About Prostate Gland

The Prostate Gland is an important part of the male reproductive organ.It helps to make and store the seminal fluid.It is present in the pelvic region and situated under the urinary bladder.Because of its location,any abnormality of the Prostrate leads to affect the urination and ejaculation.In the prostrate Cancer,the cells of the prostrate gland convert in Cancer cells.For the optimal function of the prostrate,male hormones called androgen’s are required.These androgens which include testosterone,dehydroapiandrostero are produced in the testes and the adrenal glands respectively are converted into testosterone within the prostrate itself.

Cancer of Prostrate:

In the initial stages,the Cancer develops in the Prostrate gland and later metastasize to bones and lymph nodes.The symptoms of this disease may be pain and difficulty in urinating,problems during sexual intercourse and erectile dysfunction.In the later stages of the disease other symptoms are seen.
Though Prostrate Cancer is common in many males above the age of 50,many never undergo any treatment because they donot show any symptoms and eventually die of other causes like heart disease,pneumonia and old age.
There are many factors which affect the Prostrate Cancer.The important factors are diet and genetics.The diagnosis of the Prostrate Cancer may be done by looking at the symptoms,physical examination,biopsy or the prostrates specific antigen test.Tests including CT scans and bone scares are used to determine how far the Cancer has spread.

Treatment:

The treatment options available for Prostrate Cancer are surgery and radiation therapy.Hormone therapy,chemo therapy,proton therapy,cryosurgery are also used in combinations according the stage and the requirement of the Cancer.The general health of the patient,the extent of the metastasis,response of the Cancer to the initial treatment are important in determining the out come of the disease.
The most common prognosis system is the four-stage TNM system(tumor,nodes,metastasis).In the TNM system,T1 and T2 cancer are found only in the Prostrate,while T3 and T4 have spread elsewhere.Several tests like computed tomography and bone scans are used to evaluate the spread of the cancer to various regions of the body like:pelvis,bones,seminal vesicles etc.
After the biopsy,grading of the tumor is done depending on how much the tumor tissue differs from the normal prostrate tissue and how fast the tumor is likely to grow.Since the grade of the tumor is the major factor used to determine the treatment,proper grading of the tumor is of much significance.
Advanced Prostrate Cancer can cause pain in the bones especially spine,pelvis and ribs.

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The most common Cancer that occurs in women is the Breast Cancer .It is the second most common cause of Cancer deaths in women in the U.S.The abnormality seen on a mammogram,a lump or change in the cosistency of breast tissue is a warning sign of disease.Though there is a lot of awareness of Breast Cancer risk,still it is the most common cause of death in women between the ages of 45-55.The primary risk factors for Breast Cancer are believed to be genetic and hormonal.The options available for Breast Cancer treatment are surgery,radiation therapy,chemo therapy and hormonal therapy.

As in the case of other tumors,breast tumors may be benign or malignant.Benign tumors can be removed easily without any invasion to other tissues around them and they do not spread to other parts of the body.Malignant tumors are serious and life-threatening.Though they can be removed surgically,they may grow back and damage the near by tissues and organs.The cancerous cells from the malignant tumor metastasize(spread to other parts of the body).These cells are transported to other organs through the blood stream or the lymphatic system.The Cancer cells of breast are found in the lymph nodes near the breast.The common metastasis of Breast Cancer are bones , liver , lungs and brain .

Factors influencing Breast Cancer : Breast Cancer is not contagious.The exact reasons are not known as to why it affects some women and does not affect some.

* Age plays as an important risk factor as Breast Cancer is diagnosed mostly in women over the age of 60 years.

* Menopause is a factor which causes Breast Cancer .

* A women who had Breast Cancer in one breast has an increased risk of getting Cancer in the other breast.

* Family history

* Gene changes

* Reproductive and menstrual

* Infertility in women

* Women who are under hormonal replacement therapy with estrogen plus Progastin.

* It is most common in white women than in Asian or African Americans.

* Women with dense and fatty breasts are at a higher risk of Breast Cancer .

* Obesity is also a risk factor where there is lack of physical activity.

Of all the above mentioned risk factors many of them can be avoided except the heriditary and genetic causes.

Symptoms :

* A thickening or lump near the underarm area.
* A change in the texture of the breast and the nipple.
* A change in the shape of the breast.
* A nipple turned inward into the breast.
* The skin of the breast may be swollen and scaly.
* Discharge in the nipple.

Since the Breast Cancer does not cause pain in the early stages,a woman should consult a doctor if she has any of the above mentioned symptoms.

Diagnosis :

Breast Cancer diagnosis includes many procedures.As soon as you notice any symptom that suggests Cancer,it is wise to consult a doctor.In the preliminary test the breasts are felt with hands for any lumps.If the lumps are smooth,round and movable they are likely to be benign.But is they are irregularly shaped and firmly attached with in the breast they are melignent.
The next procedure is a mammogram where a clearer and more detailed images of the abnormal areas can be screened.

Ultra sound :As in an ultrasound the waves bounce of tissues the images show whether a lump is solid or filled with fluid.The fluid filled sacs are called cysts and they are not Cnacerous.

MRI :MRI can be used along with a mammogram for detailed pictures of Breast tissues.

Biopsy :To remove the tissue for examination fine-needle aspiration core biopsy and surgical biopsy are used in which the tissue is finely aspirated and checked for Cancer cells.When a sample of a lump is taken it is incisional biopsy.When the entire lump or the area is taken it is the excisional biopsy.
In the primary stages it is very easy to cure this disease.

Treatment :
There are many treatment options for Breast Cancer .They are surgery,radiation therapy,chemotherapy,hormone therapy and biological therapy.In many cases a combination of therapies are used.Depending on the stage of the disease the choice of the treatment is chosen. Breast Cancer treatment may be local or systemic.Local therapy includes surgery and radiation therapy.As the name suggests,local therapy is used to control the disease in the specific areas.Systematic therapy includes chemotherapy,hormone therapy and biological therapy.Unlike local therapy,systemic therapy is administered into the blood stream so that it can control the Cancer throughout the body.
Both the therapies have their own side affects as in treating the Cancer cells,often damage is done to the healthy cells.
Though Cancer treatment is painful,supportive care is essential to relieve the side affects of the treatment and to ease emotional disturbances.

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Lung Cancer :The body has a system of checks and balances on cell growth so that the cells divide to produce new cells to replace the worn out cells.This is a continues process.When there is abnormality in this system of checks and balances,uncontrolled division and proliferation of cells happen which eventually lead to tumors.

When we speak of cancer,we refer to the malignant tumors.Since,Lung cancer tends to spread or metastasize very early in this case it is life threatening and the most difficult Cancers to treat.Lung Cancer can spread to any organ of the body most likely Liver,Brain,Bone and Adrenal gland.

The function of Lungs is ti exchange the gases between the air we breath and the blood.Corbandioxide is removed from the blood and the oxigen from the air enters the blood through the Lungs.

The Lungs are divided into three lobes.The airways entering into the Lungs are called Bronchi,which arrives from the trachea.The Bronchi further branch into Bronchioles that end into tiny scads called alveoly where the exchange of gases occur.A thin layer of tissue called pleura covers the Lungs and the chest valve.

Lung Cancer can affect any part of the Lung.It is responsible for the most Cancer deaths in men and women throughout the world.Lung cancer was not common prior to 1930′s but increased radically as tobacco smoking increased.Most of the Lung Cancer patients are over 65 years of age.

There are many causes which lead to Lung Cancer.They are:

Smoking :It is the most likely cause for Lung Cancer.The risk of Lung Cancer increases with the number of Cigarettes smoked.Tobacco smoke contains nearly four thousand chemical compounds, many of which are carcinogenic.

Passive Smoking :The inhalation of tobacco smoke from other smokers whom you live with or share your work place are highly at risk of Lung Cancer.

Radon Gas :The natural decay product of uranium is radon gas.It is a chemically innert gas which is a type of ionizing radiation.The risk of Lung Cancer increases with radon exposure as this gas can travel through soil and may contaminate the environment as it enters living areas through gaps in pipes,drains,foundation etc.To detect radon gas is difficult as it is colorless and odourless.

Asbestos  Fibers :These fibers persist for a long time in Lung tissue following exposure to Asbestos.As this fibers are used in thermal and acaustic insulation,people working in such industries have to be careful.Now a days it is banned in many countries because of its carcinogenic properties.

Genetic or Hereditary: Though majority of Lung Cancers are linked with smoking,we cannot ignore the fact that Lung Cancer may occur more likely in relatives of those who already had Lung Cancer.This is because of the presence of a particular gene that increases the susceptibility to the development of Lung Cancer.

Pollution :Air pollution causes upto 1% of Lung Cancer deaths.The polluted air from the power plants ,industries and vehicles when inhaled frequently for a long time causes Lung Cancer.

Lung Diseases iseases related to the Lung like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease may cause Lung Cancer even after cigarette smoking is quit.

People with a prehistory of Lung Cancer have a greater risk of developing a second Lung Cancer.

Types of Lung Cancer epending on the microscopic appearince of the tumor cells ,Lung Cancer can be classified into small cell Lung Cancer(SCLC)and non-small cell Lung Cancer(NSCLC).These two spread in different ways and may have different treatment options.

SCLC are mostly caused because of Smoking.They metastasize rapidly to many sites and are often discovered after they have spread extensively.NSCLC are the most common Lung Cancers.Based on the type of cell found in the tumor,They are Adenocarcinomas :They mostly develop in the outer or peripheral areas of Lungs. Squamous cell carcinoma :They are also called epidemoid carcinomas and they affect the central chest area in the bronchi. Large cell carcinomas :Generally undifferentiated and are the least common type of  NSCLC .Sometimes mixtures of different types of NSCLC are also seen. Bronchial carcinoids :Mostly occur in people under 40 years of age.Carcinoids grows and spreads slowly than bronchogenic Cancers.Metastatic Cancers from other primary tumors in the body often spread to the lung through blood stream,lymphatic system or directly from near by organs.They are generally concentrated in peripheral area rather than the central areas of the lung.

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How does Cancer develop and spread :We all know that the human body is made up of cells and they divide and multiply according to the need of the body.But,when the cells multiply when there is no need,a mass of growth of cells occur which is also called a tumor.

Tumors may be benign or malignant.Benign tumors are non-cancerous where as malignant tumors are cancerous.Benign tumors can be removed easily as they do not spread to other parts of the body.The malignant tumors have the capacity to spread to nearby tissues and organs thus making them cancerous.

Spread of Cancer to other parts of the body :The cancerous cells either invade the neighboring tissues and organs or sometimes  may also break free from the primary site and gets transported to other organs through the blood stream.This process is called metastasis.

Though Cancer metastasizes and affects other areas of the body,the disease is still referred to the organ of origination.Almost all Cancers develop and spread through an organ,blood cancer like leukemia affect the blood and the organs that form blood like the bone marrow  and later invade the nearby tissues.

Symptoms of Cancer :  They very with the type of Cancer.The common symptoms are :

* Drastic weight loss

* Fatigue

* Fever.

Since these symptoms are more likely related to other less serious illnesses,it is very difficult to detect Cancer through these symptoms.

Treatment of Cancer: Cancer can be treated in four standard methods.They are surgery,radiation therapy,chemo therapy and immuno therapy.The treatment is based on the type of Cancer,its spread,its stage,the age of the patient and his general health.

Prevention of Cancer :In most cases Cancer is preventable.The first step in Cancer prevention is to know what causes Cancer and risk factors involved.Many Cancer risk factors can be avoided, thus reducing the likelihood of developing Cancer.Some Cancer are hereditary and gene based which cannot be avoided.

The most significant Cancer risk factors are Smoking and Alcoholism.It is never too late to quit Smoking.

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