Cancer treatment is mainly administered by two methods, chemotherapy and radiation. Unlike chemotherapy that uses a chemical to circulate the body and kill cancer cells, radiation uses concentrated beams on specific areas of the body to destroy these types of cells.

A radiation oncologist is a doctor specializing in radiation therapy who prescribes the application of radiation to combat cancer cell growth.

Radiation therapy, which is also referred to as radiotherapy, x-ray therapy or irradiation, uses energy called ionizing radiation to destroy cancer cells with the intention of shrinking tumors. The idea is to damage the cancer cells enough so that they are unable to pass on their DNA material on to grow tumor masses.

This will inevitably harm surrounding healthy cells, but with the guidance of a good radiation oncologist, this is minimized and the healthy cells recover while cancer cells deplete. It is (more…)

Radiation is a unique type of energy that is carried by the waves or flow of particles. When radiations were used with a high density, it could destroy or break that irregular cell that causes cancer.

Two types of Radiation Therapy

External Radiation Therapy or the XRT – this is a radiation therapy treatment that is commonly recommended when the cancer growth has penetrated prostate capsule and extended out to the nearby tissues. This is the projection of higher energy leveled x-rays to the core of the prostate tissue completed for 8 weeks. This radiation type is known to kill the cancerous cells and make the tumor shrink.

Stereotactic Radio Surgery; this treatment under XRT is possible with the use of a computer program in finding out the exact size, shape and the location of the prostate tumor. A computerized arm supplies a high intense radiation beams to the variety of angles and positions to transverse the cancerous cells so that it will not cause any harm to the nearby healthy tissues.

The possible complications that may arise from this External Radiation Therapy were diarrhea, soreness in urination, and erectile dysfunctions.

Brachytherapy – this is a type of radiation treatment that needs the radioactive tiny capsules to be implanted to the prostate glands. This seed produces rays that can obliterate the malignant cells.

Transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) can produce a map of a prostate and see the volumes of the gland. This will also determine the correct number of seeds that were necessary for the implantation. And the position of the seeds was done by the computer device. This procedure will last for about three quarters of an hour or 1 hour. Local anesthesia was given and the seed implanted was about 50-100 seeds.

Mainly with the Brachytharapy patients were discharged on the very same day after the procedure and needed to rest at home in two days before they can resume to their normal task. Possible complication with this therapy is the impotency in men over 70 of age.

Goals of Prostate Cancer Radiation

The main goal of the radiation treatment is to irradiate the affecting area of the prostate and assure that the nearby organs will not be affected. 3D Conformal Radiation Therapy and Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy are two of the new forms of External Beam Radiation Therapy.

The IMRT or Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy and the 3D-CRT or Three Dimensional Conformal Radiation Therapy was of the best options in treating the prostate cancer for those who don’t agree for undergoing the surgery.

Overview of the Prostate Cancer

This is the majority form of cancer most rampant in men over 65 years old and quietly common with the men ranging 50 to 64 years of age. On the other hand, this cancer can also take place with a younger man below 50 years. The frequency of the diagnosed prostate cancer had been noticeable since 1990 because of the blood test known as the Prostate Specific Antigen or (PSA). Lately, men aging 65 and below shows the multiplying incidence of the prostate cancer

Related Blogs

• Related Blogs on intensity modulated radiation

• Related Blogs on prostate cancer radiation
• Confusing to choose prostate cancer treatment options? surgery …

• Related Blogs on Radiation Therapy
• What Are The Risks And Benefits Of Surgery, Chemotherapy And …
• Dallas Clubs

Related Blogs

• Related Blogs on intensity modulated radiation

• Related Blogs on prostate cancer radiation
• Confusing to choose prostate cancer treatment options? surgery …

• Related Blogs on Radiation Therapy
• What Are The Risks And Benefits Of Surgery, Chemotherapy And …
• Club Pictures

Related Blogs

• Related Blogs on intensity modulated radiation

• Related Blogs on prostate cancer radiation
• Confusing to choose prostate cancer treatment options? surgery …

• Related Blogs on Radiation Therapy
• What Are The Risks And Benefits Of Surgery, Chemotherapy And …
• Nightlife In

Related Blogs

• Related Blogs on intensity modulated radiation

• Related Blogs on prostate cancer radiation
• Confusing to choose prostate cancer treatment options? surgery …
• Free Government Grants

• Related Blogs on Radiation Therapy
• What Are The Risks And Benefits Of Surgery, Chemotherapy And …

Related Blogs

• Related Blogs on intensity modulated radiation
• Government Grants

• Related Blogs on prostate cancer radiation
• Confusing to choose prostate cancer treatment options? surgery …

• Related Blogs on Radiation Therapy
• What Are The Risks And Benefits Of Surgery, Chemotherapy And …

In helping patients choose the best prostate cancer treatment, several factors are taken by doctors into consideration. These factors include the patient’s age, his health condition, the stage and grade of the cancer, other diseases that the patient might have and possible side effects.

It is a sad reality that even the best prostate cancer treatment can have side effects. For each therapeutic option, there usually exists a corresponding side effect. It is important for every patient and doctor to know the possible ramifications of treatment procedures, be it surgical, radiation-based, chemotherapy, hormonal or cryosurgery.

Surgical procedures for treating prostate cancer include radical retropubic prostatectomy, radical perineal prostatectomy, laparoscopic radical prostatectomy and transurethral resection. The risks associated with radical prostatectomy include anesthetic risks, heart attack, stroke, blood clots in the legs and lungs and infection at the incision site. Major side effects of surgical procedures can also include urinary incontinence, impotence, sterility (more…)

While theres a whole gamut of cancer treatment options available; which is the best one to use depends upon the type of cancer as well the stage that the cancer has reached. Though the prevailing trend is to resort to more traditional cancer treatment options, cancer patients are not restricted to them. There are a variety of alternative and natural options (some new, some old) for treating cancer. Traditional cancer treatment options are often referred to as cut, poison and burn (surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation).Chemotherapy, which involves the use of chemical agents or drugs to destroy cancerous cells, forms the core treatment of malignancies. These drugs work by targeting fast-growing cells and the type and combination of drugs depends upon the type of cancer. Though chemotherapy has been proven to be effective, it can give rise to a host of side-effects including hair loss, fatigue, diarrhea, loss of appetite, anemia (more…)

While there’s a whole gamut of cancer treatment options available; which is the best one to use depends upon the type of cancer as well the stage that the cancer has reached. Though the prevailing trend is to resort to more traditional cancer treatment options, cancer patients are not restricted to them. There are a variety of alternative and natural options (some new, some old) for treating cancer.

Traditional Cancer Treatment Options

Traditional cancer treatment options are often referred to as cut, poison and burn (surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation).

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy, which involves the use of chemical agents or drugs to destroy cancerous cells, forms the core treatment of malignancies. These drugs work by targeting fast-growing cells and the type and combination of drugs depends upon the type of cancer. Though chemotherapy has been proven to be effective, it can give rise to a host (more…)

Definition:

Oral Cancer can be defined as an abnormal, malignant growth of tissue in the lip, mouth and oropharynx. Oral tumors can develop anywhere in the oral cavity and can be benign (non-cancerous), precancerous (potential to become cancerous), and malignant (cancerous).

Statistics for Oral Cancer:

Approximately 35,000 Americans are diagnosed each year with Oral Cancer. India has one of the highest incidences of Oral Cancer in the world. The incidence of Oral cancer is highest of all cancers amongst men (12%) as compared to women (8%). See “Oral Cancer Incidence (New Cases) by Age, Race and Gender.

Most Oral Cancers can be related to the excessive use of tobacco and or alcohol. In India, Oral Cancer has been linked to the use of betel nut chewing, ciggarette or bidi smoking and the use of tobacco in products like Gutka etc.

Treatment of Oral Cancer:

There are many (more…)

Once the first sign of breast cancer is detected and confirmed, it’s important for women to research and discuss with their partners and health-care providers what their options are as far as treatment is concerned as soon as possible. It can be more than a little overwhelming, however, as it seems the possibilities are endless for women nowadays when it comes to breast cancer treatment—of both the disease, the symptoms associated with breast cancer and the side-effects of medication.

Personal research into the options available is recommended, as well as thorough discussion with a doctor or health practitioner. A woman’s age, whether she is a first-time breast cancer patient or it is recurring, the specific type, stage, grade and locality of the breast cancer, and the individual risk factors—as well as other health issues she may have—all must be taken into consideration.

Probably the most commonly used as (more…)

Copyright (c) 2008 Stephen Lau

To be diagnosed with cancer is a traumatic experience in life. Out of desperation, a cancer patient often immediately turns to different cancer treatment options. There is an array of treatment options available, both conventional and unconventional, that it may be stressful for a cancer patient to make a wise choice.

Conventional cancer treatments generally include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy.

Cancer surgery is an invasive procedure involving the removal of a cancerous tumor. Surgery is generally recommended if the cancer is operable, if it is in its early stage (there are four stages of cancer: the first stage being the early development stage, and the fourth stage indicative of advanced cancer), or if the tumor is localized, that is, without spreading to other parts of the body. The problem is that it may sometimes be difficult to determine the exact stage (more…)

While there’s a whole gamut of cancer treatment options available; which is the best one to use depends upon the type of cancer as well the stage that the cancer has reached. Though the prevailing trend is to resort to more traditional cancer treatment options, cancer patients are not restricted to them. There are a variety of alternative and natural options (some new, some old) for treating cancer.

Traditional Cancer Treatment Options

Traditional cancer treatment options are often referred to as cut, poison and burn (surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation).

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy, which involves the use of chemical agents or drugs to destroy cancerous cells, forms the core treatment of malignancies. These drugs work by targeting fast-growing cells and the type and combination of drugs depends upon the type of cancer. Though chemotherapy has been proven to be effective, it can give rise to a host (more…)

Cancer of the prostate is the most common cancers in men. Digital rectal examination (DRE) is the best way to find any changes in the prostate. Any changes found in DRE will be followed up by other confirmatory tests. Once cancer of the prostate is confirmed, treatment is initiated depending up on the person’s age, symptoms, general physical status and the stage of cancer.

There are many types of treatment options available for the prostate cancer.

SURGERY:

Surgery is the most effective way of removing the cancer cells completely from the body. It is considered as the best treatment for prostate cancer because it potentially cures the disease and the person can expect to live for at least 10 years or more. A radical prostatectomy is the standard procedure that is performed for prostate cancer where the prostate and the seminal vesicles are removed. This suregery may be followed by bilateral orchiectomy (removal (more…)

Newer Posts »