Brain tumors can indeed affect the mind, emotions, and/or personality. Problems with memory, speech, and/or concentration may occur. Brain tumors that occur in children are described as supratentorial (in the upper part of the brain) or infratentorial (in the lowest part of the brain). Astrocytomas and ependymomas are common supratentorial tumors. Brain tumor treatments do carry side effects, such as hair loss and nausea. Ask your doctor about possible side effects and how best to cope with them.

Brain tumor symptoms vary, depending on the tumor size, type and location. Symptoms may occur when a tumor damages a certain area of the brain or presses on a nerve. Brain tumor patients will often have a primary caregiver, the main person who assists and cares for the patients needs. Communication between family members may become more difficult in addressing changes in roles and responsibilities. Brain tumors (whether primary or metastatic, benign or malignant) are usually treated with surgery, radiation, and/or chemotherapy ? alone or in various combinations.

While it is true that radiation and chemotherapy are more often used for malignant, residual or recurrent tumors, decisions as to what treatment to use are made on a case-by-case basis and depend on a number of factors.

Brain tumors are diagnosed using sophisticated computer technology that images the brain in various ways. Computerized tomography (CT) uses a computer and X-rays to make a picture of the brain. Brain tumors can directly destroy brain cells.

They may also indirectly damage cells by pushing on other parts of the brain. Brain tumors are now the second fastest growing cause of cancer death among those over the age of 65. Unlike lung cancer and melanoma, which are the first and third on that list, there are no known lifestyle or behavioral changes that will reduce the risk of developing a brain tumor.

Brain tumors may be classified as gliomas or non-gliomas. The most common gliomas are astrocytomas, oligodendrogliomas (mixtures of oligodendroglioma and astrocytoma elements), and ependymomas.

Malignant (cancerous) tumors are typically rapidly growing and aggressive. Benign tumors are typically slow- growing and less aggressive. Malignant tumors grow the way a plant does, with “roots” invading various tissues. Or, they can shed cells that travel to distant parts of the brain.

Patients benefit from that knowledge and from specialized resources such as a dedicated neurological intensive care unit and the latest imaging technologies. Patients with brain stem gliomas typically are treated with radiation therapy alone, although both surgery and chemotherapy have been used, with little success.

Long-term survival rates are low for children with these tumors. Patients receive aggressive treatment in order to delay this regrowth as long as possible. Regrowth does not necessarily imply loss of control of the tumor, but it does mean that a new series of treatments should be considered because the tumor is becoming more aggressive.



By: Alisha Dhamani

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When cancerous tumors appear, the best thing to do with them is to destroy the tumor and any cancerous residue. Killing the cancer is not difficult. The problem is that the methods used to kill the cancer also kill healthy tissue. The trick then becomes killing the cancer whilst sparing the patient.

Radiation beams that are often used to treat malignant tumors can be very narrowly focused, minimizing damage to healthy tissue. However, targeting a tumor with such precision as to not damage any surrounding tissue simply isn’t possible at this time. However, advances in medical technology over the last decade has improved targeting, resulting in higher success rates and quicker recovery times.

One of the most significant recent advancements in cancer treatment is Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy, or IMRT. If tumors were square and were never located near healthy or vital tissue, then IMRT wouldn’t be necessary. However, since tumors tend to come with curves and often are very close to tissue that one doesn’t want to damage, the IMRT plays a significant role in lessening damage to surrounding healthy tissue.

Thanks to computer-controlled radiation shields, uniquely-shaped radiation fields can be delivered from various angles and approaches. The result is an ability to create concave shaped radiation fields, conforming to the shape of the tumor, allowing higher doses of radiation to be delivered while sparing healthy tissue.

IMRT is especially useful for smaller tumors that are stationary and surrounded by large amounts of healthy tissue or are located very near critical structures. These can include tumors in the brain, head and neck, prostate, or spinal cord.

Although IMRT is not currently useful for treating larger or mobile tumors, advances in imaging technology, allowing oncologists to target a tumor site more quickly and precisely, show hope for using IMRT-like technology in the future.



By: VantageOncology

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The brain is the central processing unit of the human body. A brain tumor is a mass or growth of abnormal cells in your brain. Brain Tumors are any tumors which occur in the brain due to uncontrolled cell division. Brain tumors typically are categorized as either primary or secondary. Primary brain tumors originate in your brain and can be noncancerous (benign) or cancerous (malignant). Secondary brain tumors result from cancer that began elsewhere and spread to your brain. Primary brain tumors are less common than secondary brain tumors. Benign Brain tumors can be easily removed.

Chances are that these tumors will not resurface once they are removed. However, the same cannot be said about malignant brain tumors. Malignant tumors are by far the most dangerous brain tumors. The growth of tumors in the brain is termed as brain cancer. Malignant tumors are life threatening and more serious than benign tumors. Brain tumors can also be spread from tumors growing in other parts of the human body. The symptoms of brain tumors depend on tumor size, type, and location. Symptoms may be caused when a tumor presses on a nerve or damages a certain area of the brain.

They also may be caused when the brain swells or fluid builds up within the skull. These are the most common symptoms of brain tumors include headaches (usually worse in the morning) , nausea or vomiting , changes in speech, vision, or hearing, problems balancing or walking, changes in mood, personality, or ability to concentrate, problems with memory, muscle jerking or twitching (seizures or convulsions) and numbness or tingling in the arms or legs. Treatment for a brain tumor along with survival odds depends on the type, size and location of the tumor, as well as your age and overall health.

The main treatment methods for brain tumors include surgery, radiation and chemotherapy. Surgery is the mainstay of brain tumor treatment. It involves removing as much of the tumor as possible while trying to minimize damage to healthy tissue. Brain cancer patients should take Vitalzym anyway, as it may reduce the inflammation of any brain cancer patient and help avoid seizures. Hydrotherapy uses ice, liquid, and steam to improve circulation and relieve pain. Therapeutic touch practitioners say they can relieve pain and other symptoms by moving their hands in slow, rhythmic motions several inches above the patient’s body.



By: Juliet Cohen

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A tumor is an abnormal growth of body tissue. Tumors can be cancerous (malignant) or non-cancerous (benign). Tumors are a classic sign of inflammation, and can be benign or malignant (cancerous). Certain viruses can play a role in the development of tumors, such as cervical cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma. Some tumors are more common in one sex than the other, some are more common among children or the elderly, and some vary with diet, environment, and your family history.

Tumor grade is a system used to classify cancer cells in terms of how abnormal they look under a microscope and how quickly the tumor is likely to grow and spread. Many factors are considered when determining tumor grade, including the structure and growth pattern of the cells.

The specific factors used to determine tumor grade vary with each type of cancer. Tumors and/or swellings can be caused by neoplasia, a abnormal proliferation of tissues , inflammation, by far the most common cause, Malformation, a congenital anomaly in the architecture of a tissue, Cyst, the accumulation of fluid in a closed structure and hemorrhage in a closed structure. Tumor grade should not be confused with the stage of a cancer. Cancer stage refers to the extent or severity of the cancer, based on factors such as the location of the primary tumor, tumor size, number of tumors, and lymph node involvement (spread of cancer into lymph nodes).

Treatment also varies based on the type of tumor, whether it is benign or malignant, and its location. Benign tumors are not cancerous.

A benign tumor is found by slower growing cells that clump together to form a lump that usually has a level surface. Benign tumors do not spread to other parts of the body and they are almost never life threatening. Benign tumors of the brain may be removed because of their location or harmful effect on the surrounding normal brain tissue. Malignant tumors are created by the growth of cells that clump together to form a lump that does not have distinct borders especially at a later stage of it’s development when it will have roots that tend to stick out from the central lump. Tumors can develop in any part of the body. A tumor is malignant, treatments include surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, or a combination of these methods. Risk of malignant tumors (cancer) can be reduced by Avoid smoking .

Tumor Treatment and Prevention Tips

1. Eating a healthy diet.

2. Avoid smoking or chewing tobacco.

3. Avoiding heavy alcohol consumption.

4. Reducing sun exposure if you burn easil.

5. Exercising regularly, maintaining a healthy weight.

6. Minimizing exposure to radiation and toxic chemicals

7. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy are most often used for treating Tumors.



By: Juliet Cohen

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Brain tumors may be classified as gliomas or non-gliomas. The most common gliomas are astrocytomas, oligodendrogliomas (mixtures of oligodendroglioma and astrocytoma elements), and ependymomas.

Brain tumor symptoms vary, depending on the tumor size, type and location. Symptoms may occur when a tumor damages a certain area of the brain or presses on a nerve. Brain tumor patients will often have a primary caregiver, the main person who assists and cares for the patients needs. Communication between family members may become more difficult in addressing changes in roles and responsibilities.

Brain tumors (whether primary or metastatic, benign or malignant) are usually treated with surgery, radiation, and/or chemotherapy ? alone or in various combinations. While it is true that radiation and chemotherapy are more often used for malignant, residual or recurrent tumors, decisions as to what treatment to use are made on a case-by-case basis and depend on a number of factors.

Symptoms vary depending on the size and location of tumor. Many symptoms are related to an increase in pressure in or around the brain. Symptoms of brain tumors may vary depending on their size and their location within the brain. Symptoms vary depending on size and location of tumor. Many symptoms are related to an increase in pressure in or around the brain.

Malignant (cancerous) tumors are typically rapidly growing and aggressive. Benign tumors are typically slow- growing and less aggressive. Malignant tumors grow the way a plant does, with “roots” invading various tissues. Or, they can shed cells that travel to distant parts of the brain.

Malignant choroid plexus papillomas often affect very young children, and they need to be treated with chemotherapy. Malignant tumors, on the other hand, are cancerous. Fast-growing and aggressive, they can invade nearby tissue and also are more likely to recur after treatment.

Astrocytomas may also start here. Astrocytomas are generally subdivided into high-grade or low-grade tumors. High-grade astrocytomas are the most malignant of all brain tumors.

Ependymomas make up about 8-10% of pediatric brain tumors. The tumors are located in tiny passageways (ventricles) in the brain, and block the flow of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Ependymomas can be slow growing, compared to other brain tumors, but may recur after treatment is completed. Recurrence of ependymomas results in a more invasive tumor with more resistance to treatment.

Radiation of the brain and spine is often recommended in adults and children over three years of age. A shunt may be needed to treat hydrocephalus. Radiation passes through the holes in the helmet and is aimed precisely at the tumor. Radiation can be done instead of surgery or in combination with surgery and what protocols yield the longest survival times is not clear. Currently, the philosophy on treatment is that a combination of surgery plus radiation yields the best results for dogs.

Radiation therapy sometimes helps to reduce symptoms and improve survival by slowing tumor growth. Radiation therapy is a cancer treatment that uses high-energy x-rays or other types of radiation to kill cancer cells. There are two types of radiation therapy.

Patients have no risk of radiation injury to other parts of their own body or to others around them because the radiation dose is precisely delivered and short lived. Patients are generally discovered to have a pituitary tumor either as a result of a hormonal abnormality that was discovered or neurological abnormality. These in turn will lead to an MRI that demonstrates the tumor.

Patients who have pacemakers and/or metal implants cannot have an MRI. People who suffer from claustrophobia (the fear of being in tight spaces) may have difficulty dealing with the enclosed space of the MRI tube.



By: Alisha Dhamani

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Ovarian cancer is cancer that begins in your ovaries. Only women have ovaries, so only women get this kind of cancer.

Many types of tumors can start growing in the ovaries. Some are benign, meaning they are noncancerous. Benign tumors do not spread and can be treated by removing one ovary, or part of the ovary. Ovarian cancer, however, is a cancerous tumor. If a cancerous tumor is not treated, it can spread to other parts of the body. To better understand what is happening inside you, it will help you to understand the basic anatomy of the ovaries.

Epithelial tumors

Epithelial tumors occur in the epithelium, which is the tissue that covers the outside of the ovary. About 90% of ovarian cancers are of this type. The risk of epithelial ovarian cancer increases with age and occurs mostly in women over 60, but it can develop at any age.

There are several types of epithelial cancers of the ovary. They include:

• serous

• mucinous

• endometrioid

• clear cell

• undifferentiated or unclassifiable.

Germ Cell Tumor.

These types of tumors develop in the egg-producing tissue. Approximately 5 percent of women with ovarian cancer have germ cell tumors. This cancer type usually occurs in teenage girls and young women and is effectively treated when it is detected in the incipient stages.

There are 2 Germ Cell Tumour

Endodermal sinus tumor: This is a rare type of tumor that develops in girls and young women. It is characterized by a rapid growth process and can spread quickly. Chemotherapy is the most effective treatment option for this type of germ cell tumor.

Choriocarcinoma: This is another rare type of cancerous tumor that develops in the placenta during pregnancy. Choriocarcinomas can grow and spread rapidly. The most effective treatment option for this type of tumor is chemotherapy.

Stromal tumors.

These tumors develop in the estrogen- and progesterone-producing tissue that holds the ovary together.

Borderline Ovarian Cancers

Borderline ovarian cancers may be composed of serous, clear cell, endometrioid or mucinous material, but spread slowly and have a high cure rate. Ten to fifteen percent of epithelial cases are borderline, and they develop most often between the ages of thirty and eighty. In most cases, surgical removal is enough to cure a borderline growth.

Serous Tumors

Forty percent of epithelial tumors are serous growths. Serous cells produce a thin, watery fluid. Serous growths may be benign (serous cystadenoma), or malignant (serous cystadenocarcinoma). Fifty percent of such growths are malignant. Women between the ages of forty and sixty are most likely to develop serous tumors.

Treatment

Local therapy: Surgery and radiation therapy are local therapies. They remove or destroy ovarian cancer in the pelvis. When ovarian cancer has spread to other parts of the body, local therapy may be used to control the disease in those specific areas.

Surgery — The first step in treating ovarian cancer usually involves surgical removal of as much cancerous tissue as possible (called optimal surgical debulking or optimal cytoreduction). Optimal surgical debulking impacts the woman’s prognosis (cancer outcome) it also influences the choice of chemotherapy treatment as well. A woman is more likely to have optimal cytoreduction if her initial surgery is performed by a gynecologic oncologist, a specialist in cancers of the female reproductive system. This topic is addressed elsewhere.



By: Peter sams

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Skin cancer represents the most commonly diagnosed malignancy, surpassing lung, breast, colorectal and prostate cancer. Tumors develop primarily on areas of sun-exposed skin, including the scalp, face, lips, ears, neck, chest, arms and hands, and on the legs in women. Contrary to popular conception, skin cancer affects people of all skin tones, including those with darker complexions. Most skin cancers appear after age 50, but the sun’s damaging effects begin at an early age, therefore protection should start in childhood in order to prevent skin cancer later in life.

Types of Skin Cancer

The main types of skin tumours are:

1. Melanomas are skin cancers that form in melanocytes (skin cells that make pigment). Even though it is rare, malignant melanoma is responsible for 75 % of all skin cancer related death cases.

2. Basal Cell carcinomas are skin cancers that form in basal cells (small, round cells in the base of the outer layer of skin).

3. Squamous Cell carcinomas are skin cancers that form in squamous cells (flat cells that form the surface of the skin).

Rarer types of skin tumors are:

1. Neuroendocrine carcinomas which form in neuroendocrine cells (cells that release hormones in response to signals from the nervous system.) carcinoma of the skin.

2. Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans.

3. Merkel cell carcinoma.

4. Kaposi’s sarcoma.

Risk Factors

Risk factors for non melanoma and melanoma skin cancers include: unprotected and or excessive exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation, fair complexion, occupational exposures to; coal tar, pitch, creosote, arsenic compounds, radium, family history, multiple or atypical moles, and severe sunburns as a child. Anyone with a family history of skin cancer also has an increased risk of developing skin cancer.

Signs of Skin Cancer

Signs of melanoma may include: A large brownish spot with darker speckles located anywhere on your body, a simple mole located anywhere on your body that changes in color, size or feel or that bleeds, a small lesion with an irregular border and red, white, blue or blue-black spots on your trunk or limbs, shiny, firm, dome-shaped bumps located anywhere on your body, dark lesions on your palms, soles, fingertips and toes, or on mucous membranes lining your mouth, nose, vagina and anus.

Signs of basal cell carcinoma can vary depending on the type and may include skin changes such as a: Firm, pearly bump with tiny blood vessels in a spider like appearance (telangiectasias). Signs of squamous cell carcinoma include any: persistent, firm, red bump on sun-exposed skin.

Treatment

Depending on the type of skin cancer, dermatologic surgical treatments include: surgical excision; electrodessication and curettage which involves alternately scraping or burning the tumor in combination with low levels of electricity, cryosurgery and laser surgery. Other dermatologic treatments include radiation therapy and photodynamic therapy (a chemical is applied to the skin prior to exposure to a light source). Mohs micrographic surgery is preferred for large basal cell carcinomas, those that recur after previous treatment, or lesions affecting parts of the body where experience shows that recurrence is common after treatment by other methods.

Skin cancer can be deadly, but nearly all skin cancer can be treated if it is detected and diagnosed early, however skin cancer can recur, so it is important that you examine your skin regularly for any changes and see your doctor for a check-up every six to 12 months.



By: Dick Aronson

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Lung cancer staging refers to a system of classifying where the cancer is in its growth. This allows physicians a guide to help determine what treatments would be most effective and how aggressively those treatments should be administered. It is also a way of determining the potential outcome of a particular case of lung cancer. The lower the stage, the better the odds of a full recovery.

The process of deciding what stage a lung cancer has reached is called “staging the lung cancer.” This is accomplished through a series of tests, such as x-rays, blood tests, bone scans, etc. The goal is to determine the size of the tumor or tumors and if the cancer has spread to other tissues (metastasized). X-rays, MRIs and CAT scans help to determine the size and location of the tumors. Bone scans and blood work can help to determine whether the cancer has spread to other organs or to the bones. PET scans can indicate whether or not a tumor is actively growing.

Lung cancer staging is also dependent on the type of cancer. For instance, in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), there are four stages, while in small cell lung cancer (SCLC) there are two … limited stage and extended stage. Here’s a quick overview to give you an idea of the differences between the various stages:

Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Stage I: The cancer is confined to the lungs. This stage obviously offers the best prognosis. Lung cancer caught in this stage has better than a 49% five year survival rate.

Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Stage II: The cancer is confined to lung tissue and the lymph nodes within the lungs, the recovery rate is 40-50%

Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Stage II: The tumors have spread from the lungs, but are confined to the chest area. Larger, more invasive tumors are generally diagnosed as belonging to this stage.

Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Stage IV: The cancer has spread away from the chest and invaded other parts of the body such as the liver, adrenal glands, bone, brain, and/or other sites.

Small Cell Lung Cancer Limited Stage: The cancer is confined to the chest area, and has not spread outside the point of origin.

Small Cell Lung Cancer Extended Stage: The cancer has spread beyond the chest to other parts of the body.

The treatment recommended by your doctor will take into account the stage of the lung cancer, as well as the size and location of the tumors and your general overall health. Of course, you’ll have input into how aggressively the cancer should be pursued and all that entails. More and more oncologists are coming to accept that the prognosis of a patient with lung cancer — as it is with any cancer patient — is profoundly affected by the patient’s attitude and decision making.



By: David Silva

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Bone cancer that originates in the bone — primary bone cancer — is rare. Fewer than 2,500 Americans are diagnosed with this type of cancer each year. The condition affects more children than adults. Bone cancer is a malignant (cancerous) tumor of the bone that destroys normal bone tissue (1). Not all bone tumors are malignant. In fact, benign (noncancerous) bone tumors are more common than malignant ones. Both malignant and benign bone tumors may grow and compress healthy bone tissue, but benign tumors do not spread, do not destroy bone tissue, and are rarely a threat to life.

Most of the time when someone with cancer is told they have bone cancer, the doctor is talking about a cancer that spread there from somewhere else. This is called metastatic cancer and can be seen in people with advanced breast cancer, prostate cancer, lung cancer as well as many others. When these cancers in the bone are examined under a microscope they resemble the tissue they came from. If someone has lung cancer spread to bone, the cells of the cancer look and act like lung cancer cells, not bone cancer cells, even after they have spread from the lungs to the bones. They are treated with the same kind of treatment (chemotherapy drugs, for example) that is used for lung cancer.

Malignant tumors that begin in bone tissue are called primary bone cancer. Cancer that metastasizes (spreads) to the bones from other parts of the body, such as the breast, lung, or prostate, is called metastatic cancer, and is named for the organ or tissue in which it began. Primary bone cancer is far less common than cancer that spreads to the bones.

Bone cancer: Primary bone cancer is cancer that forms in cells of the bone. Some types of primary bone cancer are osteosarcoma, Ewing’s sarcoma, malignant fibrous histiocytoma, and chondrosarcoma. Secondary bone cancer is cancer that spreads to the bone from another part of the body (such as the prostate, breast, or lung). The most common types of primary bone tumour are osteosarcoma and Ewing’s sarcoma, both of which are most frequently diagnosed in children and young adults.

The first symptom of bone cancer is usually pain or tenderness near the cancer. Bone pain is caused by stretching of the periosteum (thick membrane that covers bone) by the cancer, or by stimulation of nerves within the bone. Bone pain may be hard to differentiate from ordinary low back pain or arthritis. Usually the pain due to bone metastasis is fairly constant, even at night. It can be worse in different positions, such as standing up, which may compress the cancer in a weight bearing bone. If pain lasts for more than a week or two, doesn’t seem to be going away, and is unlike other pain that may have been experienced, it should be evaluated by a physician.

Bone cancer is caused by a problem with the cells that make bone. More than 2,000 people are diagnosed in the United States each year with a bone tumor. Bone tumors occur most commonly in children and adolescents and are less common in older adults. Cancer involving the bone in older adults is most commonly the result of metastatic spread from another tumor.

The most common symptom of bone cancer is pain. Other symptoms may vary depending on the location and size of the cancer. Surgery is often the main treatment for bone cancer. Other treatments may include amputation, chemotherapy and radiation.



By: peterhutch

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