Posts Tagged ‘Radiotherapy’

How to treat bone cancer by radiotherapy?

Bone Cancer is the cancer that begins in the bone. Primary bone cancer is relatively uncommon with secondary or metastatic cancer. This is cancer that occurs initially in another organ and then spreads to bone tissue.

The most common types of bone cancer includes:
- Osteosarcoma,
- Ewing’s sarcoma,
- Chondrosarcoma,
- Malignant fibrous histiocytoma,
- Fibrosarcoma,
- Chordoma

Diagnosis of bone cancer:
- Check for a complete medical history.
- A description of your symptoms can help.
- A complete physical examination can help find the cause of your symptoms.
- Testing your muscle strength.
- Sensation to touch
- Reflexes
- Certain blood tests
- Plain X-rays
Benign tumors are more likely to have a smooth border while malignant tumors have a ragged border on X-ray images.

- A CT scan
- An MRI (magnetic resonance imaging).
- Positron emission tomography (PET) scan.
- An angiogram, which is an x-ray of blood vessels.
- A bone scan.
- Obtain a biopsy sample of the tumor.
- Get examined in the laboratory by a pathologist.
- Determine what kind of tumor it is.

What is the treatment for bone cancer?
The best treatment is based on:
- the type of bone cancer,
- the location of the cancer,
- how aggressive the cancer is,
- whether or not the cancer has invaded surrounding or distant tissues (metastasized).

The main types of treatment for bone cancer:
- Surgery,
- Chemotherapy,
- Radiation therapy
- Cryosurgery
These can be used either individually or combined with each other.

Process of Radiotherapy
- The radiation therapy uses high-energy X-ray aimed at the site of the cancer.
- This is to try to kill the cancer cells.
- This treatment is given in small doses daily over a period of days to months.
- Radiation therapy can be used either before or after a potential surgery.
- It depends on the specific type of cancer.
- These high-energy rays are used to damage cancer cells and stop them from growing and dividing.
- A specialist in radiation therapy is called a radiation oncologist.

Types of Radiation Therapy are:
Radiation therapy is a local treatment. It affects cancer cells only in the treated area.
- Radiation can come from a machine (external radiation).
- It can also come from an implant (a small container of radioactive material) placed directly into or near the tumor (internal radiation).
- Some patients need both kinds of radiation therapy.

External Radiation Therapy
- It is usually given on an outpatient basis in a hospital or clinic 5 days a week for a number of weeks.
- Patients are not radioactive during or after the treatment.

Internal Radiation Therapy
- The patient stays in the hospital for a few days.
- The implant may be temporary or permanent.
- The level of radiation is highest during the hospital stay.
- Once an implant is removed, there is no radioactivity in the body.
- The amount of radiation in a permanent implant goes down to a safe level before the patient leaves.

Other facts
- The most common type of radiation treatment is called external-beam radiation therapy.
- Radiation therapy is most often used for patients with a tumor that cannot be removed by surgery.
- This is also used where patient may have cancer cells remaining after surgery.
- Radiation therapy may be done before surgery to shrink the tumor also.
- Radiation therapy makes it possible to do less extensive surgery, often preserving the arm or leg.
- Radiation therapy may also be used to relieve pain for people with advanced bone cancer.
- For patients with Ewing’s sarcoma, radiation therapy may be combined with chemotherapy and surgery.

Side effects from radiation therapy may include:
- fatigue
- mild skin reactions
- upset stomach
- loose bowel movements
Most side effects go away soon after treatment is finished.

| More

If you found this post informative, why not sign up to receive new posts ?
It's simple, and free, and you can even opt to receive by email:
Subscribe in a reader
Subscribe to Good Health Tips by Email

Adrenal Gland Cancer – Symptoms

Adrenal cancer is a very rare cancer in the adrenal glands. It is a malignant cancer and occurs in an aggressive kind. Adrenal cancer causes overproduction of adrenal hormones. The cause of this cancer is often unknown but in most cases it is hereditary. The tumor that may be responsible can be functioning or non functioning in nature. Functioning tumor produces excessive hormones and the non functioning type does not produce any hormones. The symptoms will vary depending on which hormones are produced excessively.
Adrenalin and non adrenalin hormones are secreted in the central part of the gland which is the medulla and other hormones like corticosteroids, ldosterone, and androgenic steroids are made in the outer part of the gland that is the cortex. The symptoms for adrenal cancer vary depending on which hormones are secreted at high levels.

Symptoms – Corticosteroids
Since the symptoms vary depending upon the hormones produced excessively, the symptoms are different for each hormone. The symptoms for excessive production of corticosteroid are:
a) Excessive fat on the top of your back
b) Loss of hair on scalp
c) Increase in body hair
d) Increase in facial hair
e) Your face may become larger
f) You may put on weight in the torso
g) You may loose your muscularity
f) You may experience muscle weakness
g) Your skin may start thinning
f) Skin tends to get bruised easily as well
g) Wounds will take longer to heal
h) Osteoporosis
i) You will be prone to infection more easily
j) you could contract Diabetes
k) There is a high chance of kidney stones
l) Mental disturbance
m) Hallucinations
n) Depression
o) Irregularities in menstrual cycle
p) Poor growth
q) Short Stature

Symptoms – androgenic steroids
a) Nervous system dysfunction
b) you may feel excessively thirsty
c) You may urinate more often
d) You may undergo certain personality changes
e) You may encounter a low potassium level
f) You may feel weak
g) You may experience a tingling sensation in the body
h) You may experience muscle spasms
i) You may also experience paralysis
j) Water retention is common
k) Increase in facial hair
l) You may become bald
m) Increase in body hair
n) Your voice may become deep
o) Muscle bulk may increase
p) Virilization
q) The size of your uterus may become small
r) Females may experience a reduction in breast size
s) Menstrual irregularities

These are the symptoms that are caused due to the excessive production of androgenic steroids and corticosteroids. However there are a few other symptoms that are characteristic of adrenal cancer too. They are:

a) You may become Obese
b) You may experience an increase of androgen level in the blood
c) The level of adrenalin will increase
d) The level of nonadrenalin will increase
e) You may suffer from high blood pressure
f) You may experience sever headaches
g) You may experience heart palpitations
h) You may have a flushed face
i) You may experience nausea
j) You may experience frequent vomiting
l) Tachycardia
m) You may encounter rapid breathing
n) Tremor
o) You may sweat more than normal
p) Emesis
q) you may get tired very quickly
r) Chest pains
s) Weight loss may occur
t) Pallor
u) Gastrointestinal motility may decrease

Mentioned above are the symptoms of adrenal cancer. It is advisable that you see a doctor if your symptoms suggest that you may have adrenal cancer. Getting help at the right time can help you get rid of the illness. If you wait too long, the cancer will spread and reduce chances of survival.

Adrenal Cancer – Treatment – Some information and details

Adrenal cancer is a rare form of cancer that occurs in the adrenal gland. It is a malignant tumor and can cause a variety of symptoms that differ depending upon the hormone that is being secreted in large quantities. When one is diagnosed with adrenal cancer it is essential that one taken on treatments that can help alleviate the stress the disease tends to cause.

Once the symptoms surface it is imperative that the patient seeks the help of an expert in the domain and carries out tests to check whether the cancer can be treated. There are a number of surgical and non surgical methods to treat this cancer and a few methods are highlighted below:

Surgical methods:
Surgery is one of the most common ways to treat the condition. It is essential that you seek the support of only the best surgeons to treat this condition as a number of pre operative measures need to be taken before one can proceed for surgery. Management of electrolyte levels and blood pressure levels need to be considered before one can be operated.

Non surgical methods:
a) Mitotane can be used to treat adrenal cancer as it helps in inhibiting the production of excessive hormones in the cortex of the adrenal gland
b) Metyrapone is also used widely to treat certain types of adrenal cancer
c) Aminoglutethamide
d) Radionuclide MIBG is used to treat medullary tumors
e) Ketaconalzole is also used to non surgically treat the condition of adrenal cancer
f) Radiotherapy – is often used for bony metasteses
g) Chemotherapy – Not may doctors are confident about the effects of chemotherapy, however it can be used to treat medullary tumors
Alternative treatments:
For those who are at the early stages of adrenal cancer there are a number of alternative treatments that you can make a part of your lifestyle to experience relief from the pain the condition may cause you. However it is always advisable to carry out these treatments under the consultation of an expert.

a) Exercise: Physical exercise is always essential, even when you are not ill. However if you have been diagnosed with adrenal cancer you should take on an exercise routine that helps your body become strong to fight the disease.

b) Stress Management: When one is diagnosed with adrenal cancer, one can get very stressed because the symptoms can be painful and stress you out. However it is essential that you stay calm during the process. You can help control your stress by following a stress management program.

c) Acupuncture: This method involves the insertion of tiny needles into one’s body. However if you do decide to experiment, ensure that you are undergoing this treatment with a trained expert.

d) Acupressure: Much like acupuncture, this technique uses pressure through massage on the same locations as in acupuncture. It is essential however that one consults an expert in the domain.

e) Massage therapy: Massage therapy can help relax the body and mind and help deal with the stress that the illness may bring.

f) Diet: In order to keep the condition contained it is essential that you follow a strict diet. Blueberries, strawberries, cranberries, broccoli, green tea, black tea, apricots, celery, artichokes, cherries, cauliflowers, corn, ground flaxseed, grape juice, watermelon, oats, olive oil, onions, peas, patatos and brown rice are a few items that should be a part of your diet.

A diet rich in the following minerals can help you gain energy and become strong as well: magnesium, calcium and zinc. Vitamins like Vitamin E, C and B Complex are advisable for good health. It is essential that one does not intake alcohol, reduce the intake of refined sugar and also follow a high fibre and low fat diet.