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Cancer

SYMPTOMS

What Is Remission and Staging?

What is Remission?

Remission describes the time stage of the patient when the cancer is under control or responding to treatment. When the remission is complete all signs and symptoms of the disease disappears. In partial remission the cancer might shrink but not fully disappear. This patient's remission can continue from several weeks to many years, so a complete remission which stays for several years are considered as cures. If cancer shows signs of returning the patient can have another remission with further treatment. The recurring cancer may respond to a different therapy and a different drug combination.

What is Staging?

Staging of the cancer is a process of finding out how far the cancer has spread in the body. It is a vital step in determining the various treatment choices and provides a clearer idea of the recovery outlook. Staging is a very important phase of the treatment and a proper diagnosis leads the team to work out a most treatment that would be most effective.

The most common system of studying staging of cancer in a patient is called the TNM system. This system provides three key pieces of information about the cancer.

T: This describes the size of the cancer and whether it has spread to any nearby organs and tissues.
N: This describes how far the cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes.
M: This describes the metastasized process of the cancer and its spread to other parts of the body.

The TNM system presents its reports in the following manner: T1, N0, and M0. The letter and number suffices to T, N, and M provides more detail about these factors. Here it classifies the tumor as small, has not spread to the lymph nodes and has not spread to the distant organs of the body. These are then grouped together into a simpler set of stages 0 through IV.

In general, the lower the number, the less the cancer has spread. A higher number, such as stage IV (4), means a more serious, widespread cancer.

The doctor can read your TNM test results and tell you the stage of your cancer
Be sure to ask your doctor any questions you might have about what the stage of your cancer means and how it will impact your treatment options.

The Causes and Prevention of Cancer

Can cancer be prevented?

We cannot for sure say that cancer can be prevented but we do know that the chances of getting cancer can be reduced considerably with a better life style and environment. Tobacco smoking or alcohol consumption should be given up to prevent some types of cancer. People who have given up these habits improve their chance to lead a cancer risk free life and also to provide a better environment to their immediate surroundings.

What Causes Cancer?

Any foreign item or environment that can trigger a body cell to behave abnormally can cause cancer. So we have tobacco smoking causing cancer of the lungs, mouth, throat, bladder, kidneys, and other organs, including causing heart disease and stroke. Smoking increases the probability of a person to get cancer. The increase in a person's chance to get cancer of multiple organs increases if he both drinks and smokes. Though there are also instances where person's smoking have not got cancer.

A person can get cancer from x-ray radiation effect. Though x rays at the dentist or the doctor is safe but utilities that give constant radiation are a source of worry. Skin cancer can be got by a person who has been exposed to excessive sunlight. The scientific community is studying this problem. The exact cause of cancer is not known and science is trying to resolve this mystery. Though, we are certain that changes in the cell DNA leads to a cell triggering an abnormal change and growth but we do not understand how this change happens.

Using protection from the sun does lead a person to reduce his chances to get cancer. In addition sunscreen, a hat and shirt while one is in the sun can provide adequate protection
Doctors prescribe a nutritious diet since diet has also been found to be linked to some types of cancer. It is advised that a person should have lots of fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains like pasta and bread and reduce the intake of high fat foods.

Another very important protection is early detection where adults need to undertake screening tests for cancer. This early detection often leads to the patient being cured.

MEDICATIONS

What Should I Ask My Doctor About Cancer?

Your relationship with your doctor is a critical part of your care. Ideally, you will have one doctor who coordinates all of your care. This doctor should be someone with whom you feel comfortable, someone you feel listens to your concerns and answers all of your questions thoughtfully and thoroughly. Your doctor will explain your diagnosis, health status, treatment options, and progress throughout treatment. There will also be nurses working with your doctor who have specialized knowledge and skills. These nurses are there to assist you with your treatment or any side effects you may have. In many cases, the nurse can answer your questions directly. Nurses can also help you get the answers you need from other members of your health care team.

Like all successful relationships, your relationship with your doctor is a two-way street. It is your responsibility to ask questions and become educated about your treatment and health - to become an active part of your cancer care team. Doctors differ in how much information they give to people with cancer and their families. Likewise, people who are newly diagnosed also differ in the amount of information they need or want. If your doctor is giving you too much or too little information, let them know. Ask them whatever questions you have, and keep them informed of your needs. As in any relationship, clear and honest communication is the key to success. Your doctor will discuss your treatment plan with you. The following are examples of questions to ask during the discussion:

What type of cancer do I have? What is the stage or extent of my cancer?
What is my prognosis, as you view it?
What treatment do you recommend and why?
What is the goal of treatment; cure or control of my symptoms?
What are the possible risks or side effects of treatment?
What are the pros and cons of my treatment?

Are there other treatments for me to consider?

How often will I need to come in for treatment or tests?

How long will my treatments last?

What if I miss a treatment?

Will my life change? Will I need to make changes in my work, family life, and leisure time?

What are the names of the drugs I will take? What are they for?

What other drugs or treatments may I have to take?

How will you know that my treatment is working?

Why do I need a blood test and how often?

If other specialists take part in my care, who will coordinate my entire treatment program?

What symptoms or problems should I report right away?

If I do not feel sick, does that mean the treatment is not working?

What are the chances that my cancer may recur (come back), with the treatment programs we have discussed?

What can I do to be ready for treatment?

Will I still be able to have children after treatment?

Are there any special foods I should or should not eat?

Can I drink alcoholic beverages?

What costs will I have?

What is the best time to call you if I have a question?

Make sure that all your concerns and questions, no matter how small, have been answered. It may take more than one visit to discuss all of your concerns, as new questions may come to mind. It may be hard to remember all your doctor says to you. Some people find it helpful to take notes, bring a family member or friend, tape record the conversations, and/or bring a prepared list of questions and write down the doctor's answers.
Remember that you have the right to a second opinion about your diagnosis and the recommended treatment. Asking for a second opinion does not mean that you don't like or trust your doctor. Doctors understand you need to feel that every possibility for the best treatment is being explored. You can also ask your doctor if they have consulted with other specialists at their treatment center.

Cancer Treatment

How Is Cancer Treated?

The type of cancer you have, the stage it is in, your age, health status, and personal preferences will decide the type of cancer treatment to be given to you. It is important to understand that you as a patient have choices and need to understand the various treatments and services on offer. You are very much part of your cancer care team and you must be as well informed as possible. So you must take the time to consider all the options available to you.

Types of Cancer Treatment

The four major types of treatment for cancer are surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, and biologic therapies. There are also hormone therapies such as tamoxifen and transplant options such as those done with bone marrow.

What Treatment Will Be Best for Me?

You are unique as a person and your situation is unique. Every type of cancer responds differently to different treatments so it is important to understand the effectiveness of the treatments. The spread of the cancer decides on the best course of treatment as early stage cancers respond better later stage cancers to different treatments and therapies. The patient's health, lifestyle, and personal preferences play a part in the choice of treatment option decision. Don't be afraid to ask questions; it is your right to know what treatments are most likely to help you and what their side effects may be.
Depending on the stage of the cancer the goals of treatment can change. Is the patient to be cured of cancer, is it to be controlled or has the symptoms to be treated. Are the treatment goals palliative or curative in nature? These goals can change.

Cancer Pain

In modern medicine cancer pain can be treated and managed with modern techniques and medicines by doctors due to the progress in pain control to reduce or remove it in almost all cases-even in patients with the disease in an advanced stage.

When one speaks of cancer the first thought is of pain. One associates pain with cancer. This is the result of tumor growth, the advancing cancer or the side effects of the cancer treatment. The pain is due to variety of reasons. But not all cancer gives pain. Studies and observations have shown that cancer patients are not susceptible to medicine addiction. Some pain reduction methods like acupuncture and guided imagery do not involve drugs.

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