Cancer Resources

Surgery is typically the first line of assault against breast cancer. This part makes clear the various types of surgery.

As a woman with early-stage breast cancer (DCIS or Stage I, IIA, IIB, or IIIA) you might be able to decide which type of breast surgery to have. Frequently, your selection is between breast-sparing surgery (surgery that removes the cancer and leaves most of the breast) and a mastectomy (surgery that gets rid of the whole breast). Examination demonstrates that women with early-stage breast cancer who have breast-sparing surgery together with radiation therapy live as long as those who have a mastectomy. The majority women with the disease will lead long, healthy lives subsequent to treatment.

Treatment for breast cancer typically starts some weeks following diagnosis. In these weeks, you ought to meet with a surgeon, learn the details regarding your surgery options, and consider what is significant to you. Afterward decide which type of surgery to have. Continue reading ‘The Types and Options of Breast Cancer Surgery’ »

These vary a bit depending on the lab, so the ranges that follow are guidelines rather than absolutes. Be sure to ask for a copy of the CBC each time it’s performed, and look at the lab results sheet for the normal range for that lab. Still, there are some general rules of thumb:

Red blood cells (RBC)Normal for men: 4.5 to 6.2 million per microliter (a single drop). Normal for women: 4.2 to 5.4 million per microliter.
White blood cellsNormal for men and women: 3,700 to 10,000 per microliter. Lowest level at which someone is safe from infection: 1,000.
PlateletsNormal range for men and women: 150,000 to 450,000 per microliterLowest level at which someone’s blood can still clot normally: 100,000. Level at which there’s a risk of spontaneous bleeding: 50,000. Level at which bleeding can become life-threatening: 5,000.

Hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that oxygenates the blood, provides the body with energy, strength, and stamina. When there isn’t enough oxygen in the blood, he’ll feel tired, weak, and sometimes faint or dizzy. He may have trouble catching his breath or feel pain in his chest as he tries to breathe. Extreme fatigue can bring with it memory or concentration problems, so he might seem confused or act like he’s not thinking straight. Continue reading ‘How Blood Test Results Can Affect Chemotherapy’ »

As we move toward beach season, we’ll all be spending more time outdoors and raising our chances of joining the ranks of the 1 million people the American Cancer Society tells us are diagnosed with skin cancer each year, which is why it’s vital not to ignore skin cancer warning signs.

Experts firmly believe many of these cancers are sun related, which means there are things you can do, even in the summer or at the beach, to protect yourself and those you love from this most common of cancers.

Our skin is actually the largest organ of the body, covering the internal organs, protecting them from harm and offering a barrier against infection. Skin also helps regulate your body temperature and gets rid of extra water and salts.

Some skin cells are known to communicate with the brain to help sense temperature, touch and pain.

When it comes to skin cancer, there are three classifications – basal cell, squamous cell, or the more serious (and deadly) melanoma. Continue reading ‘Don't Ignore Skin Cancer Warning Signs’ »

If you have just been diagnosed with prostate cancer, your doctor may have given you a choice of treatment options. But what to choose and how?

Prostate cancer is the most common type of cancer among men, with over 200,000 cases diagnosed each year in the United States. It occurs when cells in the prostate, a gland located under the bladder that is necessary for proper sexual function in men, becomes cancerous due to a flux in testosterone. Most cases don’t occur until after 50 years of age, but in recent years the percentage of men in their 30s and 40s diagnosed with this disease and other prostate problems has been steadily rising.

Conventional treatments include surgery to remove the prostate gland or radiotherapy. These are aggressive options and complications including impotence and urinary incontinence can result from surgery, and the risk of secondary cancers is a concern since science already knows radiation exposure causes cancer. Continue reading ‘Natural Tips to Fight Prostate Cancer’ »

Are you one of the many women all over the world who experience discomfort in your body such as lower abdominal pain, nausea and vomiting, irregular menstruation, difficulty of urination, pain while having intercourse and sudden weight gain? These signs and symptoms are usually associated with having cysts on your ovary.

Ovarian cysts consist of fluid or sometimes tissue substances that are encapsulated within an ovary. When an ovarian follicle becomes bigger than two centimeters, it is called an ovarian cyst. Ovarian cysts vary in size, shape and location. Nearly all ovarian cysts have their own participation in the natural menstrual cycle and are not dangerous which means that they are benign and not cancerous. Continue reading ‘Ovarian Cysts Cure Suggestions That Actually Work’ »