be given orally or injected through an IV. These drugs enter the bloodstream and spread throughout the body, making the treatment useful for cancers that have spread to distant organs.
Chemotherapy after surgery may help increase the survival rate for some patients. Chemotherapy can also help relieve pain in advanced stages of cancer.
Chemotherapy kills cancer cells but it also kills off normal cells too. Most patients who go through chemotherapy will become very sick.
Targeted Therapies
Targeted therapies are drugs that attack a part of cancer cells that makes them different from normal cells. Because these drugs affect only cancer cells, they often cause fewer side effects than chemo. Man-made proteins called monoclonal antibodies have been approved for use, along with chemo, against colorectal cancer.
The goal with colorectal cancer is to stop it before it becomes unstoppable. Colorectal cancer caught in the early stages, when there are typically no symptoms, can be tricky, but it can be done if proper screenings are being done.
Screenings, such as a colonoscopy, can prevent cancers from ever starting because polyps can be removed before they become cancerous. There are two types of tests used in screening for colorectal cancer:
- Tests that can find both colorectal polyps and cancer
- Tests that mainly find cancer
Tests that find both polyps and cancer include a flexible sigmoidoscopy, colonoscopy, double contrast barium enema and a virtual colonoscopy.
Flexible Sigmoidoscopy
A sigmoidoscope is a thin, flexible, lighted tube about the thickness of a finger. It is placed into the lower part of the colon through the rectum. This allows the doctor to look at the inside of the rectum and part of the colon for cancer or polyps. Because the tube is only about 2 feet long, the doctor is only able to see about half of the colon. The test can be uncomfortable, but it should not be painful. Before the test, you will need to take some medicine to clean out your colon. If a small polyp is found your doctor may remove it during this test. If an adenoma polyp or colorectal cancer is found during the flex-sig, you will need to have a colonoscopy to look for polyps or cancer in the rest of the colon.
Colonoscopy
A colonoscope is a longer version of the sigmoidoscope. It is used the same way but allows the doctor to see the entire colon. If a polyp is found, the doctor may remove it. If anything else looks abnormal, a biopsy might be done. To do this, a small piece of tissue is taken out through the colonoscope. The tissue is sent to the lab to see if cancer cells are present.
Double Contrast Barium Enema (DCBE)
With this test, a chalky substance is used to fill and open up the colon. Air is then pumped in which causes the colon to expand. This allows for clear x-ray pictures to be taken. If something looks suspicious on the x-rays, a colonoscopy will then be required.
Virtual Colonoscopy
This is similar to a CT scan where many pictures of the colon are taken while you lie on a table. A computer then combines these pictures into images of slices of the part of your body being studied. Virtual colonoscopy involves the use of special computer programs to create both 2 dimensional x-ray pictures and a 3-D “fly-through” view of the inside of the colon and rectum, which allows the doctor to look for polyps or cancer.
This test may be useful for some people who can’t have or don’t want to have tests such as colonoscopy. It can be done fairly quickly and you do not need sedation. But while this test is not invasive like colonoscopy, it still requires the same type of bowel preparation. If polyps or other problems are seen on this test, a colonoscopy will likely be needed to remove them or to explore them fully.
Tests that find colorectal cancer include different names such as FOBT, FIT, and iFIT. They are all alike in that you will need to collect samples of your stool (bowel movement) to be sent to a lab for testing. They differ in the exact way in which you collect the samples and in how the samples are studied in the lab.
Diagnosing colorectal cancer is also done through blood tests and imaging tests.
Staging of Colorectral Cancer
Staging is a method that is used to determine how far the cancer has spread. There are four stages to cancer. The form of treatment and odds of recovery depend on the stage the cancer is in.
Stages are 1 - 4, or used as Roman numerals: I - IV. A Stage 1 cancer is the least invasive and has the highest chance of a cure. Stage 4 is the most serious stage and at this point the cancer has spread to other organs. According to the ACS:
There are really 2 types of staging for colorectal cancer. The clinical stage is your doctor’s best guess of the extent of your disease, based on the results of the physical exam, biopsy, and any other tests you have had. If you have surgery, your doctors can also determine the pathologic stage. This stage is based on the same factors as the clinical stage, plus what is found during surgery and a biopsy of the tissue.
Because most patients with colorectal cancer have surgery, the pathologic stage is most often used to describe the extent of this cancer. Pathologic staging is likely to be more accurate than clinical staging, as it allows your doctor to get a good look at the extent of your disease.
source
Colorectal cancer is the third most common type of cancer (not counting skin cancers) found in women and men today. The American Cancer Society estimates that over 108,000 new cases of colon cancer and almost 41,000 cases of rectal cancer will be diagnosed this year, with the death rate of approximately 50,000 patients.
The death rate for colon cancer has been decreasing over the past decade and a half thanks to screenings and polyps being removed. Also through screenings, the cancer can be found sooner, which gives the patient a greater chance of recovery.
Like most cancers, a cause is not known for colorectal cancer but there are risk factors that can increase your chances of getting this type of cancer. Some risk factors we have control over (like smoking) while others we don’t (age).
Risk Factors
- Age- risk for colorectal increases after the age of 50. Ninety percent of patients with colorectal cancer are over 50 years of age.
- Previous history of polyps or colorectal cancer- Previous experience with polyps (especially larger ones) or colorectal cancer increases your risk.
- History of bowel disease - Bowel diseases such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis may increase your chances of getting this form of cancer.
- Family history - If you have close relatives with this type of cancer, you are at an increased risk.
- Race/ethnic background - African Americans and some Jews of Eastern Europe descent are at a greater risk of developing colorectal cancer.
- Diet- A diet that is high in red meats and processed meats may put you at a higher risk for developing colorectal cancer. Cooking meats at very high heat (frying, broiling, or grilling) can create chemicals that might increase cancer risk.
- Lack of exercise - Increased physical activity is said to reduce cancer risk.
- Overweight- If you are overweight, your chances of dying from colorectal cancer are higher.
- Smoking- Long-term smokers are more likely to die from colorectal cancer than non-smokers.
- Alcohol- Heavy use of alcohol has been linked to colorectal cancer.
- Diabetes- People with Type 2 diabetes are at an increased risk of colorectal cancer.
Colorectal Cancer Prevention
Even though the exact causes are unknown for colorectal cancer, there are preventive measures that can be taken to decrease your chances.
- Regular screening tests that can detect the early signs of cancer and/or remove polyps that can turn into cancer. Check with your physician to know how often you should be screened.
- Genetic testing can be offered to those who have a strong family history of colorectal cancer.
- By changing diet and exercise habits, risk of colorectal cancer can be reduced. Eating fresh fruits, vegetables and lean meats, a low-fat diet and getting enough exercise (30 minutes a day) can reduce risk of many types of cancer.
- Some studies suggest that taking a daily multivitamin containing folic acid or folate can lower colorectal cancer risk. Other studies suggest that getting more calcium and vitamin D can help. One recent study suggested that a diet high in magnesium may also reduce colorectal cancer risk in women. But not all studies have found these supplements to reduce risk. More research is needed in this area.
- Aspirin and drugs such as ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil) or naproxen (Aleve), appear to prevent the growth of polyps. But these medicines can have serious or even life-threatening side effects such as stomach bleeding. For this reason, experts do not advise the general public to take them to try to prevent colorectal cancer.
- For women, hormone replacement therapy after menopause may reduce the risk of colorectal cancer. The down side is that women on HRT if they do get colorectal cancer their cancer will be fast growing. The risks versus the benefits of this should be discussed with a physician.
Colorectal cancer is cancer that starts either in the colon or the rectum. Colon cancer and rectal cancer have many common features. According to the American Cancer Society:
Colon and rectal cancers begin in the digestive system where our food is processed and extra waste matter is then disposed of through bowel movements. After food is chewed and swallowed, it travels down to the stomach. There it is partly broken down and sent to the small intestine. The small intestine also breaks down the food and absorbs most of the nutrients. The small intestine leads to the large intestine. The colon absorbs water and nutrients from the food and also serves as a storage place for waste matter. The waste matter moves from the colon into the rectum. From there the waste passes out of the body through the opening called the anus. The wall of the colon and rectum has several layers of tissues. Colorectal cancer starts in the inner layer and can grow through some or all of the other layers.
Typically, colorectal cancer develop slowly over several years. Most of these types of cancers begin as a polyp, which is a growth of tissue that starts in the lining and then grows into the center of the colon or rectum. Polyps may or may not be cancer. Having a colonoscopy will make the doctor aware of any polyps that are there and they can immediately be removed.
The ACS says that more than 95% of colon and rectal cancers are cancers that start in the cells that line the inside of the colon and rectum.
Tomorrow I will discuss risk factors and prevention of colorectal cancer.
March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month and this week I will be featuring posts on this form of cancer. Colon cancer does not have to be a life-threatening disease anymore, as there are preventive measures we can all take to catch this form of cancer in the early stages or to ward it off altogether.
Please come back daily to find out how to prevent colorectal cancer, which claims the lives of 52,000 people in 2007. I will add the links below for each post I publish on colorectal cancer.
What is Colorectal Cancer?
Risk Factors & Prevention of Colorectal Cancer
Diagnosing & Staging Colorectal Cancer
Treatment Options for Colorectal Cancer
Colorectal Cancer: Care After Treatment
Sandy Robinson also is the blogger for her own website, Fighting Fatigue and the Fighting Fatigue Forum. On the WebbleYou Network, Sandy is co-blogger for the American Idolist blog.
U.S. researchers are saying that blood taken from women whose breast cancer returned showed high levels of estrogen even though many of these women have been treated with estrogen blocking drugs.
Now it is being suggested that women who have had breast cancer should take extra measures to reduce their risk of getting breast cancer again by participating in estrogen-lowering activities: regular exercise and managing their weight. They are saying this will help reduce the risk of their cancer returning again.
Estrogen is strongly linked to with the beginning development of many breast cancers. There have been few studies though that have looked at the link between high estrogen levels and cancer recurrence. This is especially true in cases where women are taking estrogen reducing medications such as Tamoxifen.
Cheryl Rock, a professor of preventive medicine at the University of California, San Diego, whose study appears in the journal Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention said:
“This is the largest study to date and the only one to have included women taking agents such as tamoxifen to reduce estrogen’s effect on cancer growth.”
source
Sandy Robinson also is the blogger for her own website, Fighting Fatigue and the Fighting Fatigue Forum. On the WebbleYou Network, Sandy is co-blogger for the American Idolist blog.
British researchers have determined in a study that birth control pills can protect women from ovarian cancer for 30 plus years after they discontinue their use. So far, over 100,000 ovarian cancer deaths have been prevented worldwide due to birth control pill use.
Ovarian cancer is more common after age 50, but the researchers the longer women stay on the pill the lower their risk of developing the disease becomes.
Valerie Beral of the University of Oxford and colleagues wrote in their report:
“Worldwide the pill has already prevented 200,000 women from developing cancer of the ovary and has prevented 100,000 deaths from the disease. The findings are the strongest evidence yet of the benefits of the pill when it comes to ovarian cancer, and show the protection lasts far longer than people had thought.”
The research examined 45 studies on ovarian cancer in 21 countries and these results showed that the benefits outweigh the risks. The risk of getting breast cancer while taking the pill is much smaller and that risk goes away once women stop taking the pill, according to Beral.
Sandy Robinson also is the blogger for her own website, Fighting Fatigue and the Fighting Fatigue Forum. On the WebbleYou Network, Sandy is co-blogger for the American Idolist blog.
