Many have seen the dramas in most television shows and flicks. A brain cancer patient goes through so much pain and agony. It is scary to have one.

What Really Is Brain Cancer?

Brain cancer accounts to 20% of the cancer deaths every year. Knowing the brain will indicate how delicate this matter is.

The brain is simply the central organ controlling the rest of the body. It is composed many tissues and cells.

These brain cells or neurons continue to increase in number and develop up to the time a person reaches 7 years old. At this point, the brain has grown. The neurons stop growing. From here on, the cells will then interact and link with each other.

They are NOT meant to grow or divide any further. The control over these brain cells not to grow is very strict. Once control is lost in a single brain cell, this will become unstoppable. It can grow and divide in any manner.

With that SINGLE brain cell, the brain cancer can develop.

As it grows more and more, the single brain cell can grow into a swelling or a tumor.

Types of Brain Cancer

1. Benign Tumor

The benign tumor is found exactly where it originated. It simply grows large as time goes by, imposing its presence in the crucial areas of the brain.

2. Malignant Tumor

This kind of tumor is the type that spreads in the brain. This is the more devastating brain cancer.

The 2 Subtypes

“Primary”

This type starts within the brain and spreads out.

“Secondary”

This type of cancer starts from some other organ in the body, like the lungs. It later spreads the cancer to the brain. This is also called brain metastasis.

It will have different manifestations depending on the kind of tumor and the location. It can affect the areas of thought, hearing, sensation, sight even the mood.

Acute Leukemia

Cancer of the blood on its acute stage may occur at any age. However, acute leukemia is encountered most frequently in children and young adults.

Regardless of the cell type, like whether one is dealing with an acute lymphoblastic, myeloblastic, monoblastic or stem cell leukemia, these patients exhibit many characteristics in common.

The onset of acute blood cancer is typically very sudden, manifested by an acute tonsillitis, furunculosis or the appearance of an abscess in the mouth or the skin. The total course may be limited to a few days or weeks and is marked by a high fever.

Hemorrhagic features appear early and may include bleeding from the gums, the nose, the stomach, and the rectum, as well as hemorrhages into the skin and into the fundus of the eyes.

Swelling and gangrenous ulceration of the gums, the cheeks, the jaw, and the tonsils likewise are common. Bone pain may become a prominent symptom and neurologic manifestation may appear. Enlargement of lymph nodes, liver, and spleen may occur, but these findings are less common and less prominent than in chronic leukemia.

Acute leukemia is an important disease to keep in mind, since it may be mistaken for an acute infection, acute rheumatic fever, idiopathic thrombocytipenic purpura or some specific type of anemia.

The diagnosis usually, but not invariably, can be made from an examination of the peripheral blood, with findings of primitive leukocytes in the smear, anemia, and thrombocytopenia. The most important diagnostic criterion, however, is the presence of numerous blast cells in the patient’s bone marrow. The prediction in all cases is poor. Without treatment, the illness lasts an average of 3 to 4 months, but with treatment, adults with acute leukemia survive about a year, on the average, and children, somewhat longer.

Chronic Leukemia

This is a condition characterized by white cell counts ranging from 100,000 to 1,000,000 per cubic millimeter, where a high percentage of these leukocytes are immature cells. The condition is associated with a great enlargement of the spleen and the liver but little swelling of the lymph nodes.

This type of blood cancer may appear at any period of life, most often between the ages of 25 and 40. The onset of the disease is usually gradual and insidious.

Survey of the Patient’s Problems

From the above discussion, one sees that the patient with leukemia or blood cancer has complex problems due to pathologic disturbances in major organ systems. His fatigue, anorexia, bleeding tendencies, neurologic involvement, dyspnea, and fever all require specific therapy and nursing support.

Given all that, the major goal of therapy and nursing management is to help that patient live as normal a life as possible by maintaining him in a state of remission for as long as possible.

Leukemia is a term that originally was applied to a few cases in which the blood appeared milky at necropsy. Since such condition can arise only when the leukocyte count almost equals that of the red cells, it means that the leukocyte count must be about 1,000,000 per cubic millimeter and the anemia profound. Only one disease can produce it, the one we still call leukemia or cancer of the blood.

However, in the great majority of cases of this disease the blood is red, since the leukocyte count seldom rises above 500,000 per cubic millimeter.

Several varieties of leukemia or blood cancer are recognized. They all are characterized by the presence of immature leukocytes of one type or another in the peripheral blood and by extensive hyperplasia or overgrowth of the tissue producing that particular cell. The most common are granulocytic, lymphocytic, and monocytic leukemia. These terms referring in each case to the cell type that is involved.

The clinical course of leukemia may be fulminating, progressing to a fatal termination usually within a period of a few weeks or months.

Whether acute or chronic, every leukemia process is a manifestation of malignant neoplasia or the uncontrolled, destructive proliferation of a blood cell that has acquired through some genetic alteration of a biologic advantage over other cells. Thus, this condition enabled the other cells to outgrow them, even in their native tissues, their optimal environments, and freeing it from the physiologic restraints that usually prevent overgrowth.

Liver is an organ needed by a body to survive. It helps in a person’s metabolism and helps in filtering toxins from entering a person’s blood stream. It also produces bile to help in digestion.

The liver has a regenerating capability. It can regenerate damages in itself and heal any damage it has taken. Sometimes, though, there are cases where the liver will not be able to heal itself due to some diseases. Liver cancer is one of them and it is also one of the deadliest diseases known to man.

Cancer of the liver in its infancy stage is difficult to diagnose. Like other cancers, it is mostly known only when the disease has already spread or it has already developed to other parts of the affected organ.

Once the disease has spread, there are several symptoms that will help in diagnosing it.

The most common symptom is pain in the right upper abdominal area of the body. Once a liver becomes enlarged because of any infection, it protrudes the right ribcage which is a nerve-rich area of the body. It can also be painful when trying to probe in that area using one’s fingers.

Another symptom of liver cancer is a symptom that is also found in other diseases involving the liver, namely jaundice. Jaundice, or the yellowing of a person’s skin and white of the eyes, is caused by the blockage of the bile draining system.

Stools are also lighter, looser and smellier due to poor digestion of fats because of lack of bile production.

There can also be cirrhosis-like (another liver disease) symptoms such as swelling of the breasts in males caused by the liver’s failure to break down estrogens from foods. Spider shaped veins are also seen in a person’s skin (angiomata) and palms could be very red.

Abdomen may also swell (ascites) due to migration of blood’s fluids in the abdomen. The blood’s fluids are normally held in the blood vessels but because of the liver’s failure a protein needed in doing that is missing.

Blood clotting will also be a problem as it requires intestinal bacteria and the ability of the liver to break down vitamin K from the food taken by a person. This could cause intestinal bleeding and skin bruises.

Loss of appetite is also a possible symptom as the liver is part of a person’s digestive system. This would cause considerable weight loss and a person’s ability to combat other illnesses to go down.

Please note, though, that only doctors can give accurate diagnosis of liver cancer. Even these doctors would have to do several tests just to be sure and to also make sure that other liver diseases are ruled out.

Doctors might have to do blood tests to look for other symptoms or complications. They would also require x-rays, ultrasound and, if needed, even CT scan and MRI. However these tests would still not accurately diagnose if a person has cancer. The most effective way is to get a piece of it and subjecting it to microscopic scrutiny.

Even then, you are free to look for other opinions from different doctors, although two doctors who make the same tests and makes the same conclusion would probably be correct.

Liver cancer, like any other cancers, can be prevented by living healthy. These include eating healthy food and avoiding alcoholic drinks.

The liver is a vital organ of the body which is essential for us to continue living. The location of the liver is under the right side of the ribcage. The liver is capable of growing back when part of it is removed due to diseases or health problems. The average person can live with just 10% of his liver functioning. It has many functions including: blood purification or cleansing, control of sugar as well as cholesterol levels, bile production for the digestion of fat, generation of blood cells, drug and alcohol detoxification, and the formation of clotting agents for the blood among others.

Liver cancer

Like that of the other organs, the liver’s cells follow a specific process of division to replace old and dying cells. This process is precise and follows a sequence that is mapped out in the genes. From a single liver cell, liver cancer may ensue when cell division becomes erratic and disorganized. This process of erratic division results in the formation of a tumor which can either be a benign or a malignant tumor with the latter being the dangerous one. Malignant tumors have the ability to spread into other healthy organs and cause these organs to fail. The process of the tumor’s spreading is referred to as metastasis. This potential to spread to other organs and damage them is the main reason why cancer is very dangerous.

Causes of liver cancer

These are some of the things that increase a person’s risk of having liver cancer. Chronic hepatitis causes changes in the liver cells which have been connected to hepatocellulat carcinoma (HCC) which is the most prevalent kind of liver cancer. According to studies, 75% of people with liver cancer around the world had been infected with Hepatitis B while Hepatitis A on the other hand is not any way connected to liver cancer.

Cirrhosis is the condition wherein the liver shrinks in size and becomes fatty and fibrous. There are three things that cause cirrhosis: too much alcohol intake, presence of too much iron in the liver, and the rare condition Alpha1-antitrypsin deficiency . 20% of patients that develop cirrhosis because of too much iron progresses to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) while 40% of those that had cirrhosis because of Alpha1-antitrypsin deficiency develop HCC.

Miscellaneous irritants like polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and thorotrast which is use in radiology studies are connected with a kind of liver cancer called angiosarcoma.

Symptoms of Liver Cancer

The most widespread symptoms exhibited by liver cancer patients include the formation of a very big tumor at the liver as well as the liver’s failure to function properly. Here are other symptoms of liver cancer: weight loss, pain in the stomach, jaundice, blood clotting, swelling, and fatigue among others.

Diagnosis and Treatment

Liver cancer is not that common and its symptoms are similar to that of other health conditions leading to a delay in diagnosis until the time wherein the tumor in the liver has already grown. A lot of patients usually get diagnosed when it is already too late, the disease is already in the advance stages which means treatment may no longer be effective or drastic measures like liver transfer may be done. A comprehensive physical exam will look for any indications that a tumor may be in the stomach area as well as liver failure symptoms like swelling of the body as well as bruising.

The liver is a very vital organ of the body necessary for the continuation of life. Proper treatment is critical once diagnosis has been done. Making the right decisions and knowing all your options for this disease can allay your anxiety with the knowledge that you have done all that you can.

Rectal cancer is a kind of cancer that starts in a part of the large intestines known as the rectum. This kind of cancer is also often referred to as cancer of the large intestines, bowel cancer, and colorectal cancer.

Rectal cancer happens when the cells in the rectum, also known as the colon, multiply rapidly and uncontrollably, resulting to the damage of other surrounding tissues and later on interfering with the rectum’s normal functions.

However, rectal cancer may be cured with early diagnosis. When detected early, there is a 90% chance for the cancer to be cured.

Signs and Symptoms

There are barely any alarming symptoms that occur in the early stages of rectal cancer. Most rectal cancers start as polyps. Polyps are small, non-cancerous growths that may reside in the colon wall with tendencies to grow in size and become cancerous. As these polyps grow, they may bleed or even become obstructions in the intestines.

The early-warning signs of rectal cancer may include the following:

1. a change in one’s bowel habits such as constipation, or a change in the stool’s caliber 2. presence of blood in the stool (may be melena or hematochezia) 3. and, bowel obstruction caused by a tumor

Other less specific signs and symptoms of rectal cancer may include:

1. anemia, having symptoms such as malaise, tiredness, and pallor 2. unexplainable weight loss 3. and, hepatomegaly (the condition of having enlarged liver) due to the spread of tumors

Risk Factors

There is a 7% lifetime risk of contracting rectal cancer in the United States. These may be attributed to certain factors that may vary from person to person.

1. The risk of being stricken with rectal cancer increases as a person gets older. Usually, people get it in their 60s and 70s. However, most cases that occur before the age of 50 are rare unless a family history for the disease is present.

2. Women previously diagnosed with other cancers like that of the ovary, breast, or uterus, are at a higher risk of getting rectal cancer.

3. Heredity plays a big role in the development of rectal cancer especially among people before the age of 55.

4. Smokers have a higher risk of contracting and dying from rectal cancer than people who do not smoke.

5. A diet that is high in red meat and low in fresh produce, fish and poultry may increase the risk of rectal cancer. Decreased risk among people who frequently had fish is evident. However, this theory remains to be controversial.

6. Physically active people have a lower risk of contracting rectal cancer.

Treatment

The kind of treatment depends on the stage of the cancer. Rectal cancer when caught in the early stages and with little spread is highly curable. On the other hand, when detected in its later stages when there is a high metastases, the cancer is already less likely to be cured and may eventually lead to death.

Surgical treatment for rectal cancer is most effective for localized tumors. For the more advanced stages of rectal cancer, section of the rectum or colon having the tumors may require surgical removal. Note that in some very rare cases, rectal surgery may result to complications like abscess, infections, bowel obstruction or fistula.

Chemotherapy, as well as radiotherapy may also be recommended depending on the patient’s cancer stage and other significant medical factors.

Cancer comes in many forms and it can happen in almost every part of the body. These start in the forms of tumors that later grows into something bigger and if not treated properly, may result in death.

Bladder cancer is ranked as the 4th most common cancer in the United States. It happens when there is an uncontrolled and rapid growth of abnormal cells in the lining of the bladder. This is the section of the body where urine is collected and when it is full, has to be discharged by the person.

Symptoms often associated with this disease are frequent urination and pain when it is being released. Studies have not yet determined the cause but studies have shown that this happens to men more than women.

Doctors have not yet found the cause of this bladder cancer. The only thing that has been determined is several factors that are linked to this disease.

1. Smoking is the leading cause of heart disease and lung cancer worldwide. People who continue to smoke may also increase the chances of getting bladder cancer compared to non smokers. This has been confirmed by a study which shows that 50% of men and 30% of women may attribute this disease to smoking.

2. Another factor could be where the person is working. Research has shown that one out of 4 workers who are exposed to hazardous chemicals that have carcinogens or arylamines are prone to bladder cancer.

3. Women who undergo radiation therapy to treat cervical cancer may also be prone to this disease. Taking the chemotherapy drug called Cytoxan can also cause this as it’s side effect.

4. In third world countries, being infected with a parasite called schistosomiasis has also been linked to the development of this disease.

Bladder cancer can still be treatable as long as it is diagnosed in the early stages. This can be done by a physical exam, a urine test or a medical test such as an ultrasound or a CT scan.

Bladder cancer can spread to other parts of the body such as the prostate, uterus, liver, lungs and bones. Treatment can be done by undergoing chemotherapy, radiation therapy, biological therapy or having it surgically removed.

Research has shown that this disease can recur so it is advisable to undergo Cytoscopic exams to catch it in the early stages should it happen again.

Although bladder cancer cannot be prevented, there are some things that a person can do to reduce the chances of falling victim to this disease. Taking vitamin supplements everyday may provide some protection associated with bladder cancer.

Another is eating right. A good example is having a low fat and low cholesterol diet that can come from fruits and vegetables. Soy products like tofu and soybeans are also good to prevent abnormal cell growth. Drinking lots of liquid can also help since it dilutes cancer causing minerals after eating.

Science at this time may not yet be able to find a solution to prevent bladder cancer from happening. Until then, all the person can do is being aware of the factors that attribute to it. Then with that information, stay away from these vices or agents to reduce the chances of being another victim of this disease.

There are 4 stages of endometrial cancer that starts once diagnosed. They are outlined below:

- Stage 1: Patient diagnosed with endometrial cancer found in the uterus affecting inner and outer half of the muscle layer called myometrium.

- Stage 2: Cancer has spread out affecting both cervix and uterus and the glands that connects them.

- Stage 3: Cancer has affected the uterus, vagina, and cervix.

- Stage 4: Cancer is affecting bowel wall and bladder, including pelvis, groin and abdomen.

Treatments:

There are various ways of treating endometrial cancer taking the stage into consideration. These are the following:

1. Hysterectomy – Removal of cervix and uterus through an operation.

2. Bilateral salpingo – ophorectomy – Removal of fallopian tubes and ovaries through a surgery.

3. Radical Hysterectomy - Removal of fallopian tubes, ovaries, cervix, and part of the vagina through a surgery.

There are number of Gynecologic Cancers associated with Endometrial cancer, sharing the same symptoms that should alert any woman to get immediate medical attention. These are the following:

- Uterine fibroids or the benign tumor found in the womb.

- Endometriosis, which develops on the fallopian tubes and ovaries, hinders conceiving.

- Dysfunctional uterine bleeding or having menses more often and heavier than expected or having menses when you should not. (ex. Pregnant women, children aging 10 years or below or after the menopausal stage.

- Hyperplasia or growth of endometrium.

- Cervical cancer which affects the uterine cervix.

- Cervicitis – this ranks first among the gynecologic disorder affecting half of the women’s population. Common symptoms includes abdominal pain or vaginal discharge not associated with menses.

All of gynecologic disorder mentioned above have common symptoms which are abnormal vaginal bleeding or discharge, abdominal pain, etc.

The problem with Endometrial Cancer and other gynecologic disorder is early detection. A woman suffering from gynecologic disorder may not notice the symptoms until the condition is serious making the treatment more difficult. Doctors advise to get regular Pap smear and seek for immediate help once you experience any of the symptoms.

When there is uncontrollable and rapid cell growth in the lining of uterus, Endometrial cancer usually occurs. This illness is deeply associated with older women (50-90 years old) especially during the menopause stage, or the absence of monthly menses that occurs usually when a woman reach 45-50 years of age. Good news is, this is highly curable if early detected or when the cancer is still inside the uterus. 93% of women that are diagnosed with this disease are treated and protected from it for approximately 5 years.

Up until this time, there are no specified causes of this kind of cancer. However, doctors have associated Endometrial cancer with imbalance of hormone estrogen and hormone progesterone in a woman’s body.

Estrogen is a hormone mainly produced by the ovaries that helps in regulating monthly menses, while progesterone is produce by placenta that is directly involved in preparing the uterus for pregnancy.

During menopausal stage, production of estrogen and progesterone in the body decreases, triggering the monthly menses to stop.

Below are the known symptoms of Endometrial Cancer.

1. Unusual vaginal discharge and/or bleeding not associated with menses. If you are having vaginal bleeding in between menses, it is highly advisable to see your OB-GYNE that can help you detect or prevent any gynecologic disorder even before it starts.

2. Pain or lump in the pelvic area – Self-examination plays a vital role in saving yourself from getting gynecologic disorder. A lump anywhere in the pelvic area or pain not associated with menstruation is the common symptoms of endometrial cancer.

3. Difficulty in urinating. This is symptom is usually connected with urinary track infection.

4. Weight loss.