Barrett's esophagus, also called Barrett esophagus, results from repetitive reflux or backing up of stomach acid and contents into the esophagus. With the passage of time, this constant assault causes injury and can cause pre-malignant changes to occur to the esophageal tissues.

The body's ability to heal is a marvelous thing to witness, and we have all seen it firsthand when we have sustained cuts, bruises, wounds, and broken bones (during childhood at the very least) and have lived to tell the tale. When such injuries occur, our bodies produce new cells and form scar tissues to repair the damages.

But the marvelous adaptability of the human body does have its limits. In the case of Barrett esophagus, normal cells lining the esophagus called squamous epithelium (the type most prevalent in the body) that have fought the good fight finally give up and start to mutate to columnar epithelium, the cell type found in the stomach. Of those who suffer from chronic acid reflux, 9-15% will undergo this cellular surrender and adaptation. This esophageal cellular change, called metaplasia, enables the esophagus to withstand the constant barrage of stomach acid/contents.

Now this may sound like a good thing: after all, when this occurs the acid reflux sufferer may experience relief from symptoms that may seem like his/her acid reflux is improving. This is, however, a mistaken belief because the esophageal cells are mutating and advancing to a pre-cancerous condition. Does this mean that a person with Barrett's esophagus will get cancer? The answer is no, but there is a higher incidence, approximately 30-100 times higher, that a person with this condition will be predisposed to it.

Acid reflux has gotten a lot of press over the years, which is good. New medications have been developed to deal with it. Once thought to be just a nuisance, this condition has been taken more seriously and people are more educated about it.

Now people are becoming educated about Barrett esophagus, also a good thing. Knowledge is power, and the more all of us know about this condition, the sooner we can get medical intervention and the proper treatment to greatly diminish the odds that it will advance to esophageal cancer, which continues to rise and has a mortality rate exceeding 80% after five years. Early detection is key, and there is now hope that the mortality rate of esophageal cancer can be drastically reduced.

The best defense is a good offense not only holds true in football but also in medicine. Never was this truer than with esophageal cancer and its early warning defense system, Barrett's esophagus.

Barrett's Esophagus is not a death sentence. Knowledge is power, so learn more about it by going here: Acid Reflux Info Center.



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mary_Ruff_King

Barrett's esophagus, also called Barrett esophagus, results from repetitive reflux or backing up of stomach acid and contents into the esophagus. With the passage of time, this constant assault causes injury and can cause pre-malignant changes to occur to the esophageal tissues.

The body's ability to heal is a marvelous thing to witness, and we have all seen it firsthand when we have sustained cuts, bruises, wounds, and broken bones (during childhood at the very least) and have lived to tell the tale. When such injuries occur, our bodies produce new cells and form scar tissues to repair the damages.

But the marvelous adaptability of the human body does have its limits. In the case of Barrett esophagus, normal cells lining the esophagus called squamous epithelium (the type most prevalent in the body) that have fought the good fight finally give up and start to mutate to columnar epithelium, the cell type found in the stomach. Of those who suffer from chronic acid reflux, 9-15% will undergo this cellular surrender and adaptation. This esophageal cellular change, called metaplasia, enables the esophagus to withstand the constant barrage of stomach acid/contents.

Now this may sound like a good thing: after all, when this occurs the acid reflux sufferer may experience relief from symptoms that may seem like his/her acid reflux is improving. This is, however, a mistaken belief because the esophageal cells are mutating and advancing to a pre-cancerous condition. Does this mean that a person with Barrett's esophagus will get cancer? The answer is no, but there is a higher incidence, approximately 30-100 times higher, that a person with this condition will be predisposed to it.

Acid reflux has gotten a lot of press over the years, which is good. New medications have been developed to deal with it. Once thought to be just a nuisance, this condition has been taken more seriously and people are more educated about it.

Now people are becoming educated about Barrett esophagus, also a good thing. Knowledge is power, and the more all of us know about this condition, the sooner we can get medical intervention and the proper treatment to greatly diminish the odds that it will advance to esophageal cancer, which continues to rise and has a mortality rate exceeding 80% after five years. Early detection is key, and there is now hope that the mortality rate of esophageal cancer can be drastically reduced.

The best defense is a good offense not only holds true in football but also in medicine. Never was this truer than with esophageal cancer and its early warning defense system, Barrett's esophagus.

Barrett's Esophagus is not a death sentence. Knowledge is power, so learn more about it by going here: Acid Reflux Info Center.



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mary_Ruff_King

For some forms of cancer, such as leukemia or ovarian cancer, chemotherapy is the main form of treatment available. In other cases, such as mesothelioma (a form of lung cancer caused by asbestos) or colon cancer, chemotherapy is an adjuvant therapy, meaning that it is administered after the main treatment. When possible, the main treatment is usually surgery to remove the cancerous growth, followed by chemotherapy to kill any remaining cancerous cells.

Even when chemotherapy is only being used as an adjacent treatment, it can still have serious side effects. This article will describe the most common symptoms suffered by chemo patients, and give advice on how to counteract them.

One of the most common side effects of chemotherapy is nausea. Doctors can prescribe drugs to help patients cope with this. These drugs will either be anti-nausea, meaning that they help to combat the feeling of queasiness, or antiemetic, meaning that they help prevent vomiting. One of the more common anti-nausea drugs is Compasine. Zofran is a widely-prescribed antiemetic. THC, the active component of marijuana, has also shown to be effective in treating nausea. If you live in an area where medical marijuana is available, this might be a good option to look into. If not, the prescription drug Marinol, which is essentially synthetic THC, may help.

There are also remedies besides drugs that can help with nausea. Some people report that tea made with chamomile or caraway seed helped them feel better. Other patients rely on drinks such as ginger ale or sports drinks to calm their stomachs. Mild broths are usually easy to keep down and can be soothing. Alternative medications such as acupuncture or aromatherapy also help some people.

Many chemotherapy patients experience memory problems and a "foggy" feeling. This is commonly known as "chemo-brain," and it can be a real nuisance. Some patients find that mild physical and mental exercise helps - take walks when you're up to it, and work on puzzles or riddles to stay sharp. Taking careful notes on everything you need to remember can help you cope with memory issues.

One of the most widely-known side effects of chemotherapy is hair loss. This may seem trivial, but many cancer patients, particularly women, are concerned about their appearance while undergoing treatment. Keeping your spirits up is important to the healing process, and this can be difficult to do when you look (and often get treated) like a sick person. Some patients wear wigs to hide hair loss, while others prefer hats or scarves. The company Chemo Savvy offers a variety of hair products, hats and tips for maintaining a good appearance throughout chemo.



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joseph_Devine

Pancreatic cancer is currently the fifth most common form of cancer in the United States and is diagnosed in around 40,000 Americans each year. In most cases the disease has an extremely poor survival outcome. Just 1 in 20 people diagnosed with pancreatic cancer will still be alive after five years.

The main reason pancreatic cancer has such a poor survival outcome is that the majority of cases are diagnosed when the cancer is at a very late stage. This is due to the non-specific symptoms associated with the disease in its early stages. Early warning signs include pain in the upper abdomen, jaundice, loss of appetite, and weight loss.

There are several risk factors that are known to affect an individual's probability of developing pancreatic cancer. While some of these cannot be changed, several can be influenced by sensible lifestyle and diet modifications.

Here are eleven of the more established risk factors for pancreatic cancer.

Age: The incidence of pancreatic cancer increases dramatically with age. The disease is extremely rare in people under the age of 50 with under 5% of all cases being diagnosed in this age bracket. Three-quarters of all cases occur in people over the age of sixty.

Gender: As is the case with most other forms of cancer, males are around 10% more likely to develop cancer of the pancreas than females.

Race: African Americans are 50% more likely to develop pancreatic cancer in their lifetimes than Caucasians. Native Hawaiians and New Zealand Maoris also have relatively high rates of the disease.

Obesity: People who are overweight, and in particular those who carry a large amount of abdominal fat are at a greater risk of developing pancreatic cancer.

Diabetes: People who have been diagnosed with diabetes are slightly more likely to develop cancer of the pancreas.

Family History: It is thought that around 10% of pancreatic cancers are inherited. A first degree relative who has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer increases your chances of developing the disease three-fold.

Smoking: Heavy smokers who have been smoking for at least twenty years are at almost twice the risk of developing pancreatic cancer as non-smokers. Former smokers, light smokers, and tobacco chewers are also at a greater risk.

Diet: A fatty diet, a diet high in red or processed meat, a high cholesterol diet, and a diet lacking in fresh fruit and vegetables are all thought to be linked to an increased risk of developing pancreatic cancer.

Physical Inactivity: People who engage in physical exercise less than once a week are at a significantly higher risk of developing pancreatic cancer than those who exercise three or more times a week.

Exposure To Carcinogens: Exposure to certain carcinogenic chemicals such as pesticides, dyes, cadmium, nickel, chromium, and asbestos dust may increase a persons chances of developing the disease.

Alcohol Consumption The evidence for a link between pancreatic cancer and alcohol is mixed. Heavy drinking can cause pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) which has been linked to an increased risk of the disease.



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Wu-Yi Tea is now the most known green tea supplement on the market today. The fat and weight loss effects of this tea have been phenomenal, but else can it do? Scientists are now saying that certain chemicals in green tea can actually fight and maybe even cure cancer. The antioxidants in Wu-Yi tea have been known to help prevent cancer and keep the body healthy. Now, researchers are saying the tea can actually shut down a key molecule that can play a significant role in the development of the disease.

The molecule is know as AH, and is responsible for activating genes. This is the same way as getting blue eyes, or having a deep voice, but AH can also work later on in life to develop certain diseases. Scientists are now starting to notice that two compounds present in green tea can help stop the AH molecule from activating diseases such as cancer.

When green tea is consumed and the body begins to digest, it sends different vitamins and nutrients to different parts of the body. One of these nutrients in particular is sent to the cells in the body responsible for cancer. The AH molecule is present in these cells, but somehow the minerals in green tea are able to shut off the molecule and prevent cancer from forming. The only problem is that cancer is very developed and can sometimes morph its identification and still form. Scientists are still working on a way to stop the morphing from happening.



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Ryan_J_Anderson

Vitamin D -The Sunshine Vitamin!

I more than suspect that most doctors have no idea when it comes to the full benefits of vitamin D. As well as its use in a whole range of treatment and prevention such as:

- Type 2 diabetes

- As an anti-inflammatory agent...

- Protection against multiple sclerosis

- Reducing bone fragility in old people

- Parkinson's disease

- Renal (kidney) failure if in chronic deficiency of the vitamin

- Much more prone to chronic pain if in deficiency of the vitamin

Vitamin D also has showed some amazing results when looked at as a form of cancer prevention.

The Creighton, Nebraska Study 'The Greatest Cancer Breakthrough Ever?'

In June 2007, the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition published an article. It showed by means of a three-year study how 1179 post-menopausal women in Nebraska prevented cancer risk by as much as between 60-77%. This amazing result was achieved by giving the women vitamin D3, the sunshine vitamin (so called the sunshine vitamin because humans can obtain all the requirements of vitamin D3 through getting 10-15 minutes of natural sunlight daily). This was given in the way of dietary supplementation. Principally, Professor Joan Lappe of Creighton University School of Medicine had conducted the study.

One website had called it the 'greatest breakthrough on cancer, ever.' The findings certainly show that vitamin D is a lifesaver when it comes to cancer prevention and it alarmingly reveals how it is neglected in the diet. From her results, Professor Lappe at the university described vitamin D as '...a critical tool in fighting cancer as well as many other diseases.'

In spite of its important findings, the report did not make it to the more prestigious journals such as the 'Journal of the American Medical Association.' It was also published on a Friday, a low impact news day, a time usually for less significant research.

I have no doubt, the reason being for its lack of recognition was due to the fact that the medical/pharmaceutical establishment don't want this effective form of cancer prevention to be pursued: Think of the money they would lose if the public knew that sunshine could be doing more good than their expensive invasive medicine that can do more harm than good!



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Paul_A_Phillips

Bone cancer is rare and accounts for less than 1% of all new tumors. Not all bone tumors are fatal in fact benign (non cancerous) abnormalities are more common than malignant ones. Most bone cancers are secondary and have been spread from another site. Primary bone cancer which starts in the bone is quite rare constituting less than one per cent of all malignant tumors. They are more common in males, especially in children and adolescents. The most common type of primary bone cancer is osteosarcoma. This type of carcinoma usually affects young adults. It can affect any bone, but the arms, legs and pelvis are more commonly affected. Other less common forms of primary bone cancer include Ewing sarcoma, malignant fibrous histiocytoma and chondrosarcoma.

Primary Bone Cancer
The causes of primary bone tumours are not known; however, adults who have Pagets disease (a bone disease) may have an increased risk.

Secondary bone cancer
Secondary bone cancer is the most common bone cancer. It is a carcinoma that starts somewhere else in the body and spreads (metastasises) to the bone. The most common cancers that spread to the bone originate in the breast, prostate, lung, kidney and thyroid.

Reticulum cell sarcoma of the bone
A cancerous tumor of the bone marrow presenting in more males than females.

Leukaemia
Cancer of the blood, which starts in the bone marrow

Symptoms of bore cancer
Symptoms tend to develop slowly and depend on the type, location, and size of the tumor. The signs and symptoms of bone cancer include: painful bones and joints, swelling of bones and joints, problems with movement, susceptibility to fractures. Less common symptoms include: unexplained weight loss, tiredness, fever and sweating.

Remember bone cancer is very rare so if you have any of these symptoms it is likely to be caused by another condition. Always see your doctor if you have for a diagnosis.

Causes
Although bone cancer does not have a clearly defined cause, researchers have identified several factors that increase the likelihood of developing these tumors. A small number of bone cancers are due to heredity.

Diagnosis
Bone cancer can present itself in any of the bones of the body, but it is diagnosed most often in the long bones of the arms and legs.

Diagnosing bone cancer involves a number of tests, including: X-rays and bone scans to show the exact location and size of the cancer (these are always done prior to biopsy), bone biopsy where a small sample of the cancer is removed from the bone and examined in the laboratory for the presence of malignant cells, Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scan similar to a CT scan but uses magnetism instead of x-rays to build three-dimensional pictures of your body.

Treatment
The treatment and prognosis of bone cancer depend upon multiple factors including the type and extent of the cancer, the patient's age and overall health status. Tumors may be treated with surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, or a combination of these.

Primary bone cancers:
The tumor, surrounding bone tissue and nearby lymph nodes are surgically removed. In severe cases, the affected limb may need to be amputated, but this is rare. Treatment may also include radiotherapy (x-rays to target and kill the cancer cells) and chemotherapy (anti-cancer drugs). These may be given before surgery, to shrink the cancer and/or afterward to destroy any remaining cancer cells.

Secondary bone cancer:
Treatment depends on the treatment for the original tumor, but usually includes chemotherapy, radiotherapy or hormone therapy. Surgery may be needed to strengthen the affected bone.

Prognosis
Overall, the chance of recovery (prognosis) for bone cancers has improved significantly since the development of modern chemotherapy. The chance of recovery will depend on a variety of influences; if the cancer has spread, the type of bone cancer, the size of the tumour, location, the person's general health and other individual factors.

If the tumor is very small and localized, the five-year survival rate is close to 90 percent. If the cancer has begun to spread, however, survival becomes more difficult. The five-year survival rate is only about 60 percent, and the prognosis is poor once the cancer spreads.

Bone cancer in cats and dogs
Bone carcinoma in dogs and cats can be a challenging disorder. Osteosarcoma is by far the most common bone tumour if dogs, usually striking the leg bones of larger breeds. Chemotherapy significantly prolongs the survival of animals with osteosarcoma when used in conjunction with surgery. For dogs Cisplatin alone or in combination with doxorubicin markedly improves survival time to a median of 8-10 months with the percentage of dogs alive after11 months at 50%.

Feline Osteosarcoma unlike its canine counterpart it has a much lower rate of metastasis and longer term survival can be expected with complete excision. Median survival for cats with osteosarcoma is approximately 2 years with many cats outreaching that.



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dick_Aronson

Thyroid cancer is a fairly common malignancy which can occur in any age group especially in people who have had radiation therapy in the neck area, although it is most common after age 30 and its aggressiveness increases significantly in older patients. Thyroid cancer develops in your thyroid, a butterfly-shaped gland located at the base of your neck, just below your Adam's apple.

Types of Thyroid Cancer
Thyroid cancers are divided into papillary carcinomas, follicular carcinomas, medullary thyroid carcinomas (MTCs), anaplastic carcinomas, primary thyroid lymphomas, and primary thyroid sarcomas.

Papillary tumours account for half of all thyroid cancers in adults, it is most common in young adult females. Follicular carcinomas are less common but more likely to recur and metastasize to the regional nodes and through blood vessels into the bones, liver and lungs. Medullary carcinoma is a rare familial cancer which is completely curable if detected before it causes symptoms. The least common type of thyroid cancer is anaplastic which has a very poor prognosis. Anaplastic thyroid cancer tends to be found after it has spread and is not cured in most cases

Causes of Thyroid Cancer
Predisposing factors include; radiation exposure, prolonged thyroid stimulating hormone exposure, familial predisposition and chronic goiter.

Signs and Symptoms
The primary signs of thyroid tumors are: a painless nodule, a lump or swelling in the neck sometimes growing rapidly, a pain in the front of the neck sometimes going up to the ears, hoarseness or other voice changes that do not go away, trouble swallowing, breathing problems, a cough that continues and is not due to a cold.

Diagnosis
The first clue is usually an enlarged palpable nodule in the thyroid gland, neck, lymph nodes of the neck, or vocal chords. Tests must rule out non malignant thyroid enlargements which are much more common. Thyroid scans measure the ability of the nodules to trap isotopes in comparison to the rest of the thyroid. Other tests include CT scans, biopsy and ultrasonic scans.

Treatment
Treatment options may include surgery to remove the thyroid gland and nearby lymph nodes, chemotherapy, radiation therapy and hormone therapy. Anaplastic cancer patients
often require a tracheostomy during the treatment and treatment is much more aggressive than for other types of thyroid cancer.

Radioactive Iodine is given to the patient with thyroid cancer after their cancer has been removed because if there are any thyroid cancer cells remaining in the body then these cells will absorb and concentrate the radioactive poisonous iodine.

Prognosis
The survival rate for patients with papillary tumors which have not spread is excellent.
Medullary cancer of the thyroid is significantly less common, but has a worse prognosis.



Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dick_Aronson