Wednesday 27 September 2017

Prostate Cancer Treatment Could Cure Men For Whom There Was No Hope

A breakthrough in treatment for prostate cancer could cure thousands of men whose disease was thought to be incurable, research suggests.
The Institute of Cancer Research said the findings were a “great leap forward” which could help around 3,000 men a year for whom there would otherwise be little hope.

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The pioneering study, with The Royal Marsden, found that the highly targeted form of radiotherapy, which shapes radiation beams to tumors, could stop the disease in its tracks.
Prostate cancer is the most common form of cancer in men, with 47,000 diagnoses a year.
Depending on how far the disease has spread, and how aggressive it is, men are offered hormonal treatment, surgery, radiotherapy or a combination of treatments.
But when cancer has spread to the pelvis, conventional treatment becomes too risky, as it can damage the bowel.
The new study found that intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) was able to give a high dose of radiation directly to cancer cells while protecting surrounding healthy tissue, thereby cutting down on side-effects.
In the new study on 447 men, 71 percent of patients with prostate cancer were alive and completely free from disease five years after treatment with IMRT.
When the trial began, many of the patients were considered incurable, researchers said.
And just eight to 16 percent of those in the trial suffered issues with their bladder or bowel.
The trial found that IMRT could safely be given to the pelvis - a common site for prostate cancer cells to spread - to help stop the disease going further.
After an average of 8.5 years of follow-up, 87 percent of men were alive, according to the study, published in the International Journal of Radiation Oncology, Biology, Physics.
Since the trial began in 2000, the treatment is increasingly offered to some patients by major cancer centers, but until now the benefits for those thought incurable has not been known.
Study leader David Dearnaley, professor of uro-oncology at the ICR and consultant clinical oncologist at the Royal Marsden, said: "Our trial was one of the first of this revolutionary radiotherapy technique, which was pioneered by colleagues here at the ICR and The Royal Marsden.
"This technique has already proven to be a game-changer for men with prostate cancer and the work done here has already been carried forward into later-stage phase II and phase III trials.
"I'm excited to see this treatment become available to every man with prostate cancer who could benefit from it.”
Changes in use of the treatment had meant a “complete revolution” in the way it was delivered, with doses now delivered in just two minutes, in a “giant leap forward” in radiotherapy treatment, he said.
Professor Paul Workman, chief executive of the ICR, said: "Radiotherapy is often seen as perhaps old-fashioned and crude compared with other cancer treatments - but nothing could be further from the truth.
"Radiotherapy today has been enhanced far beyond recognition since its first use over a century ago and is now a highly precise, incredibly sophisticated treatment.
"It's great to see this long-term evidence of the degree to which precision radiotherapy has transformed outcomes for men with prostate cancer."
Dr. Matthew Hobbs, Deputy Director of Research at Prostate Cancer UK said the findings were “promising” but called for larger randomised trials to produce definitive answers about the benefits of the treatment and its suitability for different cases.
At American Oncology Institute, we provide a complete spectrum of cancer treatments for both adults as well as children. Our world-class centers of excellence cover all cancer treatment programs including Radiation Oncology, Medical Oncology, Surgical Oncology, Hematology, Blood & Bone Marrow Transplant and more.
SOURCE: THE TELEGRAPH

Wednesday 20 September 2017

Treatments and Side Effects for Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian Cancer
Ovarian cancer often goes undetected until it has spread within the pelvis and stomach. At this late stage, ovarian cancer is more difficult to treat and can be fatal.


Common symptoms of ovarian cancer may include: Persistent abdominal bloating, indigestion or nausea, changes in appetite, often a loss of appetite or feeling full, feeling of pressure in the pelvis or lower back, frequent urination, changes in bowel movements, increased abdominal girth and loss of energy

Risk factors include gender (women), age (55 years or older), family history, child bearing status (women who deliver after the age of 30), obesity etc.

Ovarian cancer often has no symptoms in the early stages. Later stages are associated with symptoms, but they can be non-specific, such as loss of appetite and weight loss.

Surgery and chemotherapy are generally used to treat ovarian cancer.

Know more about Ovarian cancer, click here

Thursday 14 September 2017

Here’s Everything You Need to Know About Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer is one of the common cancers in women but is difficult to detect and hence is often referred to as a silent killer. Ovaries are two small organs present on either side of a woman’s tummy. Ovaries produce and store eggs. In ovarian cancer, the abnormal cells grow on or in the ovaries. These cancerous cells have the ability to spread to other organs of the body. It usually affects women above the age of 50 but can also affect younger females. Ovarian cancer symptoms are not very obvious and they are usually overlooked. Here’s everything you should know about the condition.

What are the causes of ovarian cancer?

Ovarian Cancer Treatment in IndiaUsually, women above the age of 65 develop ovarian cancer but it is also observed in younger women. There is also a higher chance of developing the condition if any of your family members has ovarian cancer or breast cancer. According to some studies, higher risk of ovarian cancer was observed in those who have undergone fertility treatment. Hormone replacement therapy also ups the risk of developing ovarian cancer. The risk of developing the condition is higher in women diagnosed with breast cancer. Endometriosis and obesity are other causes of ovarian cancer.

What are the signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer?

During the initial stages, signs or symptoms are not distinguishable. The symptoms are often confused with those of irritable bowel syndrome. However, in ovarian cancer, the symptoms are persistent and gradually worsen. Early symptoms include lower abdomen pain, pain on the lower part of the body, backache, pain in the pelvis region, frequent urination, Pain during sex, indigestion, weight loss, nausea, breathlessness and change in bowel movement. You may also experience bloating and tiredness. Consult your doctor immediately if the symptoms persist for more than a couple of weeks.

What are the treatments available for ovarian cancer?


Ovarian cancer treatments include chemotherapy, surgery and a combination of surgery and chemotherapy. Radiotherapy is also used some times to treat the condition. In chemotherapy, chemicals are used to kill the cancerous cells. It is used for cancer cells that cannot be removed by surgery. Usually, three to six chemotherapy sessions are required. In most of the ovarian cancer cases, surgical removal of cancerous tissue is carried out. It is usually the first treatment for the patient. The affected ovary and the fallopian tube are removed during the procedure.


Source: India.com

Friday 8 September 2017

Everything You Need to Know About Hodgkin's Lymphoma

Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) is a type of lymphoma, which is generally believed to result from white blood cells of the lymphocyte kind. Symptoms may include fever, night sweats, and weight loss. 
 Hodgkin's Lymphoma
Hodgkin's lymphoma or Hodgkin's disease is a rare for of cancer which is characterized by orderly growth of malignant cells of the lymphatic system.


The most significant characteristic of Hodgkin's lymphoma is presence of malignant B-cells with unique characteristics. These cells are called as Reed-Sternberg cells. Hodgkin's lymphoma mainly occurs in individuals with depleted immune system and persons infected with viruses including HIV, Epstein-Barr virus and HTLV-I. Epidemiology of this disease is unique. The frequency of Hodgkin's lymphoma is predominant in two separate age groups. These include individuals between 15-35 years of age and individuals above 55 years of age.

To know more details about cancer and cancer treatment services, visit: www.americanoncology.com