OrganizedWisdom Health - Head and Neck Cancer

Hand-Foot Syndrome

Jkg0679 — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 22:08:41 GMT

Hand-foot syndrome is a side effect of chemotherapy that causes a skin reaction that appears on the palms of the hands and/or the soles of the feet. Symptoms of hand-foot syndrome include tingling or numbness, swelling, redness, peeling skin, and tenderness or pain. Blistering can occur if there is no change in treatment.

Fast Facts:

Hand-foot syndrome typically occurs within a few weeks of beginning chemotherapy, although it can appear at any time.
Hand-foot syndrome can be treated by changing treatment, or taking acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen, corticosteroids, and/or vitamin B6.
Hand-foot syndrome may be prevented by changes in activities and clothing, drinking plenty of water, and avoiding caffeine.

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Dysphagia and Electrical Stimulation

Tbingel — Tue, 22 Sep 2009 17:11:36 GMT

Electrical stimulation for dysphagia is used to help treat and strengthen throat muscles. The electrical stimulation passes from external electrodes on the neck to the throat muscles to help re-train the throat to restore the swallowing function. Electrical stimulation is applied to stimulate neural tissues, nerve endings, and muscle fibers. Success with electrical stimulation depends on the type of disorder, other therapeutic approaches used, the severity of the swallowing problem, and the stage of the disease.

Fast Facts:

One study showed patients who received electrical simulation required fewer treatment sessions and displayed a trend toward a shorter length of hospitalization than those receiving traditional dysphagia therapy.
VitalStim(R) Therapy is the only electrical stimulation device cleared by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for dysphagia.
Electrical stimulation is only for persons with healthy sensory and motor nerves.

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Recipes for Healthy Food

SScroggins — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 21:25:05 GMT

Eating a healthy diet can provide immeasurable health benefits, as the risk of some chronic diseases are significantly reduced by the food choices we make. A diet high in fruits and vegetables, for example, can reduce the risk of stroke and other cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, as well as mouth, stomach, and colon cancer. Many fruits and vegetables are high in vitamins and minerals and low in fat and calories.

Fast Facts:

A diet high in whole grains can help with weight management, provide dietary fiber, and reduces the risk of heart disease.
Healthy foods don't have to be bland and boring. Consider that dark chocolate is considered a relatively healthy food as long as it is consumed in moderation.
Consider following the Food Guide Pyramid to help establish a healthy eating plan for optimum health.

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Remission

Jkg0679 — Wed, 09 Sep 2009 18:22:33 GMT

Remission occurs when a disease is responding well to treatment and symptoms disappear. This term commonly refers to cancer or inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), though other conditions can go into remission. Remission does not mean that the disease is cured, and symptoms can reoccur at some point in the future.

Fast Facts:

Partial remission is the term used when most, but not all, of the symptoms have improved.
Complete remission is the term used when symptoms disappear completely.
Remssions can last anywhere from several weeks to many years.

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Chemotherapy

AmyS — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 15:18:39 GMT

Chemotherapy, also known as cytotoxic therapy, is the treatment of cancer with drugs that destroy cancer cells. These drugs often are referred to as "anticancer" drugs. Chemotherapy affects all parts of the body, not just cancer cells. Anticancer drugs work by stopping the cancer cells from growing and multiplying.

Fast Facts

There are many different types of drugs used in chemotherapy. Examples of commonly used drugs include doxorubicin, methotrexate, gemcitabine, and cyclophosphamide.
Chemotherapy can be used in different ways. Neoadjuvant therapy is used before surgery to shrink a tumor. Adjuvant therapy is used after surgery to reduce the risk of the tumor returning. Chemotherapy may be used at the start of cancer treatment or as treatment for cancer that has returned.
It is administered in three ways; intravenously, orally, and through an injection.
Nausea, pain, fatigue, depression, hair loss, and weakness are a few common side effects of chemotherapy.

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Coffee and Hot Tea May Increase Throat Cancer Risk

SScroggins — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 22:36:58 GMT

According to a recent research study, drinking hot coffee and tea can increase your risk of developing a certain type of esophageal cancer. Researchers determined that drinking beverages such as tea and coffee at a temperature above 156 degrees Farenheit doubled the risk of esophageal cancer. Drinking coffee or tea at or above 158 degrees actually increased the risk of cancer eight-fold.

Fast Facts:

The latest research verifies findings of an Islamic study which explored the link between drinking very hot tea and esophageal cancer.
Scientists in the Islamic study believe that the inflammation of the esophagus caused by repeatedly drinking extremely hot liquids damages the cells leading to an increase in esophageal cancer.
Researchers believe that while drinking excessively hot tea may increase the risk of cancer, allowing boiling beverages to cool for at least four minutes will allow the temperature to reach a safe level for consumption.

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Last Stages of Cancer

JRafferty — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 00:28:31 GMT

When a cancer reaches it last stages, it is usually no longer treatable and considered a terminal illness. Often the cancer has spread to other parts of the body. The patient's health will increasingly decline and eventually he/she will succumb to the cancer.

Fast Facts:

During the final stages of cancer, medications will be given to the patient to control pain and other symptom associated with the cancer.
Some signs that death may be close include increasing fatigue, confusion, poor blood circulation, withdrawal, and appetite loss.
Being there for patient and letting them know they are not alone can be a source of comfort for them, and the most important thing you can do for them.

Visit http://organizedwisdom.com/Last_Stages_of_Cancer

Which Celebrities Have Cancer

Jkg0679 — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 04:31:19 GMT

Many celebrities have battled with cancer. Some celebrities, such as Bob Marley, who had melanoma, did not survive. Others, such as Nelson Mandela, who had prostate cancer, are in remission.

Fast Facts:

Shirley Temple and Melissa Etheridge had breast cancer.
Sharon Osbourne and Ronald Reagan had colon cancer.
Nat King Cole and Walt Disney had lung cancer.

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Who Invented Chemotherapy

Jkg0679 — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 23:47:44 GMT

During the 1940's, the United States department of Defense recruited Louis S. Goodman and Alfred Gilman to study the therapeutic applications of nitrogen mustard, a chemical warfare agent. It was initially found that this agent could be used in treating lymphoma. Later on, Eli Lilly found that Madagascar periwinkle blocked proliferation of tumor cells. Then in 1965, James Holland, Emil Freireich, and Emil Frei figured out that using combination chemotherapy was an even more effective cancer treatment.

Fast Facts:

Over 100 drugs are used during chemotherapy today.
The National Cancer Chemotherapy Service Center was founded in 1955.
During the 1930's, Charles B. Huggins found that administering estrogen could slow cancer of the prostate.

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How Many People Have Cancer

Jkg0679 — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 19:04:20 GMT

A number of organizations provide statistics that give an idea as to how many people have cancer. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), from 2002 through 2004 the two most common forms of cancer were of the prostate and breast. The organization also ranks Maine as the state with the most cancer cases during the same time period.

Fast Facts:

In 2005, it is estimated that over 10 million Amercians had some form of cancer.
About 1,500 people die of cancer each day.
About 3,400 people are diagnosed with cancer each day.

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