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Monday, April 27, 2009

Darth Vader Cancer Tips & Guide

"Star Wars" actor David Prowse diagnosed with "Prostate Cancer".



He said: “I’m undergoing treatment for prostate cancer, would you
believe. I’m having my very last treatment this morning. I’ve had two
months of radiotherapy at the Royal Marsden (in London), it’s the most
fantastic hospital.

“The only thing I’ve had is hot flushes. I’ve also lost some of my
hair on my legs and the hair on my chest has all got very fine. But
other than that I’ve had no after effects.”

Although Prowse portrayed Vader in the movies, the legendary baddie’s
voice was added by American actor James Earl Jones.

Prowse, 73, told the show he felt "fantastic". David Prowse, who wore Darth Vader's black armor in the original Star Wars movies, revealed that he is battling prostate cancer but is responding well to radiotherapy treatment for his illness, according to a report in the British Daily Mail newspaper.

Originally a bodybuilder, Prowse played the Dark Lord in all three original films.

Producers decided not to use his West Country English accent for the role, instead giving Lord Vader's lines to deep-voiced American actor James Earl Jones.

Prostate Cancer Tips & Guide

Prostate cancer is a disease in which cancer develops in the prostate, a gland in the male reproductive system. Prostate cancer may cause pain, difficulty in urinating, problems during sexual intercourse, erectile dysfunction. Prostate cancer develops most frequently in men over the age of fifty and is one of the most prevalent types of cancer in men. However, many men who develop prostate cancer never have symptoms, undergo no therapy, and eventually die of other causes.Many factors, including genetics and diet, have been implicated in the development of prostate cancer. The presence of prostate cancer may be indicated by symptoms, physical examination, prostate specific antigen (PSA), or biopsy. All of that to a girl also called "Cervical Cancer".



Suspected prostate cancer is typically confirmed by taking a biopsy of the prostate and examining it under a microscope. Further tests, such as CT scans and bone scans, may be performed to determine whether prostate cancer has spread. Treatment options for prostate cancer with intent to cure are primarily surgery and radiation therapy. In prostate cancer the cells of these prostate glands mutate into cancer cells. An important part of evaluating prostate cancer is determining the stage, or how far the cancer has spread. Early prostate cancer usually causes no symptoms. Prostate cancer is associated with urinary dysfunction as the prostate gland surrounds the prostatic urethra. Advanced prostate cancer can spread to other parts of the body and this may cause additional symptoms. The specific causes of prostate cancer remain unknown.

A man's risk of developing prostate cancer is related to his age, genetics, race, diet, lifestyle, medications, and other factors.Prostate cancer is uncommon in men less than 45, but becomes more common with advancing age. In the year 2005 in the United States, there were an estimated 230,000 new cases of prostate cancer and 30,000 deaths due to prostate cancer. A man's genetic background contributes to his risk of developing prostate cancer. This is suggested by an increased incidence of prostate cancer found in certain racial groups, in identical twins of men with prostate cancer, and in men with certain genes. In the United States, prostate cancer more commonly affects black men than white or Hispanic men, and is also more deadly in black men. Two genes (BRCA1 and BRCA2) that are important risk factors for ovarian cancer and breast cancer in women have also been implicated in prostate cancer.

A man with prostate cancer




Dietary amounts of certain foods, vitamins, and minerals can contribute to prostate cancer risk. Lower blood levels of vitamin D also may increase the risk of developing prostate cancer. There are also some links between prostate cancer and medications, medical procedures, and medical conditions. Infection or inflammation of the prostate (prostatitis) may increase the chance for prostate cancer. Finally, obesity and elevated blood levels of testosterone may increase the risk for prostate cancer.

Prostate cancer is classified as an adenocarcinoma, or glandular cancer, that begins when normal semen-secreting prostate gland cells mutate into cancer cells. Over time these cancer cells begin to multiply and spread to the surrounding prostate tissue (the stroma) forming a tumor. Prostate cancer most commonly metastasizes to the bones, lymph nodes, rectum, and bladder.Normal prostate (A) and prostate cancer (B). In prostate cancer, the regular glands of the normal prostate are replaced by irregular glands and clumps of cells, as seen in these pictures taken through a microscope. When a man has symptoms of prostate cancer, or a screening test indicates an increased risk for cancer, more invasive evaluation is offered.

Prostate Health

The prostate is a walnut-shaped gland found only in men. Three main problems can occur in the prostate gland: inflammation or infection, called prostatitis; enlargement, called benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH); and cancer.There are four main types of prostate syndromes. The result is that the prostate gland becomes enlarged (enlarged prostate). Older men are at risk for prostate cancer tool, but it's not very common than BPH. By age 70, almost all men have some prostate gland enlargement. Some men with prostate cancer also have BPH, but the two conditions are not automatically linked. Most men with BPH don't develop prostate cancer. But because the early symptoms for prostate cancer and an enlarged prostate could be the same, a doctor needs to evaluate these symptoms. Different prostate problems can have similar symptoms. Having prostatitis or an enlarged prostate does not increase the chance for prostate cancer.

More Info About Prostate Cancer.

Looking for CERVICAL CANCER? Here's CERVICAL CANCER information for you!

Get detailed information on cervical cancer here. A complete guide on cervical cancer absolutley free!

Cervical cancer is one of Cancer that forms in tissues of the cervix (the organ connecting the uterus and vagina). Estimated new cases and deaths from cervical (uterine cervix) cancer in the United States in 2008:
New cases: 11,070
Deaths: 3,870



Cervical cancer is malignant cancer of the cervix uteri or cervical area. Treatment of high grade changes can prevent the development of cancer.Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is a necessary factor in the development of nearly all cases of cervical cancer. HPV vaccine effective against the two strains of HPV that cause the most cervical cancer has been licensed in the U.S. and the EU. These two HPV strains together are currently responsible for approximately 70% of all cervical cancers.

The early stages of cervical cancer may be completely asymptomatic. The most important risk factor in the development of cervical cancer is infection with a high-risk strain of human papillomavirus. Types 16 and 18 are generally acknowledged to cause about 70% of cervical cancer cases. Together with type 31, they are the prime risk factors for cervical cancer. Genital warts are caused by various strains of HPV which are usually not related to cervical cancer. The medically accepted paradigm, officially endorsed by the American Cancer Society and other organizations, is that a patient must have been infected with HPV to develop cervical cancer, and is hence viewed as a sexually transmitted disease, but most women infected with high risk HPV will not develop cervical cancer.

The American Cancer Society provides the following list of risk factors for cervical cancer: human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, smoking, HIV infection, chlamydia infection, dietary factors, hormonal contraception, multiple pregnancies, exposure to the hormonal drug diethylstilbestrol (DES) and a family history of cervical cancer. Cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, the precursor to cervical cancer, is often diagnosed on examination of cervical biopsies by a pathologist.

Until recently the Pap smear has remained the principal technology for preventing cervical cancer. Since more than 99% of invasive cervical cancers worldwide contain HPV, some researchers recommend that HPV testing be done together with routine cervical screening.HPV testing can reduce the incidence of grade 2 or 3 cervical intraepithelial neoplasia or cervical cancer detected by subsequent screening tests among women 32-38 years old according to a randomized controlled trial. The relative risk reduction was 41.3%.

Together, HPV types 16 and 18 currently cause about 70% of cervical cancer cases. Higher levels of vegetable consumption were associated with a 54% decrease risk of HPV persistence. Improving folate status in subjects at risk of getting infected or already infected with high-risk HPV may have a beneficial impact in the prevention of cervical cancer.

Prognosis depends on the stage of the cancer. With treatment, 80 to 90% of women with stage I cancer and 50 to 65% of those with stage II cancer are alive 5 years after diagnosis. Only 25 to 35% of women with stage III cancer and 15% or fewer of those with stage IV cancer are alive after 5 years.Thirty-five percent of patients with invasive cervical cancer have persistent or recurrent disease after treatment. Average years of potential life lost from cervical cancer are 25.3 (SEER Cancer Statistics Review 1975-2000, National Cancer Institute (NCI)). Regular screening has meant that pre cancerous changes and early stage cervical cancers have been detected and treated early. Figures suggest that cervical screening is saving 5,000 lives each year in the UK by preventing cervical cancer.

About 1,000 women per year die of cervical cancer in the UK. Worldwide, cervical cancer is the fifth most deadly cancer in women. Among gynecological cancers it ranks behind endometrial cancer and ovarian cancer.The incidence of new cases of cervical cancer in the United States was 7 per 100,000 women in 2004. The incidence of new cases of cervical cancer in the United States was 7 per 100,000 women in 2004.

Human granulocytes kill cervical cancer cells

Get more Information about OVARIAN CANCER

Get all the best Ovarian Cancer information here ASAP! Here's the only site that provide ovarian cancer tips and ovarian cancer guide for free!



Ovarian cancer usually happens in women over age 50, but it can also affect younger women. Ovarian cancer is hard to detect early. Ovarian cancer is a cancerous growth arising from an ovary. Ovarian cancer is thought to most commonly form in the outer lining of the ovary (resulting in epithelial ovarian cancer) and, less commonly, in the egg cells (resulting in a germ cell tumor). However, recent evidence points towards the Fallopian tube as precursor for ovarian cancers. Ovarian cancer is thought to most commonly form in the outer lining of the ovary (resulting in epithelial ovarian cancer) and, less commonly, in the egg cells (resulting in a germ cell tumor). However, recent evidence points towards the Fallopian tube as precursor for ovarian cancers.The sooner ovarian cancer is found and treated, the better your chance for recovery. But ovarian cancer is hard to detect early.

In the most case, the cause of ovarian cancer remains unknown In the United States, females have a 1.4% to 2.5% (1 out of 40-60 women) lifetime chance of developing ovarian cancer. Older women are at highest risk. More than half of the deaths from ovarian cancer occur in women between 55 and 74 years of age and approximately one quarter of ovarian cancer deaths occur in women between 35 and 54 years of age. The risk of developing ovarian cancer appears to be affected by several factors. The more children a woman has, the lower her risk of ovarian cancer.Ovarian cancer is reduced in women after tubal ligation. This means that if 250 women took oral contraceptives for 10 years, 1 ovarian cancer would be prevented.

The BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes account for 5%-13% of ovarian cancers and certain populations (e.g. Ashkenazi Jewish women) are at a higher risk of both breast cancer and ovarian cancer, often at an earlier age than the general population. Patients with a personal history of breast cancer or a family history of breast and/or ovarian cancer, especially if diagnosed at a young age, may have an elevated risk. A strong family history of uterine cancer, colon cancer, or other gastrointestinal cancers may indicate the presence of a syndrome known as hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC, also known as Lynch II syndrome), which confers a higher risk for developing ovarian cancer.

Pelvic examination may reveal an ovarian or abdominal mass. To definitively diagnose ovarian cancer, a surgical procedure to take a look into the abdomen is required. The type of surgery depends upon how widespread the cancer is when diagnosed (the cancer stage), as well as the presumed type and grade of cancer. Ovarian cancer usually has a poor prognosis. Ovarian cancers shed cells into the naturally occurring fluid within the abdominal cavity. The five-year survival rate for all stages of ovarian cancer is 45.5%.
Ovarian Cancer Symptoms

Testicular cancer

Testicular cancer is cancer that develops in the testicles, a part of the male reproductive system. In the United States, between 7,500 and 8,000 diagnoses of testicular cancer are made each year. Over his lifetime, a man's risk of testicular cancer is roughly 1 in 250 (four tenths of one percent, or 0.4 percent).Testicular cancer has one of the highest cure rates of all cancers: in excess of 90 percent; essentially 100 percent if it has not metastasized.



Testicular cancer is most common among whites and rare among men of African descent.[3] Testicular cancer is uncommon in Asia and Africa.Germ cell tumors of the testis are the most common cancer in young men between the ages of 15 and 35 years.
A major risk factor for the development of testis cancer is cryptorchidism (undescended testicles). Physical activity is associated with decreased risk and sedentary lifestyle is associated with increased risk.A testicular mass can be palpated. Men should examine each testicle, feeling for pea-shaped lumps. Blood tests are also used to identify and measure tumor markers that are specific to testicular cancer. A biopsy should not be performed, as it raises the risk of migrating cancer cells into the scrotum.

A transscrotal biopsy or orchiectomy will potentially leave cancer cells in the scrotum and create two vectors for cancer spread, while in an inguinal orchiectomy only the retroperitoneal route exists.

Diagnosis
The cardinal diagnostic finding in the patient with testis cancer is a mass in the substance of the testis. Unilateral enlargement of the testis with or without pain in the adolescent or young adult male should raise concern for testis cancer.The differential diagnosis of testicular cancer requires examining the histology of tissue obtained from an inguinal orchiectomy specimen. For orchiectomy, an inguinal surgical approach is preferred.Adjuvant treatments may involve chemotherapy, radiotherapy or careful surveillance by frequent CT scans and blood tests by oncologists.

Although testicular cancer can be derived from any cell type found in the testicles, more than 95% of testicular cancers are germ cell tumors.The three basic types of treatment are surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy.In most patients with testicular cancer, the disease is cured readily with minimal long-term morbidity.
While it may be possible, in some cases, to remove testicular cancer tumors from a testis while leaving the testis functional, this is almost never done, as more than 95% of testicular tumors are malignant.

Lymph node surgery may also be performed after chemotherapy to remove masses left behind, particularly in the cases of advanced initial cancer or large nonseminomas.
Radiation may be used to treat stage II seminoma cancers, or as adjuvant (preventative) therapy in the case of stage I seminomas, to minimize the likelihood that tiny, non-detectable tumors exist and will spread (in the inguinal and para-aortic lymph nodes).

While treatment success depends on the stage, the average survival rate after five years is around 95%, and stage I cancers cases (if monitored properly) have essentially a 100% survival rate (which is why prompt action, when testicular cancer is a possibility, is extremely important).Less than five percent of those who have testicular cancer will have it again in the remaining testis.

Lance Armstrong, American cyclist, developed testicular cancer in 1996.In 2001, following treatment for testicular cancer, Craig Forrest, a Canadian soccer goalkeeper started a yearlong awareness campaign.

Are YOU Looking for PANCREATIC CANCER? Here's PANCREATIC CANCER information for you!

Read all about pancreatic cancer. Lots of useful and interesting information about pancreatic cancer. All FREE!


Pancreatic cancer is A disease in which malignant (cancer) cells are found in the tissues of the pancreas. Also called exocrine cancer. its also called a malignant neoplasm of the pancreas. About 95% of exocrine pancreatic cancers are adenocarcinomas (M8140/3). The remaining 5% include adenosquamous carcinomas, squamous cell carcinomas, and giant cell carcinomas. Exocrine pancreatic cancers are far more common than endocrine pancreatic cancers (islet cell carcinomas), which make up about 1% of total cases.



Cancer that starts in the pancreas is called pancreatic cancer.

Diagnosis
Most patients with pancreatic cancer experience pain, weight loss, or jaundice.
Pain is present in 80 to 85 percent of patients with locally advanced or advanced metastic disease. The initial presentation varies according to location of the cancer. Malignancies in the pancreatic body or tail usually present with pain and weight loss, while those in the head of the gland typically present with steatorrhea, weight loss, and jaundice.

Courvoisier sign defines the presence of jaundice and a painlessly distended gallbladder as strongly indicative of pancreatic cancer, and may be used to distinguish pancreatic cancer from gallstones.
Pancreatic cancer is usually discovered during the course of the evaluation of aforementioned symptoms.

CA19-9 (carbohydrate antigen 19.9) is a tumor marker that is frequently elevated in pancreatic cancer. The conclusion of the study was "Oral curcumin is well tolerated and, despite its limited absorption, has biological activity in some patients with pancreatic cancer."

Prognosis
Patients diagnosed with pancreatic cancer typically have a poor prognosis partly because the cancer usually causes no symptoms early on, leading to locally advanced or metastatic disease at time of diagnosis. With 37,170 cases diagnosed in the United States in 2007, and 33,700 deaths, pancreatic cancer has one of the highest fatality rates of all cancers and is the fourth highest cancer killer in the United States among both men and women. Although it accounts for only 2.5% of new cases, pancreatic cancer is responsible for 6% of cancer deaths each year.
Pancreatic cancer may occasionally result in diabetes.

What is the pancreas?

The pancreas is a spongy, tube-shaped organ about 6 inches long.
The pancreas makes pancreatic juices and hormones, including insulin. Pancreatic juices, also called enzymes, help digest food in the small intestine.
As pancreatic juices are made, they flow into the main pancreatic duct. This duct joins the common bile duct, which connects the pancreas to the liver and the gallbladder. The common bile duct, which carries bile (a fluid that helps digest fat), connects to the small intestine near the stomach.

Looking for CANCER? Yes, CANCER. It's all here!

Many Kind of Cancer that we have to know

What is cancer?

Cancer
is a group of diseases. More than 100 different types of cancer are known, and several types of cancer can develop in the pancreas.

Benign tumors are not cancer. Cancer cells also can break away from the tumor and spread to other parts of the body. The spread of cancer is called metastasis.
Cancer that starts in the pancreas is called pancreatic cancer. Cancer cells are carried through these vessels by lymph, a colorless, watery fluid that carries cells that fight infection. Surgeons often remove lymph nodes near the pancreas to learn whether they contain cancer cells.

Pancreatic cancer that spreads to other organs is called metastatic pancreatic cancer.


Defining Cancer

Cancer cells can spread to other parts of the body through the blood and lymph systems.

There are more than 100 different types of cancer. Most cancers are named for the organ or type of cell in which they start -- for example, cancer that begins in the colon is called colon cancer; cancer that begins in basal cells of the skin is called basal cell carcinoma.

Cancer types can be grouped into broader categories. The main categories of cancer include:

  • Lymphoma and myeloma - cancers that begin in the cells of the immune system.

  • Central nervous system cancers - cancers that begin in the tissues of the brain and spinal cord.

Origins of cancer

All cancers begin in cells, the body's basic unit of life. To understand cancer, it's helpful to know what happens when normal cells become cancer cells.

When cells become old or damaged, they die and are replaced with new cells.

The extra cells may form a mass of tissue called a tumor.

  • Benign tumors aren't cancerous. Cells in benign tumors do not spread to other parts of the body.

  • Malignant tumors are cancerous. Cells in these tumors can invade nearby tissues and spread to other parts of the body. Some cancers do not form tumors. For example, leukemia is a cancer of the bone marrow and blood.

Cancer statistics

Estimated new cases and deaths from cancer in the United States in 2008:

  • New cases: 1,437,180 (does not include nonmelanoma skin cancers)

  • Deaths: 565,650


What are the most common types of cancer?

The list of common cancer types includes cancers that are diagnosed with the greatest frequency in the United States.

Nonmelanoma skin cancers represent about half of all cancers diagnosed in this country.

The cancer on the list with the lowest incidence is thyroid cancer. The estimated number of new cases of thyroid cancer for 2008 is 37,340.

Because colon and rectal cancers are often referred to as "colorectal cancers," these two cancer types were combined for the list. For 2008, the estimated number of new cases of colon cancer is 108,070, and the estimated number of new cases of rectal cancer is 40,740.

Kidney cancers can be divided into two major groups, renal parenchyma cancers and renal pelvis cancers. Approximately 85 percent of kidney cancers develop in the renal parenchyma, and nearly all of these cancers are renal cell cancers. The estimated number of new cases of renal cell cancer for 2008 is 46,232.

Most Famous People with Cancer

Most famous people with Cancer
Most of us know someone who has or had cancer -- a relative, a friend, a neighbour. Some of us know people who have or had cancer and we don't even know it.. This blog lists 10 famous people who've battled cancer and I'll admit that some of these I didn't know.
 Kylie Minogue: This starlet was diagnosed with breast cancer a few years ago but it's in remission now.
 Ronald Regan: Was diagnosed with colon cancer in 1985 and skin cancer in 1987 - both were surgically removed
 Walt Disney: Died of lung cancer in 1966
 Steve Jobs: the co-founder of Apple was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and is now in remission.
 Nelson Mandela: The former South African leader was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2001 and is in remission
 Lance Armstrong: Was diagnosed with testicular cancer in 1996 and given a 2% chance at survival.
 Isaac Asimov: The science fiction writer was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in 1972.
Sigmund Freud: was diagnosed with mouth cancer in the 1930s (too many cigars?) and subsequently underwent over 30 operations to remove the tumors in his jaw.

There are many famous people who have been diagnosed with cancer. Read their inspirational and encouraging stories.

A Tribute to Paul Newman
It was a sad day for many people when Paul Newman died due to complications of lung cancer on 26 September 2008.

Celebrity cancer survivors
Often we need to remind ourselves that there are many cancer survivors. Many celebreties have fought-and-won the cancer battle.
Farrah Fawcett and her fight against cancer
The lovely star from Charlie's Angels, courageously fighting her battle against cancer - is sharing her ordeal with the world in a documentary, in true reality style. Cancer patients world wide could benefit from her story.

Lance Armstrong - Survivor
Lance Armstrong is perhaps one of the most famous metastatic cancer survivors in the world. Cancer is not a discriminative disease -- it does not care if you are famous, wealthy, or have an elite social status. The evidence lies in the overwhelming number of celebrities who have been diagnosed with cancer, some winning and some losing their battle.

We have all heard stories about rich and famous people buying their way into every place - except heaven. Maybe you have wondered how these "entitled" people deal with life-threatening illnesses. Here is a real-life story that will help answer that question.

Probably one of the most unusual roles for Sean Connery was his portrayal of a doctor in a South American jungle, looking into a way to eradicate cancer. Statistics show that cancer is responsible for around thirteen in every one hundred deaths each year. While smoking, chemicals and radiation for instance, can be the cancer trigger, it is the poison from these or other sources that transform body cells and create genetic abnormalities which grow and multiply.
Research into the cause of cancer continues around the globe and is the disease most frequently studied on a regular basis. Sometimes the disease is only picked up through routine screening. For those people diagnosed with cancer, my heart goes out to them and their families.

Cancer deaths drop in the U.S.

ATLANTA -- The tide has turned in the nation's battle against cancer.

Cancer deaths in the United States dropped for the second year in a row, health officials reported Wednesday, confirming that the trend is real and becoming more pronounced, too.

The news was cause for celebration among doctors and politicians.

"It's very exciting," said Dr. Felice Schnoll-Sussman, a cancer physician at New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center. "When we saw the first decline, the number wasn't that enormous. But once you start to see a trend like this, it obviously makes you feel like `We must be doing something right!"'

Cancer deaths in the U.S. in 2004 fell to 553,888 -- a drop-off of 3,014 deaths, or 0.5 percent, from the year before, according to a review of U.S. death certificates conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics and released by the American Cancer Society.

Cancer deaths also fell in 2003, the first drop seen since 1930. But that decline was so small -- just 369 deaths -- that experts were hesitant at the time to say whether it was a triumph of medicine or just a statistical fluke.

Now, it appears "it's not only continuing; the decrease in the second year is much larger," said Ahmedin Jemal, an American Cancer Society researcher.

Experts are attributing the success to declines in smoking and to earlier detection and more effective treatment of tumors. Those have caused a fall in the death rates for breast, prostate and colorectal cancer -- three of the most common cancers. The lung cancer death rate in men has also been falling, but the female rate has reached a plateau.

On a visit to the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, Md., President Bush hailed the drop in cancer deaths as a signal that medicine -- especially federally funded research -- is making strides against a disease that still kills nearly 1,500 Americans a day.

The Cancer Society did not release cancer death data broken down by state, race or ethnicity. Those statistics are to be completed later this year.

The largest drop in deaths among the major cancers was in colorectal cancer. Colorectal cancer deaths dropped by 1,110 in men and by 1,094 in women. Experts said much of the credit goes to screening exams such as colonoscopies that detect polyps and allow doctors to remove them before they turn cancerous.

Some doctors say at least part of the success can be attributed to "the Katie Couric effect." A 2003 study found colonoscopy rates jumped more than 20 percent in the months after the "Today" show host underwent a colonoscopy on national television in 2000, after her husband died of colon cancer.

Increased insurance coverage of colonoscopies has also led to more diagnostic screenings, said Dr. A. Mark Fendrick, the University of Michigan physician who led that study.

For more than a decade, health statisticians charted annual drops of about 1 percent in the cancer death rate -- that is, the number of deaths per 100,000 people. But the actual number of cancer deaths still rose each year because of the growing elderly population and the size of the population overall.

Then, in 2003 and 2004, the cancer death rate declined by about 2 percent each year, more than offsetting the effects of aging and population growth.

The American Cancer Society said it believes cancer deaths will continue to drop.

Others shared that optimism.

"We're starting to see some real dividends" from screening, prevention and treatment efforts, said Dr. Otis Brawley, an Emory University researcher specializing in cancer epidemiology.

Source : www.kvue.com

AIDS, cancer research win Nobel

From correspondents in Stockholm



FRENCH and German scientists credited with the discovery of the viruses behind AIDS and cervical cancer won the Nobel Medicine Prize today, the first of the prestigious awards to be announced this year.

France's Francoise Barre-Sinoussi and Luc Montagnier, who shared one half of the award, discovered the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) that causes AIDS, one of the biggest scourges of modern times.

Harald zur Hausen of Germany won the other half of the award for going against the then-current dogma and claiming that a virus, the human papilloma virus (HPV), causes cervical cancer, the second most common cancer among women.

The French pair's HIV discovery was "one prerequisite for the current understanding of the biology of the disease and its antiretroviral treatment", the Nobel citation said.

Their work "led to development of methods to diagnose infected patients and to screen blood products, which has limited the spread of the pandemic", it said.

Prof Montagnier dedicated his award to AIDS sufferers and predicted results on a "therapeutic vaccine" for the pandemic within four years.

"I think my first reaction is to think of all the people sick with AIDS and all those who are still alive and fighting against the illness," Prof Montagnier said.

He said a treatment could be possible in the future with a "therapeutic" rather than preventive vaccine for which results could be published in three or four years if the researcher can secure financial backing.

AIDS - acquired immune deficiency syndrome - first came to public notice in 1981, when US doctors noted an unusual cluster of deaths among young homosexuals in California and New York.

It has since killed at least 25 million people, and 33 million others are living with the disease or harbouring HIV.

In May 1983, in a paper published in the US journal Science, a team from France's Pasteur Institute, led by Prof Montagnier and including Prof Barre-Sinoussi, described a suspect virus found in a patient who had died of AIDS.

Their groundbreaking discovery was also helped by US researcher Robert Gallo's determination that the virus was indeed the cause of AIDS.

Both Prof Montagnier and Mr Gallo are co-credited with discovering that HIV causes AIDS, although for several years they staked rival claims that led to a legal and even diplomatic dispute between France and the United States.

The Nobel jury made no mention of Mr Gallo in its citation.

"We gave the prize for the discovery of the virus. The two to whom we gave the prize, Francoise Barre-Sinoussi and Luc Montagnier, discovered the virus," Hans Joernvall of the Nobel committee said.

Acknowledging that the American had "done a lot of other work" in the field, Mr Joernvall said that Mr Gallo and the two French scientists now "agree that the discovery was made in Paris".

Another member of the jury, Bjoern Vennstroem, said he hoped the award would silence those who claim that HIV does not cause AIDS.

"We hope this will put an end to conspiracy theories and others who defend ideas that are not founded in research," he told Swedish Radio.

Prof Montagnier, 76, is a professor emeritus and director of the World Foundation for AIDS Research and Prevention in Paris, while Prof Barre-Sinoussi, 61, is a professor at the Institut Pasteur, also in the French capital.

"I must admit that I never for a moment dreamt I would hear such news," Prof Barre-Sinoussi told French radio by telephone from Cambodia.

Meanwhile, Mr Zur Hausen was rewarded for his work on what is sometimes called "the silent killer" of women because it is often undetected until it is too late.

"His discovery has led to characterisation of the natural history of human papilloma virus (HPV) infection, and understanding of mechanisms of HPV-induced carcinogenesis and the development of prophylactic vaccines against HPV acquisition," the jury said.

It pointed out that five per cent of cancers worldwide were caused by the virus. Fifty to 80 percent of the population is infected with the virus, though not all infections are cancerous.

"This prize means a great deal to me because on the one hand an area has been recognised that has increasingly moved to the forefront in cancer research, namely the role of infectious agents," Mr Zur Hausen, 72, said on German television.

Today, a simple smear test can detect HPV and there are two effective vaccines against it.

Mr Zur Hausen is a professor emeritus and former chairman and scientific director of the German Cancer Research Centre in Heidelberg.

The laureates will receive a gold medal, a diploma and 10 million Swedish kronor ($1.42 million) - half for Mr Zur Hausen and half for the French pair - at a formal ceremony in Stockholm on December 10.

Colorectal Cancer guide for you

Colorectal Cancer, also called colon cancer or large bowel cancer, includes cancerous growths in the colon, rectum and appendix. Many colorectal cancers are thought to arise from adenomatous polyps in the colon. The majority of the time, the diagnosis of localized colon cancer is through colonoscopy.

Certain local effects of colorectal cancer occur when the disease has become more advanced.

Colorectal cancer most commonly spreads to the liver.

Endoscopic image of Colon Cancer identified in sigmoid colon on screening colonoscopy in the setting of Crohn's disease.

Colorectal cancer can take many years to develop and early detection of colorectal cancer greatly improves the chances of a cure. The National Cancer Policy Board of the Institute of Medicine estimated in 2003 that even modest efforts to implement colorectal cancer screening methods would result in a 29 percent drop in cancer deaths in 20 years. Despite this, colorectal cancer screening rates remain Fecal occult blood test (FOBT): a test for blood in the stool.


Micrograph of an invasive adenocarcinoma (the most common type of colorectal cancer).

Colon cancer staging is an estimate of the amount of penetration of a particular cancer. It

Treatment

The treatment depends on the staging of the cancer. When colorectal cancer is caught at early stages (with little spread) it can be curable.

Curative Surgical treatment can be offered if the tumor is localized.

  • In colon cancer, a more advanced tumor typically requires surgical removal of the section of colon containing the tumor with sufficient margins, and radical en-bloc resection of mesentery and lymph nodes to reduce local recurrence (i.e., colectomy).
  • Curative surgery on rectal cancer includes total mesorectal excision (lower anterior resection) or abdominoperinea excision.

As with any surgical procedure, colorectal surgery may result in complications including

  • wound infection, Dehiscence (bursting of wound) or hernia
  • Cardiorespiratory complications such as myocardial infarction, pneumonia, arrythmia, pulmonary embolism etc

Chemotherapy is used to reduce the likelihood of metastasis developing, shrink tumor size, or slow tumor growth. In colon cancer, chemotherapy after surgery is usually only given if the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes (Stage III).

  • Colon cancer
    • pain relief and palliation - targeted at metastatic tumor deposits if they compress vital structures and/or cause pain
  • Rectal cancer
    • adjuvant - where a tumor perforates the rectum or involves regional lymph nodes (AJCC T3 or T4 tumors or Duke's B or C tumors)

Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) is being investigated as an adjuvant mixed with autologous tumor cells in immunotherapy for colorectal cancer.

Phase III trials are underway for renal cancers and planned for colon cancers.

Treatment of liver metastases

Patients with colon cancer and metastatic disease to the liver may be treated in either a single surgery or in staged surgeries (with the colon tumor traditionally removed first) depending upon the fitness of the patient for prolonged surgery, the difficulty expected with the procedure with either the colon or liver resection, and the comfort of the surgery performing potentially complex hepatic surgery.

Support Therapies

Cancer diagnosis very often results in an enormous change in the patient's psychological wellbeing.

Survival rates for early stage detection is about 5 times that of late stage cancers.

The U.S. National Comprehensive Cancer Network and American Society of Clinical Oncology provide guidelines for the follow-up of colon cancer.

Most Colorectal Cancer arise from adenomatous polyps.

The Task Force acknowledged that aspirin may reduce the incidence of colorectal cancer, but "concluded that harms outweigh the benefits of aspirin and NSAID use for the prevention of colorectal cancer". A second randomized controlled trial reported reduction in all cancers, but had insufficient colorectal cancers for analysis.


Symptoms of BREAST CANCER

Breast Cancer begins in a cell, which divides and multiplies at an uncontrolled rate. The classic symptom for breast cancer is a lump found in the breast or armpit.

Breast Cancer Symptoms

This page tells you about the symptoms of breast cancer.

  • swelling or lump (mass) in the breast
  • pain in the nipple
  • inverted (retracted) nipple
  • scaly or pitted skin on nipple
  • persistent tenderness of the breast
  • unusual breast pain or discomfort

Symptoms Seen On Breast Imaging



Some Symptoms of Advanced (Metastatic) Breast Cancer
Stage 4, or metastatic breast cancer is the most advanced stage of this disease. Metastatic breast cancer is defined as having spread beyond the breast and underarm lymph nodes into other parts of the body. Like breast lumps, these signs don't necessarily mean cancer.

Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC) – Aggressive and Unusual Symptoms
One type of breast cancer that does not appear in lumps is called inflammatory breast cancer (IBC). Breast skin ulcers (later stage IBC)

Symptoms of Breast Cancer Recurrence
Recurrence of breast cancer is classified as local, regional, and distant. A distant recurrence is the same as advanced (metastatic) breast cancer.

A local recurrence is breast

Local Recurrence Symptoms:

  • a small lump or rash in the excision scar, on or under the skin

Regional Recurrence Symptoms:

  • swollen lymph node in the same armpit where cancer was previously removed
  • swollen lymph nodes above collarbones or sides of neck

Source:
National Institutes of Health. Medline Plus. Breast Cancer. Symptoms. Updated:
4/3/2007

Breast Lumps in general


The first symptom of breast cancer for many women is a lump in their breast. But many women have breast lumps and 9 out of 10 (90%) are benign. A rare type of breast cancer called inflammatory breast cancer can have different symptoms. The breast may feel hard. If you notice anything unusual about your breast, have it examined.


Breast Pain

Pain doesn't usually mean cancer. Most breast pain is not caused by cancer, but some breast cancers do cause pain, so if you are worried, see your GP.

More information

Look at screening for breast cancer for information about

  • Examining your own breasts
  • Having a mammogram
  • How cancer is diagnosed
  • Why it's important to find out about it as early as possible

.

Flat or inverted nipple: A nipple that is flat or inverted is also a symptom of breast cancer. A breast that is often itchy: If you have itchy breasts or nipples, talk to your doctor. These are both symptoms of breast cancer.

It is a symptom of inflammatory breast cancer. Inflammatory breast cancer is a type of cancer that is often undected by a mammogram and self breast exam.

Breast cancer is a malignant (cancerous) growth that begins in the tissues of the breast. Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, but it can also appear in men.

The most common types of breast cancer are:


Invasive (Infiltrating) Breast Cancer
Invasive, or infiltrating, breast cancer has the potential to spread out of the original tumor site and invade other parts of your breast and body. There are several types and subtypes of invasive breast cancer.

If You Have Breast Pain

Early stages of breast cancer may not cause any pain or discomfort. Having a regular mammogram and a clinical breast exam by your health professional can help you understand changes in your breasts.
Treatments for breast cancer, as well as survival rates, are improving & Prevention of Breast Cancer.

Breast Cancer Symptoms Guide

More About Porstate Cancer

The Prostate is a part of the male reproductive organ which helps make and store seminal fluid. Prostate cancer is a malignant (cancerous) tumor (growth) that consists of cells from the prostate gland. The prostate gland is an organ that is located at the base or outlet (neck) of the urinary bladder.

Prostate cancer may cause pain, difficulty in urinating, problems during sexual intercourse, erectile dysfunction. Prostate cancer develops most frequently in men over the age of fifty and is one of the most prevalent types of cancer in men. Prostate cancer is the most common malignancy in American men and the second leading cause of deaths from cancer, after lung cancer.



The Exact cause of prostate cancer is unknown, but the cancer is thought not to be related to benign prostatic hypertrophy (BPH). The risk (predisposing) factors for prostate cancer include advancing age, genetics (heredity), hormonal influences, and such environmental factors as toxins, chemicals, and industrial products. The chances of developing prostate cancer increase with age.

Prostate cancer is also more common among family members of individuals with prostate cancer.
Testosterone, the male hormone, directly stimulates the growth of both normal prostate tissue and prostate cancer cells.

Treatment options for prostate cancer with intent to cure are primarily surgery and radiation therapy. In the later stages, prostate cancer can spread locally into the surrounding tissue or the nearby lymph nodes, called the Pelvic nodes. Prostate cancer usually metastasizes first to the lower spine or the pelvic bones (the bones connecting the lower spine to the hips),
thereby causing back or pelvic pain. The cancer can then spread to the liver and lungs.

The screening tests for prostate cancer are those that are done at
regular intervals to detect a disease such as prostate cancer at an early stage.
The PSA test is a simple, reproducible, and accurate blood test.
The PSA, therefore, is valuable as a screening test for prostate cancer.
Results higher than 10 are considered abnormal, suggesting the possibility of
prostate cancer. The higher the PSA value, the more likely the diagnosis of prostate cancer.

How To Detect Prostate Cancer


Screening for BREAST CANCER

Screening Tests For Breast Cancer are given when you have no cancer symptoms.
Breast screening is a method of detecting breast cancer at a very early stage.
The report Breast Cancer Screening was published in 1986, and became known as The Forrest Report. There are around 80 breast screening units across the UK, each inviting a defined population of eligible women (aged 50 to 70) through their GP practices.

At Centre for Breast Screening & Surgery, women undergo a comprehensive program of breast
screening for the early detection and possible prevention of breast cancer. This includes clinical
examination by an all female team, high resolution ultrasonography, digital mammography, and in some instances magnetic resonance imaging.In England, the budget for the breast screening
programme is now estimated to be approximately £75 million.




Future developments in the breast screening programme will include the introduction of digital
mammography. Women can ask their GP to refer them to a hospital breast clinic if they are concerned about a specific breast problem or otherwise worried about the risk of breast cancer.
However, the same techniques are used in both breast screening clinics and
hospital breast clinics for diagnosing breast cancer and many staff work in both settings.

The programme in the UK has screened more than 19 million women and has detected around
117,000 cancers. The World Health Organisation's International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) concluded that mammography screening for breast cancer reduces mortality. The IARC working group, comprising 24 experts from 11 countries, evaluated all the available evidence on breast screening and determined that there is a 35 per cent reduction in mortality from breast cancer among screened women aged 50 - 69 years old. This means that out of every 500 women screened, one life will be saved.