Medical Questions & Answers » symptoms of cancer

Radiotherapy – Treatment in Cancer

medicalquestions — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 06:00:55 +0000

It helps more than 70 per cent of all cancer patients to get cured or obtain relief from pain or bleeding in advanced stages. It consists of either external therapy with X-rays or Gamma-rays or internal therapy called ‘brachytherapy’, where radioactive needles are directly implanted into the tumor. External beam therapy takes a few minutes daily and about five to six weeks to complete an entire course during which, besides the tumor, a large number of normal cells also receive radiation. While the latter suffer only temporary harm due to their capacity to recover, cancer cells are damaged permanently. In due course of time, the normal cells not only regain their function completely, but also re-grow to cover up the gap left by the destroyed cancer cells. Today, radiotherapy is planned and executed with the help of dedicated computers to get an optimum ratio between therapeutic and undesirable effects.
The side-effects of radiotherapy result from its action on the normal cells in the treated region. Hence, patients with mouth, throat or food-pipe (esophagus) cancers develop soreness or ulcers in their inner lining, leading to difficulty in swallowing while abdominal reactions manifest as diarrhea, cramps or vomiting. Majority of these effects are temporary and would subside within three to six weeks of completion of therapy. The skin of the treated area may show hair loss without any other damage.
Although different cancers respond variously, nearly 80 per cent of all cancers can be completely cured with standard therapy, if detected in stages I or II. Unfortunately, most of our patients come with advanced disease due to personal neglect or poor awareness on the part of primary care physicians. While most of these cases cannot be cured, the quality of their remaining life can be improved with modern palliative and rehabilitative care. Multipronged efforts including media support are desirable to create greater awareness among the people and care givers to promote early detection and prompt therapeutic intervention. Well-equipped facilities for cancer treatment are few in India and exist mainly in only about a dozen Regional Cancer Centers, besides a few medical colleges.

Causes of Cancer

medicalquestions — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 06:08:56 +0000

Question: Several members of my family have had cancer of different sorts, and this scares me. What causes cancer? How can I avoid it?
Cancer, the crab of astrology, is so named because the ancients could see the cancer clawing its way into the normal tissue, destroying everything in its path. Doctors now understand a great deal about cancer, but we do not fully understand what starts the process.
Although the specific cause of cancer is unknown, sun exposure, a low-fiber diet and smoking are well-known precipitating factors.
Cancer occurs when otherwise normal cells start multiplying at an excessive rate, and the cells made by the rapid process of reproduction are abnormal in shape, size and function. Although they may have some slight resemblance to the cells around them, cancer cells cannot perform the correct work of that type of cell, and they prevent the normal cells around them from working properly, thus enabling the cancerous cells to spread.
Cancer is not just one disease process; dozens of different types of cancer occur in different parts of the body, and each type causes different problems and responds differently to treatment. Several different types of cancer can be found in the lungs for example.

Early signs of Cancer

medicalquestions — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 06:05:37 +0000

Question: What are the early signs of cancer? When should I see a doctor?
The early signs of cancer are:
• a lump or thickening anywhere in the body
• sores that will not heal
• unusual bleeding or discharge
• change in bowel or bladder habits
• persistent cough or hoarseness
• change in a wart or mole
• indigestion or difficulty in swallowing
• loss of weight for no apparent reason.
If you note one of these changes in yourself or a friend, seek immediate expert medical advice. It is far better to be reassured that there is nothing wrong now, than worry for months unnecessarily. If the condition is serious, early treatment may save your life.