Cancer Resources

Cancer

The organs and tissues of the body are made up of tiny building blocks called cells. Cancer is a disease of these cells. Cells in different parts of the body may look and work differently but most reproduce themselves in the same way.

Cells are constantly becoming old and dying, and new cells are produced to replace them. Normally, cells divide in an orderly and controlled manner. If for some reason the process gets out of control, the cells carry on dividing, developing into a lump which is called a tumour.

Cancer is a term for diseases in which abnormal cells divide without control and can invade other tissues. Cancer cells can spread to other parts of the body through the blood and lymph systems.

Continue reading ‘Information About Various Types of Cancer’ »

Chemotherapy side effects are inevitable. It is considered as one of the most famous methods of killing cells that causes cancer to the human body. Chemical compounds are being combined and used to kill microorganisms in the body. Though an effective treatment, chemotherapy still has side effects which affect other areas of the body. For brain cancer, one side effect is hair loss. It does not only mean hair on the head but also on other areas such as armpits, face, or even in the groin and sensitive areas as well. Others may get to experience nausea and vomiting. It usually occurs immediately after receiving the treatment and can last for several hours.

Changes in bone marrow are one of many chemotherapy side effects. Responsible in the production of red and white blood cells and platelets, the bone marrow’s functions which includes carrying oxygen and fight infections, are being interrupted by the chemotherapy process. Also, it may interfere with the human body’s capacity to stop excessive bleeding and may weaken the patient. Continue reading ‘Chemotherapy Side Effects’ »

As parents, the ultimate dream we have for our children is that their childhoods will be happy ones, and they will grow up to lead long and healthy lives. Yet, every day, across America, there will be nine families whose dreams will be shattered when they learn that their child has a spinal cord tumor or some form of brain cancer. And, by the end of the year, over 3,000 families will have faced that same moment; when time stood still, the world blurred, and their lives changed forever.

From the moment their child is diagnosed, parents embark on a journey that will challenge every aspect of their being – from intellectual and physical, to mental, emotional and spiritual. It is essential that these parents have a strong support network, with family and friends taking on a vital role in that network. Along with that key component, parents also need a structured system that can provide resources to help them navigate the many challenges they will face, and assist them in making the best possible decisions for their child’s health and well-being. Continue reading ‘Knowledge Is Power For Parents Of Children With Brain Cancer Or Spinal Cord Tumors’ »

For most of us, today will begin like any other day. We’ll sip our coffee, skim the morning paper, drop the kids off at school, and perform the normal rituals that make up our daily lives. The good, the bad, and yes, even the somewhat ugly; we’ll tackle it all with confidence and a sense of comfort, knowing that tomorrow, as routine as it may be, we’ll get to do it all over again.

But, for several families across America, today will be different. Today will be life-changing.

Today…

• Nine families will learn their child has a brain or spinal cord tumor;
• Three families will mourn the loss of their child to this dreadful disease; and
• Six families will transition to survivorship. Continue reading ‘Pediatric Brain Tumors and Brain Cancer Alter the Definition of Normal’ »

When a child is diagnosed with a brain tumor or brain cancer, the initial impact that news has on the family is simply overwhelming. This is a crucial time for the patient, parents and families, as well as friends. Time is often of the essence; quick decisions and fast actions are typically required, and, in a split second, lives are changed forever.

Thus begins a journey down a very long and difficult road. Where do parents go for information? Who do they turn to for support? How will they know what’s best for their child? It’s imperative that these families have resources available to them to assist them in making the critical decisions that they now face. Continue reading ‘Support Programs Are Vital To Families Of Children With Brain Tumors And Brain Cancer’ »

Every day, across America, people are talking about the progress being made in medical research, or the support provided to patients and families affected by a devastating disease or illness. One thing that often gets lost in these conversations is the issue of money. Research can only move forward if there’s funding to support it. Nonprofit organizations and other support groups operate primarily from donations; and even fundraising activities require a budget of some sort. None of these can happen without money.

And, somewhere out there, right now, a group of parents is having that very conversation about the deadliest of all childhood cancers-pediatric brain tumors and brain cancer. What’s the latest in research? What kind of support is out there for the kids and families? Why isn’t more being done, and faster? It is the mission of the nonprofit organizations that support this worthwhile cause to provide answers to these questions, and they understand that the answers come through proper funding. Continue reading ‘Pediatric Brain Tumors and Brain Cancer – Funding Is Key for Research and Support’ »

OK, here we go again. Decades ago, there was widespread panic over the possibility that overhead high tension electrical power lines could be a cause of cancer for people living in close proximity or underneath them. When that was disproved, the doomsday crowd went onto blame cell phones as a possible risk of brain cancer due to tiny amounts of radiation emitted when the phone is transferring data. Thus far, after dozens of studies, there has been NO conclusive evidence that cell phones produce a significant enough amount of radiation to create a measurable increase in the risk of cancer. But is there a cause for concern? Just who conducted those tests?

A new joint study from the University of California at Berkeley and multiple Universities in Korea, reexamined 465 article published in major journals along with 23 large scale case studies of over 37,916 patients. The study group was comprised of patients with and without brain tumors. They found that when they look at the group as a whole, there was no association between brain tumors and cell phone use. When they looked closer however, and divided the large group into clinically significant subgroups, there was a clear increase in risk for cancer, of up to 30%. Furthermore, they found that some of the previous studies that had yielded results of “no risk,” were in fact funded by cell phone manufacturers. Continue reading ‘Cell Phones and Brain Tumors – New Evidence of Wireless Mobile Phone Linked to Brain Cancer’ »