Symptoms and Therapy

Symptoms of cancer depend on the type and location of the tumor. For example, lung cancer can cause coughing, shortness of breath, or chest pain while colon cancer often causes diarrhea, constipation, and blood in the stool.

Some cancers may not have any symptoms at all. However, the following symptoms are common with most cancers: 27

• Fever
• Chills
• Night sweats
• Weight loss
• Loss of appetite
• Fatigue

Treatments and Prevention

Link to Exercise page within site

In the past two decades significant progress has been made in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. More than 1.2 million new cases are expected every year. 1, 26

Given the variable nature of cancerous cells, each cancer behaves somewhat uniquely. For example, lung cancer and breast cancer are very different diseases that grow at different rates and respond to different treatments. Thus, people with each specific cancer need specific treatment targeted at their type of cancer.

There exist many alternative cancer treatments that have been investigated in good quality, yet still shown to be ineffective. Always consult a physician before attempting any radical or unproven treatments. Residents in coutries of low socioeconomic status have 13% higher death rates from cancer in men and 3 % higher rates in women compared with more affluent countries. 35

Chemotherapy

Drugs used for chemotherapy include 12 :

1. Cisplatin (e.g. platinol)
2. Aprepitant
3. Palonosetron
4. Gefitinib
5. Bortezomib
6. Tositumomab and Iodine I131

Chemotherapy involves the use of drugs, for cancer treatment, that stops cells from growing and multiplying. Unfortunately, these drugs also destroy healthy cells such as skin, bone, hair, and blood cells. The overall number of any or all three types of blood cells can be lowered dramatically. Reducing the blood cell count in white, red, or platelets causes other disruptions in the body's functioning.

On average, a normal hemoglobin range should be between 12 and 16 g/dL (grams per deciliter of blood) for women and 12 and 18 g/dL for men. As a chemotherapy patient, you may find yourself with a low red blood cell count, which can lead to anemia, which may cause fatigue.

The effects of low red blood cell count, anemia, include:

• Reduced effectiveness to chemotherapy.

When too many infection-fighting white blood cells are destroyed during chemotherapy, patients become vulnerable to infections, and even a minor infection can become life threatening. People receiving chemotherapy who develop an abnormally low white blood cell count (neutropenia) are more vulnerable to infection. An infection can start in almost any part of the body, including the mouth, skin, lungs, urinary tract, colon, rectum, and reproductive tract. Among the healthy cells chemotherapy can destroy red blood cells as well. While there may be many reasons why patients with cancer feel weak, without enough red blood cells to carry oxygen to the tissues, the person can feel tired mentally and physically. Problems in the regulation of cell growth can be caused by abnormalities of the immune system, which normally would detect and stop aberrant growth. Infections that normally are not life threatening may suddenly require hospitalization.

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Pain Management

Pain management remains to be one of the primary goals during therapeutic intervention. Methods such as sedation and analgesics are not uncommon. 3

The magnitude and severity of pain in patients with cancer has been nationally recognized, and many programs and treatments are underway to improve this problem. 11

End of Life Care 31

End-of-life care is treatment given when the person has a life-limiting or terminal disease, and has decided not to have any more treatment to cure the disease or prolong life. The goal of end-of-life care is to enhance the quality of remaining life. If end-of-life care is chosen, the physician will continue to direct care and will suggest resources to help manage the problems that are faced.

• Ideally, end-of-life care is compassionate, skilled, and personalized, offering emotional and physical comfort and relief from pain.
• While such care is often given in a hospital, hospice, or nursing home, it can also be provided at home.
• End-of-life care focuses on comfort, but it also includes the concerns of family and loved ones.

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Prevention

The best forms of prevention or treatment involve regular physical check ups with the overseeing physician. 27

Exercise reduces the risks of many cancers. 28

Physical activity, nutrition and guided supplementation such as high vitamin doses of specific antioxidants such as selenium or vitamin E have also been shown to reduce tumor recurrence. 23, 24, 28

Studies show that an increase in cancer awareness, screening, and detection tests regarding screening aids in the detection of previously under noticed cancers. 1, 7

Screening for various cancers is recommended for all persons aged 40 and older by the American Cancer Society, especially if there is a preexisting condition or hereditary syndrome in their family's history. However, the economic value and overall effect on mortality rates due to some types of screening such as for prostate or lung cancer finds insufficient evidence to suggest screening for asymptomatic low risk individuals of some cancers. 1, 7 , 16, 18    In fact, no major professional organization currently recommends screening for lung cancer, even for moderate risk lung cancer potentials.  18, 39, 43  

Avoidance or cessation of:  13, 14

• tobacco products such as cigarettes
• excessive exposure to sunlight
• excessive alcoholic consumption.

Screenings such as mammography and breast examination for breast cancer and colonoscopy for colon cancer may help catch these cancers at their early, most treatable stages. 7

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 Tests and Exams

Review of the literature suggests that a formal or preferable screening method has yet to be agreed upon, however: some methods used include: 7, 27

 

• Fecal Occult Blood Testing (FOBT)
• Sigmoidoscopy
• Digitial Rectal Screening
• Barium Enema
• Colonoscopy

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