Lymphoma - A Parent's Journey of Life and Death Seen Through the Eyes of a Child



It was January 2003, the New Year passed. It was supposed to be a happy, and healthy Year. The New Year can be your second chance. A chance to make yourself a better person by strengthening relationships, setting goals, and striving for your dreams. Anxiously awaiting a call back from the pulmonary doctor my Father went to see about 2 hours earlier, I tried to work, but could not concentrate. I had a nervous feeling in my stomach since the night before when I realized my Dad was very sick. He sounded out of breath when speaking on the phone with him. I could hear him coughing, and sensed a weakness within him. All I could do was wait until after he saw the doctor the next day.
The word Lymphoma was foreign to me, but sent a shock so piercing through my body that I went numb. The only words that came out of my mouth when I was speaking to the doctor were "the what?" With slight hesitation she asked me if my Father shared his health issues with me. I replied, "Apparently Not!" I could not get more information until my Father gave permission. Though Lymphoma was an unknown to my sisters and me, it was not foreign to my Father who was diagnosed with it a year before. At that point he did not need treatment and because there is no cure for Mantle Cell Lymphoma, he hoped for a trial drug when the time came. Since we had lost my Mother to cancer in 1995, my Father wanted to spare us this devastating news until absolutely necessary.
At this moment, the disease that was lying still in his body, decided it was time to erupt. A family meeting would be scheduled with the cancer specialist my Dad had been seeing all year. As my younger sister, her husband, my Father's girlfriend and I gathered around my Father's hospital bed, it seemed surreal. The only option was to give my Father prednisone and follow with a chemotherapy treatment. (C.H.O.P.) Since he was so weak, there was a chance of complications that could put his life in danger. We didn't have much of a choice.
Almost every bad thing that could have happened did, plus situations that even confused the doctors. My Father ended up in the Intensive care unit 2 times. The second time he had to have a breathing tube inserted. In the meantime his kidneys were failing and he needed dialysis. On top of this, he developed a necrosis of the feet and upper lip. This caused gangrene to set in. Part of his lip died due to this lack of blood flow. There was a chance he would have to have portions of his feet amputated. After removing the dead tissue on my Father's lip his speech became impaired. The circulation problems affected his hands and he didn't have the dexterity he once did.
Based on the experience of watching my Mother wither away from cancer, I knew my survival skills would set in. You have to step out of your comfort zone and become the pillar of strength that your parent's always were to you. You become the optimist when you are feeling pessimistic. You put on a brave face when all you want to do is cry. You become the caregiver when you are used to being cared for. You become the advocate and speak with conviction when before you were the listener. You become the educator by researching the killer disease when before you were the student. Before was when you were the child and your parents were your teachers. They laid a canvas for you and with their guidance and nurturing you began to paint the picture. The picture of your life. If you were lucky like I was, you were given the tools and teachings you needed so when a situation like this arose you were able to rise up and orchestrate to the best of your ability.
The hardest part was I couldn't do anything about the physical destruction of my Father's body. Only weeks before he looked so strong, and healthy. Now he couldn't walk, and could not speak with the articulation of the intelligent man he was. He could no longer eat, and a feeding tube was inserted. How do you convince a man in this state, that has been through so much pain and suffering, that he should be happy to be alive? It is selfish in part because you want him alive for you. Was any part of this good? For me it was day-by-day survival. For my Father it was day-by-day survival. How ironic. One of us was healthy and the other near death, yet the survival skills were needed by both. I felt like every ounce of my being was sucked out of me. I felt like I had to live for both of us.
After a while you see how tired, how sad, and how lifeless your loved one becomes and you accept that their fight may be over. It should be their choice to live or not. Just seeing my Dad was enough for me, but it wasn't enough for him. I knew he hated, that we had to see him like this. There must come a point in time when you are so sick, that you give up hope, and do not want to live as you are. My Father had been SELFLESS his entire life. At this moment in time the choice was his. We owed him the right to surrender. He surrendered on April 8, 2003 and his wonderful, strong soul rose to the heavens where he was reunited with his beautiful bride. There is a missing piece in my heart and soul where my parents once were. A void that can never be filled. I have some solace in knowing they are not suffering, and are at peace in each others' arms. I am thankful for the time I had with them.

What You Need to Know About Multiple Myeloma and How to Diagnose It



Some facts about this disease:
  • Malignant disorder of plasma cells
  • Peak incidence between 60-70 years
  • Rare under the age of 30
  • Males are affected more than females.
Pathogenesis:
-The tissues are infiltrated by proliferating cells.
-One type of abnormal immunoglobulins (paraprotein) usually IgG or IgA.
-This paraprotein may cause auto-immune manifestations.
-The paraprotein may coat the platelets and coagulation factors.
-Production of incomplete immunoglobulins (light chain only) by plas. cells which are excreted in urine (Bence-Jones protein).
-Diminished production of normal immunoglobulins increases infections.
Clinical picture:
i- Skeletal:
  1. Bone aches and pathological fractures
  2. Multiple osteolytic lesions in the skull and osteoclast stimulation
ii- Neurological:
  1. Compression of spinal cord by vertebral lesion
  2. Infiltration of roots, nerves and muscles by plasma cells.
iii- Renal Failure: due to:
  1. Bence-Jones proteins: precipitated in kidneys
  2. Nephrocalcinosis: caused by hypercalcaemia
  3. Hyperuricaemia: due to destruction of plasma cells
  4. Amyloidosis of kidneys
  5. Pyelonephritis: due to susceptibility to infections
iv- Anemia: due to:
  1. BM (bone marrow) replacement by plasma cells
  2. BM inhibition by chemotherapy and radiotherapy
  3. Haemolysis caused by paraprotein
  4. Renal impairment
v- Bleeding Tendency due to:
  1. Coating of coagulation factors by paraprotein
  2. Coating of platelets by paraprotein
vi- Cardio-Vascular
  1. Raynoud's phenomenon due to cold antibodies
  2. Hyperviscosity syndrome
vii- Others:
  1. Repeated infections
  2. Amyloidosis
Investigations:
1- Blood picture:
  • Anemia
  • Increased ESR
2- BM Examination:
Full of plasma cells
3- Biochemical:
  • Increased calcium in blood
  • Increased uric acid in blood
  • Alkaline phosphatase: normal
4- Immuno electrophoresis:
Shows marked increase in one type of immunoglobulins
5- Renal:
  • Bence-Jones proteins
  • Urine electrophoresis: for paraprotein and light chains
  • Kidney function tests: may be impaired
6- X-ray:
Multiple osteolytic lesions in bones especially in vertebrae, skull and pelvis.
Treatment:
1- Chemotherapy:
Melphalan or cyclophosphamide.
2- Radiotherapy:
To control tumour masses.
3- Symptomatic:
e.g. infection, renal failure and pain.
Brought to you by Sayed EL Assal who is a physician graduated from faculty of medicine 7 years ago and since then he's working in health field.

3 Things That Increase Your Risk of Getting Leukemia



There are always things we can do to reduce the risks of getting certain diseases. If your family history already has occurrences of leukemia in it then taking precautions is a wise step. Read on to see what things can increase your chances to contract this disease.
Doctors are still not sure of all the causes for leukemia, but there is a consensus on what factors will increase your chances to exacerbate this disease.
These are three common risk factors associated with leukemia
  1. Smoking or Tobacco - the dangers of these toxins are clearly stated on the sides of the cigarette packages. It hasn't dampened the sales of this product and the health damage is well known.
  2. Chemical Exposure - such as benzene and formaldehyde. This could have been over a period of time causing chronic cases that surface after years of exposure.
  3. Infection - one type of infection is a form of HIV called HTLV-1. This virus infects T-Cells, atype of white blood cell. Usually contracted through needles, blood transfusions, sexual contact or breast feeding.
This type of cancer is contracted when your bone marrow starts over producing the white cells which are the fighter cells. These white cells can also be mutated or malfunctioning cells, in either case they cause havoc for you system.
If you read the book "Cell Talk" you will discover that the 7 trillion cells that reside in your body have a communication system. They have their own way of talking so the way you think and feel is transmitted to and through the. this opens the door for alternative treatments and other options for hope.
There is no doubt this condition is serious, but you can seriously combat leukemia with complementary options.
Start by going to Luekemia Options for more information and alternatives on this subject. It's time to take back your Health. It's time to enjoy life again and it's your time to find out about all the choices you have for Good Health.
Your body was designed for healing, give it what it needs and it will do the rest.

Leukemia Treatment With Green Tea?



Chronic lymphocyte leukemia is the most common subtype of leukemia in the United States.  It is presently an incurable disease. Unlike most other types of cancer in which early diagnosis increases the probability that a patient can be cured, treatment with cytotoxic chemotherapy is associated with increased toxicity but no increase in patient survival.
Despite this grim fact, there is good news. A study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology has shown patients with chronic lymphocyte leukemia in a phase one study, had a reduction of their lymphocyte in 33 % of participant. By doing so, the team of cancer researchers from the State University of New Jersey, established a positive link between green tea and a potential treatment of leukemia.
Several epidemiological studies have demonstrated that the consumption of green tea decreased the risk of cancer. Furthermore, prevention of the apparition of a tumor in animal models by  tea, supported its ability to interfere with basic cancer processes, like angiogenesis and inflammation.
Green tea in a pill is still a long way off before the Food and Drug Administration approves this to be prescribed by your oncologist. By counting the phase 2 and the phase 3 studies, we are talking about 4 to 5 years before commercialization if all went well. And I am not bring the cost of these pills.
A tasty drink made with inexpensive ingredient, tea bought from the local market could sidestep many of these concerns. After all, food is the one medicine that we seem quite willing to take at least three times a day.
Want to find more about green tea go to functional food green tea.
Yanick Bertand PhD has a passion to educate people in the fight against cancer. Through his many years of research on biological impacts to cancer, Yanick Bertand has discovered that a reaction occurs when we fight cancer with nutritional elements - such as the food that we eat. In his research on the fight against cancer, Yanick has come across critical information that is not known by the general public. It is Yanick's desire to educate the public on how they can help fight cancer.

Leukemia Cancer - Everything You Need to Know



Leukemia is generally considered and known as blood cancer, where as if considered in its real terms leukemia is a cancer of the white blood cells and the platelets. These platelets actually help blood to clot. Additionally when the white blood cells reduce in amount they actually leave the immune system unlocked for attack and the patient sometimes die of a very usual illness like flu. In general the deficiency of normal white cells impairs the body's ability to struggle against infections. A shortage of platelets results in bruising and easy bleeding whenever there is a need of clot to stop the flow of blood.
All kinds of various acute or chronic diseases of leukemia are dangerous. Acute leukemia being a swiftly succeeding disease affects typically cells that are embryonic or primitive (which means the cells that have not yet fully developed or differentiated from the others). These not fully formed cells thus cannot achieve their standard utility. These cells are described as "nonfunctional" because they do not work like normal cells. They also number out the usual normal healthy cells in the marrow, resulting in a decrease in the number of new healthy normal cells made in the marrow. These later results in low red cell counts which is a typical form of anemia.
On the other hand chronic leukemia develops gradually, and allows the development of larger amounts of more developed cells. In broader perspective, these more grown-up cells can achieve some of their typical functionality but due to the increase in the number of cells like white blood cells the blood flow may slow down and result in severe anemia.
The leukemia is categorized in to four basic categories which are as follows:
• Acute Myelogenous Leukemia (AML)
• Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL)
• Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML)
• Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)
For acute leukemia following are the signs and symptoms of leukemia:
• Fatigue or tiredness
• Shortness of breath during physical activity
• Sluggish curing of cuts and excess bleeding
• Mild fever or night sweats
• Black-and-blue spots (bruises) for no evident cause
• Pinhead-size red spots under the skin
• Pale skin
• Low white cell counts
• Aches in bones or joints
As far as chronic leukemia is concerned people with CLL or CML may not have any symptoms. Some patients learn they have CLL or CML after a blood test as part of a usual checkup. Occasionally, a person with CLL may see enlarged lymph nodes in the neck, armpit or groin and go to the doctor. The person may feel exhausted or short of breath or have frequent infections, if the CLL is more severe. In these cases, a blood test may show an increase in the lymphocyte count.
A comprehensive blood count is utilized to make a diagnosis of leukemia. This blood examination may confirm high or low point of white cells and show leukemic cells within the blood. Sometimes, number of platelet and red cell are fairly low. Bone marrow tests like aspiration and biopsy are often carried out to verify the analysis and to glance for any chromosome irregularities. All these tests spot the leukemia and its cell category. These tests must be continued after regular intervals after treatment commences to gauge how sound the healing is.

Facts on Leukemia and What to Do About It



There are many facts known about leukemia and if someone is dealing with the problem it's these facts they need to know. Like all cancers, leukemia happens for a reason as its not some mysterious illness that science can't fathom. For instance it's exceptionally rare in S.E. Asia but is prevalent in all western developed countries.
 
Some of the facts that have been linked to leukemia are high voltage power lines and people living close to these have a much higher risk factor. The chemical formaldehyde that is commonly found in our homes has also been linked to it. Food items associated with leukemia are aspartame, the artificial sweetener in many soft drinks and chewing gum. Sodium nitrite is another; the additive is used in luncheon meats. Other meats that contain sodium nitrite are sausages, hot dogs, hamburgers, bacon, ham, and any meats that have been processed.
 
Foods that are known to help leukemia patients are turmeric, the root vegetable that is the yellow colouring used in curry powder, bananas, oranges as well as grape seed extract. Also vitamin A which is most abundant in carrots, broccoli, squash and spinach. As with most nutrients it is always best to get them from natural sources and not in supplement form. In other words eat grapes, that is grapes with seed in them and buy turmeric fresh, grate it and use it in cooking.
 
There are many facts known about all cancers but unfortunately today our medical system is more interested in treating these different cancers instead of providing us with these known facts so we can avoid the problem in the first place. We don't have cancer prevention today; we only have expensive toxic treatments that are not very effective. Remember there is nothing in our 3 main treatments that will stop the return of cancer.
 
All cancers including leukemia have many known causes and these are; nutritional deficiencies, our sedentary lifestyle and the chemicals we encounter everyday. Leukemia is cancer of the blood; the body has lost control and makes too many white blood cells so why would it be any different to any other cancer. Anyone with leukemia needs to address all these issues, that is eat food in its natural state, get some exercise and be wary of all chemicals we use in our homes these days.
 
There is no such thing as a single cause for cancer, all cancers have multiple causes so the way to successfully overcome leukemia is to address the underlying causes and a change of diet is a great start. A strict natural diet is of paramount importance.
Alan Wighton is an independent health researcher, having spent many years specialising in cancer. For more information on effective ways to restore your health and why we only have chemotherapy to treat leukemia; please visit Cancer Facts & Information

Discover More About Childhood Leukemia and Its Chronic Symptoms



Are you aware of childhood leukemia and where did it come from? You may be thinking that this is not a problem for you or your children today, but how about the future and the next generation? Nobody can't tell where this hematological disease come from, what may have started it, or what may have caused it. And this is what makes it somewhat depressing.
If you have a child who suffers from this disease, have you tried asking your doctor what may have caused this? Usually they can't really pinpoint which is which, for there are so many possible things that can trigger this, like for instance exposure to chemicals like benzene and dioxins, improper use of plastic materials, multiple nutritional problems, and merely because of genetics. All of these may affect the immune system of a child which may lead to further problems and diseases like this cancer of the blood called leukemia.
Do you know that it has been said that every single person has cancer cells in the body and it is possible that we may have already acquired them even at birth. However, these cancer cells are merely not detected as cancer unless it reaches a certain number which can be confirmed as a detectable size through a series of tests done. So you might be wondering how come your child has reached the age of 2, yet that is the only time that he or she have acquired this disease.
You may not be aware of it at first, but in the previous years or months that you are taking care of your child, he or she might have already acquired the chronic symptoms of leukemia, however wasn't still diagnosed having it because the cancer cells can't still be detected. The chronic symptoms may occur to be as a normal illness like frequent fever any time of the day, occasional stomach aches, sweating at night, bruising, getting colds and cough more often than usual. These symptoms are due to frequent ups and downs of the composition of your child's blood count. And usually a pediatrician would ask for a Complete Blood Count test and may prescribe a medicine to cure any possible infections.
Even a pediatrician can't detect childhood leukemia that soon, unless they have done all the tests and created their own work plan to pin point the main issue. Results of the tests sometimes may lead to severe anemia, or iron deficiency, but with concrete tests such as bone marrow testing, you will then be referred to a hematologist who would be able to read the findings of possible cancer cells present in the bone marrow.
It is not that easy to detect childhood leukemia if you are not aware that cancer is already present in our system and it can be triggered. With a strong immune system you can definitely prevent these cells from multiplying. So, better start living a healthy lifestyle and be aware of the environmental factors which could cause such health issues.
Geri R. is an independent health researcher and writer, who has the passion to help educate people regarding health issues, parenting, and child development.

2 Alternative Treatments For Leukemia



Conventional medicine is now recognizing what is called complementary or alternative treatments, alternative treatments for leukemia is one of them. If you are afflicted with this disease you will want to read further to find out about these alternative treatments.
For those who don't know, leukemia is a cancer that starts in the blood forming cells. The bone marrow produces both white and red cells, when this disease takes flight a over abundance of abnormal white cells are produced. These cells can attack good tissue, for what ever reasons they see them as the enemy.
Two Alternative Treatments For Leukemia
  1. Nutritional Therapy - this is just what it states, re-balancing you system based on nutritional imbalances. Natural treatment through the ages has always healed the body by giving it what it lacks in nutrition. Adhering to the belief that "give the body what it needs and it will do the rest".
  2. Naturopathic Medicine - a doctor practicing this type of medicine dips their feet in both traditional and natural treatments. The difference is this practicing doctor digs deeper, they look for the cause which can lead to the cure.
When you hear the word Alternative you will most likely find practitioners that work on a natural and/or spiritual level of healing. Some of it based on hundreds of years of passed on knowledge, some of it based on scientific fact and some of it based on the belief that your mind holds enormous power for healing.
Treatments have two goals, making you better and making life better for you. If any of the alternative treatments for leukemia can do this, why not consider them. 
You can start by going to Luekemia Options for more information and alternatives on this subject. It's time to take back your Health. It's time to enjoy life again and it's your time to find out about all the choices you have for Good Health.
Check out the category on Holistic Treatments, you may find other helpful information there too.

Chemotherapy-Drug Information



Cells are the basic building blocks of the human body. Cells grow in our body within limits. If a sudden fast and improper growth of cells take place in a particular part or completely in the body is what we name as cancer. Chemotherapy is a special method of treating the cancer patients. With a help of some kind of drugs inserted into the body, the cancer cells are completely removed or controlled.
Several types of drugs are used in chemotherapy for curing the cancer. The chemotherapy drug usage depends on the type of cancer and stage of it. Also depending upon the age, health of the patients they vary from patient to patient. There are so many drugs available for this purpose.
Let us see some of the drugs used commonly for the chemotherapy are; Cisplatin, Carboplatin, vinorelbine, metheotrexrate, paclitaxel are the widely used. They are used in combinations most of the times.
But there lies a serious possibility of side effects emerging due to the chemotherapy. Most of the side effects happen at the time of undergoing the treatment. General side effects are abdominal pain, headache, vomiting, neck and breathing problems.
Sometimes there may be difference in blood count are seen. This occurs as result of drug used destroys the healthier cells in the body. The platelets in the body may be reduced too. It produces unstopped bleeding.
Hair loss is found to be an inevitable setback while performing this treatment. Loss of weight associated with depression may be a dangerous side effect. Most of the side effects are present at the time of performing chemotherapy and don't appear after the treatment is over.
Anand prabhakar is an author living in India. He is an expert in chemotherapy drug information and you can learn a lot about it from his website list of chemotherapy drugs

Chemotherapy - Drugs Used For Treatment



The method of killing the cancer cells present the whole body or in particular part by passing anti-cancer drugs into the blood stream is called chemotherapy. It is also employed to prevent the spreading of cancer from part to another. It proves to be more efficient when it is used in the metastasis condition. In this condition the cancer spreads to all parts from where it has originated.
Each every chemotherapy agent has specific role depending upon the treatment and characteristics of the drug used. Most of them intervene with the DNA synthesis. Based on their features and treatment they are classified as alkylating agents, anti-metabolits, anthracyclines, antitumor antibiotics, monoclonal antibodies, platinums, or plant alkaloids.
Alkylating agents are the widely used drugs in the chemotherapy treatment. These drugs are effective through all phases of cell cycle. The alkylate agent acts directly on the DNA strands, breaks the strands and forms abnormal pairing, thus prevents the cell division taking place, and cells die off as a result of it.
Anti-metabolits are found to be useful in treating chronic problems and some cases of leukemia and for various tumors.
Anthracyclines drugs are obtained from natural resources. They work by producing free oxygen radicals which acts with the DNA strands and prevents the cell division.
Antitumor antibiotics are obtained from soil fungus streptomyces. It employs the free oxygen radicals for breaking the DNA strands and preventing cell division. Bleomycin is a commonly used antitumor antibiotic
Monoclonal antibodies, they are attach themselves with the tumor specific antigens and thus block the growth of the cell.
Platinums, they are also used to provide the DNA impairing and to stop the cell growth. But the setback is they can injure the kidneys as they are toxic.
Plant alkaloids, according to the name they are derived from plants. And they are used in cell specific cycles.
Anand prabhakar is an author living in India. He is an expert in list of chemotherapy drugs and you can learn a lot about it from his website how is chemotherapy made

Anemia - First Treat it With a Balanced Diet



Anemia is an iron deficiency in the blood resulting in the poor delivery of oxygen throughout the blood stream.
Symptoms of Anemia:
  • Pale skin color or tone
  • Pale or clear looking eyelids
  • Feeling of constantly being tired or weak
  • Lack of energy
  • Difficulty in focusing or concentrating
It is not always easy to diagnose Anemia straight away. If you have any of the above symptoms you should consult your doctor as soon as possible. Many people make the wrong decision thinking that Anemia is not a serious condition. On the contrary, Anemia can lead to a number of serious conditions such as heart problems and a difficulty in functioning at you optimal ability.
There are several things that cause Anemia. The most common factor is due to a lack of iron intake in ones day to day diet. Ensure that you take in an efficient amount of foods such as red meat, spinach, liver and molasses. Vegetarians need to be especially cautious and make sure that they take enough Vitamin C which promotes the absorption of iron.
Another ways to become Anemic is through the excessive and continual loss of blood. Certain people are more prone to becoming Anemic than others. For example, pregnant women, who need to take twice as much the amount of iron as a normal person. Vegetarians are also more prone as they do not eat red meats. Additionally, people who drink large amounts of tea are more prone since tea is known to prevent iron absorption in the body.
The main way to prevent and treat Anemia is firstly through a balanced and nutritional diet in which you take all the correct amounts of vitamins and nutrients. Secondly, avoid excessive amounts of aspirin and alcohol as this has a negative affect toward iron absorption.
By following these easy guidelines you should be able to either prevent yourself from becoming Anemic or at least be able to treat the Anemia that you already have.
Claire has been writing articles online for nearly 5 years now. This author specializes in writing on subjects of travel, woman's issues and product reviews. Check out her latest website on women's motorcycle boots and on choosing the best women's motorcycle gear.

Survival Rate - Hodgkins Lymphoma



Hodgkins Lymphoma is a type of cancer which affects the lymphatic system. The disease spreads by affecting the lymph nodes progressively in a systematic order. The main characteristic of this cancer is the presence of cells which are called Reed-Sternberg. This disease is known to happen in the adolescent years and young adulthood, and also to people in the age group of 50 to 70 years. It is found to be more in males than among females. The symptoms are usually swelling of lymph nodes which is painless, in the armpit, groin or neck areas. If such swellings are accompanied by weight loss, fever which keeps recurring, constant coughing, and breathing difficulty, then it is an almost sure sign of having this disease. Earlier the detection and treatment, the better are the chances of survival, as this type of cancer is considered to be the most curable.
With the advancement in medicines and other therapeutic technology, the survival rate in Hodgkins lymphoma has increased substantially. In the early 60s, 40% of the patients used to survive for five years. This has changed dramatically to little over 86% in the period between 1999 and 2005. In cases where the patient's age was below 45 years, the percentage was 91.8. As of 2009 it was recorded that there is a population of 148, 461, in the United States, who are living with this disease.
The children's survival rate for hodgkins lymphoma is 95.5 percent, for a period of approximately 5 years. These children are in the age group, between a new born to 14 years. In children the treatment given is usually chemotherapy and in some advanced cases the dosage is quite high. To increase the survival rate many are given stem cell transplants, so that the new cells are formed in place of the ones which were destroyed during the treatment. Sometimes surgery also is performed to remove the diseased tissue.
The treatment will generally depend on the stage to which the Hodgkins Lymphoma has developed. Patients having the first and second stage, are treated by radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy. Taking into consideration various factors and coming up with the right treatment, a person having Stage 1 or 2 of hodgkins lymphoma can survive for a minimum of 10 years. In cases of, stage 3 and 4 affectation, the chemotherapy is more intense, and 5 years of survival is possible among 60% of the patients.
The survivors of this disease, have special needs and they should be taken care of properly. There should be regular medical follow-ups, accompanied by the different tests. It is of importance that the patient regularly talks to his doctor, and keeps him informed of any change in health conditions. The survivors of Hodgkins Lymphoma are always at a risk of getting different types of primary cancer. The study of the development of fresh cancer among survivors, has been going on for a long time and has been properly documented. This information helps the doctors, and the survivors can discuss all the preventive measures that can be taken.

Follicular Lymphoma Non Hodgkins



You see a 'beautiful' tan and your immediate thought might be that it is healthy looking, however that tanned look is actually your skin's response to the damaging effects of ultraviolet radiation. Ultraviolet rays from the sun penetrate into the upper layers of unprotected skin, quickly damaging skin cells even before you start showing any signs of sunburn or tan. That "healthy glow" is caused by the release of enzymes by your skin's defense mechanism, in an attempt to repair the damaged cells - basically your body's 'cry for help'. The intense redness of over-exposed, sunburned skin, is due to the increased blood flow caused by the release of chemicals or enzymes by the damaged skin. Over time, your body's repair efforts may end up leading to skin cancer.
Skin cancer is basic term for several different forms of cancer. Basal cell carcinoma , is the most common form of skin cancer and usually affects the face, ears, neck, scalp, shoulders and back. This type of cancer does not generally spread to other parts of the body. Squamous cell carcinoma, is the second most common form of skin cancer and usually affects the face, neck, hands, ears, lips, shoulders, arms, back and bald scalps. This type of cancer does have the ability to spread more often than basal cell. Melanoma is the most serious form of skin cancer and the least common form, however the number of melanoma cases over the past ten years has increased more than any other form of cancer. It can spread quickly if not treated early.
Following are a few interesting facts to consider the next time you are thinking of bathing your skin in the sun's rays. One blistering sunburn as youngster more than doubles a person's chance of developing skin cancer later in life. The regular use of sun protection throughout childhood can reduce the risk of skin cancer by 80%. Over 90% of all skin cancers are caused by sun exposure, however less than 33% of adults, teens and children routinely use sunscreen and less than half of all teens. If that doesn't make you think, here's one more: The aging affects on your skin caused by the sun can be seen by the time you are in your 20's!

Non Hodgkins Large Cell Lymphoma



The system that provides immunity to the body, consists of various other systems, and one of them is Lymphatic. Non Hodgkins Large Cell Lymphoma is a cancer of this system. This cancer makes, cells of the lymphatic system to reproduce abnormally. The result of this is the growth of tumours, and the disease is also known to spread to the other tissues and organs of the body.
Non Hodgkins Large Cell Lymphoma mostly affects children in the age group of 7 to 11 years. This disease is also known to manifest any time between infancy and becoming an adult. Among the sexes, males are much more prone to this disease, and the ratio is, for every 1 female affected, there will be three males having the disease. Children of the Caucasian race are prone to this cancer, then any other race.
It is the large size of the cells that characterizes this type of cancer among the various non Hodgkins lymphomas. The Large Cell Lymphoma also can be classified into three types, which are Immunoblastic lymphoma, anaplastic large cell lymphoma and non-specified large cell lymphoma. The T cells develop into Anaplastic large cell lymphoma, and B cells develop into the other two types. As non hodgkins large cell lymphoma, affects the system of the lymph tissues, the affectation will be in the area of chest, neck, throat and abdomen. If the spread of this disease is not checked in time, it will affect even the brain and bone marrow.
There are four stages to this disease, and each subsequent stage is considered more severe in terms of the spread of the disease. In stage 1, the tumour is in one location in the body. In stage 2 there are tumours in two or more locations, on one side of the body. When the tumours have spread to both sides, the disease has entered stage 3. In stage 4, the disease has affected the bone marrow. In this stage it can also affect the central nervous system. The last stage is further categorized by the severity of the affectation of the bone marrow and the number of cancer cells which are present.
Unfortunately, non hodgkins large cell lymphoma, progresses very quickly and by the time the symptoms are noticed, it is usually passed the second stage. In children where the abdominal area is affected you will find symptoms like loss of appetite, fever, constipation and pain in the abdomen. If the chest area is affected, children will get wheezing, cough, and pain while breathing deeply. The other symptoms which one can watch out for, are lymph node swellings which are painless, pain in the joints and bones, feeling of tiredness, heavy sweating at night, itching and sudden weight loss.
The treatment for non hodgkins large cell lymphoma, will depend on the age of the patient, the spread of the disease and the patient's tolerance to different curative procedures and medicines. Presently the main treatment given is chemotherapy, but it has a lot of side effects.

Lymphoedema Surgery



Lymphedema is generally incurable, although there are various therapies that could help to ease the discomfort. Lymphoedema surgery is one treatment method that could be beneficial to some lymphedema patients. Generally, these surgical techniques meant stripping the fluid-filled areas located under the skin. Some surgeries also involved the creation of a channel connecting the venous system and the lymphatic system to drain the excess fluids.
The idea of performing a micro-vascular surgery may sound appealing. Technically, it is just making a channel linking the vascular system to the lymphatic system to drain extra fluids. In reality though, this is a very difficult procedure and its effectiveness has not been proven. Besides, lymphedema patients have a delicate state of health and an invasive lymphedema surgery may in fact worsen the condition further. Even otherwise, lymphedema patients have various other health-related issues to cope with.
Recent progress in surgical procedures involves finding a way around the lymphatic system to draw out the excess lymphatic fluids to reduce swelling. This procedure is called lymphaticovenular bypass and is carried out under general anesthesia. Surgery may take anything between two to four hours while the patient may be allowed to go home within 24 hours. In this lymphoedema surgery, two to five small incisions are made on the arm or the leg to direct the fluid to the small veins to encourage drainage and relieve the swelling.
Lymphaticovenular bypass may be beneficial to patients who have been suffering from lymphedema for only a short while. Some patients may respond to the surgery while others may find it ineffective. Even though there may be an improvement of the condition after surgery, regular use of compression garments, bandaging and exercise is a must. Skin care is also essential. These therapies can be restarted four weeks after the lymphoedema surgery.
Lately, lymphoedema surgeries include liposuction, especially for cancer patients experiencing lymphedema. Liposuction can take care of stubborn swellings for breast cancer survivors. However, this surgical procedure can cause extensive scarring and the effectiveness may be short-lived, with the problem resurfacing in later years. Again, this is a surgical procedure that might cause complications rather than any improvement for the patient. A relatively modern development for the treatment of lymphedema is lymphatic transplant.
People who suffer from lymphedema are forever trying out newer means of treatment so as to ease the debilitating condition. Even though the combined therapy of massage, manual lymph drainage, compression bandaging and exercise is known to be effective, people want to try out lymphoedema surgery in the hope of lasting improvement. Some of these surgical procedures are very expensive and Medicare does not cover the expense. Yet, there are some insurance companies that approve lymphedema surgeries and the cost may be reimbursed to the patient.
Peter Hodges has been studying the lymphatic system and how to heal it vigorously since 2003. After many years of research he has now discovered how to heal the lymphatic system, reduce lymphedema swelling and return the body to optimal health.

Leukemia - Causes Symptoms and Treatment



There are some diseases that occur without much of the fault of the sufferers. One of the most horrible diseases is Cancer and among Cancer if there is anything that is quite dangerous, it is the Leukemia. It is the Cancer of the blood or bone marrow. Its quite dangerous and difficult to cure.
There are two main types of Leukemia, the Acute and the Chronic. When the immature blood gets weight age in the body and it is increased more than the mature blood, it gets converted into Leukemia. In this type an immediate treatment is must as if the blood gets circulated in majority of the parts of body, it becomes difficult to handle the situation and that results into the blocking of bone marrow to produce healthy blood cells. So, the curing should be deadly faster. Also the lymphocytes Leukemia and myelogenous Leukemia are also the other types of this disease.
Leukemia Symptoms are difficult to find outer as it is totally internal process. If in any of the reports it is found to have the damage of bone marrow or even the lack of platelets can be the reason of this cancer. Other symptom can be the suppressing or dysfunctional behavior of White Cells in Blood without any reason. Leukemia prevents the immune system so if there are complains of frequent infections or even the tonsils, sores in mouth are felt, diarrhea, pneumonia or even the opportunistic infections are felt than there are bright chances of converting the diseases into Leukemia.
Causes of Leukemia
There are no visible reasons of Leukemia as such but still artificial ionizing radiation, different type of viruses that cause the blood platelets balancing problem and also the smoking or tobacco habit is the reason of this disease to occur to certain extent.
There are some of the people in whom the maternal-fatal transmission has become the reason for the Leukemia occurrence. Also some of the people are found to have the genetic predisposition as the reason of this disease to happen.
Treatment of Leukemia
The treatment is difficult yet not impossible as some of the medication treatment are required to get cured and beside this there are also the radiation therapy and bone marrow transplantation are the treatments of this diseases. But still nothing gives guarantee as the diagnosis has no outer symptoms and the stage in which the diseases are approached is also important.
So, have the best treatment and better curing of the diseases that is quite difficult to handle, Leukemia.
Read full story at Simplehealthguide.com

Survival Rate - Hodgkins Lymphoma



Hodgkins Lymphoma is a type of cancer which affects the lymphatic system. The disease spreads by affecting the lymph nodes progressively in a systematic order. The main characteristic of this cancer is the presence of cells which are called Reed-Sternberg. This disease is known to happen in the adolescent years and young adulthood, and also to people in the age group of 50 to 70 years. It is found to be more in males than among females. The symptoms are usually swelling of lymph nodes which is painless, in the armpit, groin or neck areas. If such swellings are accompanied by weight loss, fever which keeps recurring, constant coughing, and breathing difficulty, then it is an almost sure sign of having this disease. Earlier the detection and treatment, the better are the chances of survival, as this type of cancer is considered to be the most curable.
With the advancement in medicines and other therapeutic technology, the survival rate in Hodgkins lymphoma has increased substantially. In the early 60s, 40% of the patients used to survive for five years. This has changed dramatically to little over 86% in the period between 1999 and 2005. In cases where the patient's age was below 45 years, the percentage was 91.8. As of 2009 it was recorded that there is a population of 148, 461, in the United States, who are living with this disease.
The children's survival rate for hodgkins lymphoma is 95.5 percent, for a period of approximately 5 years. These children are in the age group, between a new born to 14 years. In children the treatment given is usually chemotherapy and in some advanced cases the dosage is quite high. To increase the survival rate many are given stem cell transplants, so that the new cells are formed in place of the ones which were destroyed during the treatment. Sometimes surgery also is performed to remove the diseased tissue.
The treatment will generally depend on the stage to which the Hodgkins Lymphoma has developed. Patients having the first and second stage, are treated by radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy. Taking into consideration various factors and coming up with the right treatment, a person having Stage 1 or 2 of hodgkins lymphoma can survive for a minimum of 10 years. In cases of, stage 3 and 4 affectation, the chemotherapy is more intense, and 5 years of survival is possible among 60% of the patients.
The survivors of this disease, have special needs and they should be taken care of properly. There should be regular medical follow-ups, accompanied by the different tests. It is of importance that the patient regularly talks to his doctor, and keeps him informed of any change in health conditions. The survivors of Hodgkins Lymphoma are always at a risk of getting different types of primary cancer. The study of the development of fresh cancer among survivors, has been going on for a long time and has been properly documented. This information helps the doctors, and the survivors can discuss all the preventive measures that can be taken.

Follicular Lymphoma Non Hodgkins



Follicular lymphoma non hodgkins, affects the lymph nodes and this type is common among the non hodgkin lymphomas. It is termed as indolent because of its slow rate of growth and behavioural pattern when studied under a microscope. The lymph nodes will show a follicle-like growth and hence its name. This disease is mainly found in adults in the age group of 55. Both sexes are affected equally by this disease and demographically it is found to more prevalent in Europe and North America.
If one's lymph nodes are enlarged, coupled with fatigue, fever and weight loss, then it is a sure sign of Follicular Lymphoma non hodgkins. The swelling of the lymph nodes is not painful and hence it takes time to detect it. The swelling is usually in the armpit, groin or neck areas. The loss of weight will occur without any reason and the body weight will decrease rapidly over a period of 60 days. The fever also will be either continuously raging or will come and go, without any verifiable reason. Other symptoms might include over sweating in the night, itchy feeling over the entire body, loss of hunger, weakness, and feeling short of breath with swelling on the neck and face.
When it symptoms occur it is advisable to take a biopsy of the affected lymph node. The pathologist will observe the affected tissue under a microscope, and will find out whether there are any characteristics of lymphoma in the sample. If the diagnosis is positive, a series of different tests are performed using markers, to find out the potency of the disease and the possible course of treatments. The extent of Follicular lymphoma can be known by doing tests on blood samples and bone marrow. CT scans are also taken of the affected parts.
All these tests will provide a clear picture of how much this disease has spread in the body. The spread of the disease is not limited to lymph nodes and can affect bone marrow and different organs. To quantify the spread of the disease there a standard of stages from one to four; stage four, being the most advanced. The slow growth rate and least painful symptoms makes this disease very difficult to detect and usually it is detected when it has reached the third or fourth stage. The nature of the disease is such, that it will suddenly flare up and also regress equally fast, and this cycle is repeated many times. Even a person suffering the disease in the fourth stage, has a chance to live for 8 to 10 years with the proper treatments.
If the Follicular Lymphoma non hodgkins is detected early, then radiation therapy is known to arrest the disease and even effect a cure. If the stage is very early and is low grade, then actually no treatment is advised. Later stages call for the use of Chemotherapy, which is considered most efficacious. Other treatments like Biological therapy using Rituximab and Monoclonal antibody therapy are the other options which are available.
Andre Hansen is a Norwegian author. He writes articles on different niches. You can visit his site at http://www.discountticketsseaworldorlando.com where you can read about discount tickets sea world Orlando.

Non Hodgkins Large Cell Lymphoma



The system that provides immunity to the body, consists of various other systems, and one of them is Lymphatic. Non Hodgkins Large Cell Lymphoma is a cancer of this system. This cancer makes, cells of the lymphatic system to reproduce abnormally. The result of this is the growth of tumours, and the disease is also known to spread to the other tissues and organs of the body.
Non Hodgkins Large Cell Lymphoma mostly affects children in the age group of 7 to 11 years. This disease is also known to manifest any time between infancy and becoming an adult. Among the sexes, males are much more prone to this disease, and the ratio is, for every 1 female affected, there will be three males having the disease. Children of the Caucasian race are prone to this cancer, then any other race.
It is the large size of the cells that characterizes this type of cancer among the various non Hodgkins lymphomas. The Large Cell Lymphoma also can be classified into three types, which are Immunoblastic lymphoma, anaplastic large cell lymphoma and non-specified large cell lymphoma. The T cells develop into Anaplastic large cell lymphoma, and B cells develop into the other two types. As non hodgkins large cell lymphoma, affects the system of the lymph tissues, the affectation will be in the area of chest, neck, throat and abdomen. If the spread of this disease is not checked in time, it will affect even the brain and bone marrow.
There are four stages to this disease, and each subsequent stage is considered more severe in terms of the spread of the disease. In stage 1, the tumour is in one location in the body. In stage 2 there are tumours in two or more locations, on one side of the body. When the tumours have spread to both sides, the disease has entered stage 3. In stage 4, the disease has affected the bone marrow. In this stage it can also affect the central nervous system. The last stage is further categorized by the severity of the affectation of the bone marrow and the number of cancer cells which are present.
Unfortunately, non hodgkins large cell lymphoma, progresses very quickly and by the time the symptoms are noticed, it is usually passed the second stage. In children where the abdominal area is affected you will find symptoms like loss of appetite, fever, constipation and pain in the abdomen. If the chest area is affected, children will get wheezing, cough, and pain while breathing deeply. The other symptoms which one can watch out for, are lymph node swellings which are painless, pain in the joints and bones, feeling of tiredness, heavy sweating at night, itching and sudden weight loss.
The treatment for non hodgkins large cell lymphoma, will depend on the age of the patient, the spread of the disease and the patient's tolerance to different curative procedures and medicines. Presently the main treatment given is chemotherapy, but it has a lot of side effects.
Andre Hansen is a Norwegian author. He writes articles on different niches. You can visit his site at http://www.discountticketsseaworldorlando.com where you can read about discount tickets sea world Orlando.

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