| Cancer Treatment and Prevention |
|
Friday, November 23, 2007
Cancer is caused by damage to DNA, resulting in mutations to genes that encode for proteins controlling cell division. Many mutation events may be required to transform a normal cell into a malignant cell. This tissue is obtained by biopsy or surgery.. These mutations can be caused by radiation, chemicals or physical agents that cause cancer, which are called carcinogens, or by certain viruses that can insert their DNA into the human genome. Mutations occur spontaneously, and may be passed down from one cell generation to the next as a result of mutations within germ lines. However, some carcinogens also appear to work through non-mutagenic pathways that affect the level of transcription of certain genes without causing genetic mutation. Treatment of Cancer Cancer can be treated by surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, monoclonal antibody therapy or other methods. Chemotherapy is the treatment of cancer with drugs ("anticancer drugs") that can destroy cancer cells. It interferes with cell division in various possible ways, e.g. with the duplication of DNA or the separation of newly formed chromosomes. Most forms of chemotherapy target all rapidly dividing cells and are not specific for cancer cells. Hence, chemotherapy has the potential to harm healthy tissue, especially those tissues that have a high replacement rate (e.g. intestinal lining). These cells usually repair themselves after chemotherapy. Treatment of some leukaemias and lymphomas requires the use of high-dose chemotherapy, and total body irradiation (TBI). This treatment ablates the bone marrow, and hence the body's ability to recover and repopulate the blood. Radiation therapy (also called radiotherapy, X-ray therapy, or irradiation) is the use of ionizing radiation to kill cancer cells and shrink tumors. Radiation therapy can be administered externally via external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) or internally via brachytherapy. The effects of radiation therapy are localised and confined to the region being treated. Radiation. Hormone-sensitive tumors include certain types of breast and prostate cancers. Removing or blocking estrogen or testosterone is often an important additional treatment. Pain medication, such as morphine and oxycodone, and antiemetics, drugs to suppress nausea and vomiting, are very commonly used in patients with cancer-related symptoms. Cancers can be cured if entirely removed by surgery, but this is not always possible. When the cancer has metastasized to other sites in the body prior to surgery, complete surgical excision is usually impossible. Prevention of Cancer Cancer prevention is defined as active measures to decrease the incidence of cancer. Much of the promise for cancer prevention comes from observational epidemiologic studies that show associations between modifiable life style factors or environmental exposures and specific cancers. Use of exogenous hormones, exposure to ionizing radiation and ultraviolet radiation, certain occupational and chemical exposures, and infectious agents. Alcohol consumption, Smoking (although 20% of women with lung cancer have never smoked, versus 10% of men. Cancer however, compared with tobacco exposure, the magnitude of effect is modest or small and the strength of evidence is often weaker. Do not take the Alcohol and No Smoking. Juliet Cohen writes articles for http://www.health-disease.org/ and http://www.healthatoz.info/ Skin Care- Lasers In The Forefront Of Skin Care Skin Care- Lasers In The Forefront Of Skin Care Lasers are now in the forefront of skin care. For most of the aging skin problems, lasers are used to give skin a fresh look. Know more about lasers and skin care. 1. Lasers are used to treat blotchy spots, sun damage spots, and wrinkles of different depths such as crow’s feet, smoker’s lines, uneven pigmentation on the skin. 2. Non-ablative lasers are used to promote growth of collagen in the dermis and give the plump look again to the skin. Lasers are of different types and before undergoing any treatment you should find out more about the laser that will be used on you, its side effects if any and the experience and ability of the surgeon who will be doing the treatment. Know some facts about lasers and skin care - - Laser resurfacing can remove wrinkles, acne scars and other facial scars, skin growths, etc. The wrinkles near the eyes and the lips respond best to laser. - Tattoos, warts, age spots, moles, etc., can be easily removed with laser. Hair is permanently removed with laser. - It is difficult to remove very deep scars with lasers. Other scars can be removed or substantially reduced. - Laser can be used not only on face but also on other body parts. - Laser surgery is performed under local or general anesthesia. It does not hurt. - Laser removes layers of damaged skin. The procedure is bloodless. - Non-wounding (non-ablative) laser does not cut the skin layer by layer. It works below the skin surface and encourages production of collagen and elastin in the dermis. Fine lines and wrinkles can be removed with non-wounding laser. - The time to heal after laser treatment will depend upon the treatment depth and area. Generally it may be a week to a month. Your laser surgeon will tell you the precise time. The skin may remain red for a long time. You must use sunscreen to protect the skin after laser treatment. - Skin becomes red and may crust after laser resurfacing. That goes away after some days. This article is only for informative purposes. This article is not intended to be a medical advise and it is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult your doctor for your medical concerns. Please follow any tip given in this article only after consulting your doctor. The author is not liable for any outcome or damage resulting from information obtained from this article. For more information about skin care to make your skin blemish-free and young, please visit- doctorgoodskin. To learn all about how to treat your acne, visit Acne Treatment The author C.D.Mohatta also consults with myspace websites. If you are a myspace user or user of other social network websites, please click here for- Myspace Comments such as Compliments, Cool Comments, Cute Comments, Flirty Comments, Funky Comments, Funny Comments, Hot Comments, Love Comments,Picture Comments, Profile Comments, Sexy Comments, Sweet Comments and Thanks For The Add comments. Urticaria - Causes, Symptoms and Treatment Urticaria is an allergic skin rash also known as 'nettle rash' or hives. There are two distinct types: acute urticaria is often caused by an allergy and can last between several hours and six weeks; chronic urticaria persists beyond six weeks. Most hives go away within days to a few weeks. Occasional unlucky individuals will have itches and swellings that come and go over many years. Urticaria is classified as either acute or chronic. Acute urticaria is defined as urticaria that has been present for less than 6 weeks. Chronic urticaria is defined as urticaria that has been continuously or intermittently present for at least 6 weeks. The 6-week period is a guide and not an absolute demarcation.Skin lesions and pruritus occur, caused by an allergic or nonallergic mechanism. Urticaria occurs following release of histamine, bradykinin, kallikrein, and other vasoactive substances from mast cells and basophils, resulting in intradermal edema from capillary and venous vasodilation and occasionally from leukocyte infiltration. Urticaria has four major mechanisms. Most commonly, it is a manifestation of acute immunoglobulin E (IgE)–mediated hypersensitivity with histamine and other vasoactive peptides released from mast calls and basophils. Nonimmunologic urticaria occurs when an exogenous substance results in mast cell degranulation either by direct stimulation of the mast cell or by unknown mechanisms (reaction to intravenous contrast dye). Aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) cause urticaria by a non–mast cell mechanism, especially in asthmatics. Causes of Urticaria 1.Allergens. 2.Environmental factors. 3.Drugs.(Penicillin). 4.Urticaria and alcohol. 5.Emotional factors( emotionalstresses). Symptoms of Urticaria 1.Rash 2.Itchiness 3.Stress. 4.Swelling Treatment of Urticaria Oral antihistamines control wealing and itching for the majority of patients with urticaria. Avoid aspirin and codeine. It is usually safe to take paracetamol and the newer Cox-II inhibitor anti-inflammatories and avoid alcohol. Non-sedating antihistamines (loratidine, fexofenadine, terfenadine, cetirazine, and astemizole) are less likely to cause drowsiness than the less expensive conventional antihistamines. They may be unsuitable in pregnancy. Terfenadine and astemizole may increase the risk of abnormal heart rhythms. They should be avoided if you have heart disease or you are also taking erythromycin, ketoconazole and some other medications. Fexofenadine, loratidine, desloratidine and cetirazine are safe. Oral steroids (prednisone) are useful for severe acute urticaria but unsuitable long term because of serious adverse effects. Antifungal agents, used to clear an assumed underlying infection. Juliet Cohen writes articles for http://www.health-disease.org/ and http://www.healthatoz.info/ |
|
||||
