Battling Cancer

Of the 1.2 million Americans diagnosed with cancer each year, approximately 400,000 will develop oral complications from their treatments. (Source: ACS)

While eliminating oral complications is not possible, the goal is to educate and prevent severe levels of stomatitis, and mucositis which will prevent the completion of treatment or lead to infections that can spread via the bloodstream through a cancer patient’s already compromised immune system.

More →

DID YOU KNOW?

The average annual drug cost per cancer patient was $13,113 as of Jan. 1 of this year, up from $6,490 in 2001. (Source: Wall Street Journal Health Blog and Cancer e-search)

These rising costs affect not only cancer patients, but every American, as we all share in the burden of Medicare.

Are you having problems translating your Medicare benefits?

Here are a few helpful sites:

WebMD: Medicare Health Center

Medicare Learning Network:An Overview of Medicare Covered Diabetic Supplies and Services (pdf format)

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: The Official U.S. Government Site For People with Medicare More →

It is a swelling or ‘edema’ caused by a build up of fluid in the lymphatic system. Secondary lymphedema is what is seen in cancer patients after surgery to remove or dissect the lymph nodes in the arm, groin or pelvis. Normally the lymphatic system and the fluid of this system move to flight infection. Once the lymph nodes are removed fluid collects in the spaces between cell tissues. The buildup of fluid causes not only swelling but inflammation, pain and thickening of the skin in the area affected.

More →

Erythropenia is a deficiency of red blood cells or erythrocytes. Remember your blood is made up of red blood cells, white blood cells and plasma.

Your normal blood test, CBC or complete blood count assesses the number of red cells in a drop of your blood.

More →

Monoclonal Antibodies, MOABs or MABs, are a form of immunotherapy. They are currently the number one type of immunotherapy used for cancer patients.

The job of human antibodies is to mark foreign antigens that are on cells. This marking labels them for destruction by macrophages. Many researchers believe the body destroys cancer cells identified as foreign antigens on a regular basis, however; when the immune system is compromised the cancer cells are able to gain control.

Monoclonal antibodies are made in the laboratory using clones of “humanized” antibodies. This done by injecting human cancer cells into mice. The mice then produce antibodies to fight the cancer cells. Researchers combine these antibodies with laboratory grown antibodies and then they are injected into a vein.

Inside the body the antibodies can do several things such as:

• Stimulate the human immune system to recognize and destroy cancer cells
• Toxins can be attached to the antibodies which will destroy the cancer cells
• Radioactive particles can be attached to the antibodies to destroy cancer cells
• Block receptors which signal growth cells that help the cancer grow

Some monoclonal therapy is given with chemotherapy and some is given alone. It is important to note that monoclonal antibodies are antigen specific, targeted to a specific type of cell. An antigen protein that is targeted at breast cancer cells will not work for lymphoma.

There are side effects of this therapy including the fact that sometimes the antibodies do not recognize the cells and doesn’t do the intended job, which is why monoclonal therapy is often given with other therapies. It is also possible and likely that eventually the body will produce its own antibodies that will destroy the “humanized” antigens.

More →

One of the side effects of radiation, chemotherapy and many drug therapies is xerostomia or dry mouth. It is important to note that sometimes the dose of radiation may cause permanent damage to the salivary glands. The job of saliva is not only to keep the mouth moist for eating and swallowing but to rinse away food and bacteria. Dry mouth puts cancer patients at greater risk for dental disease and infections.

Salivary glands: More →

Photodynamic Therapy (PDT) uses a photosensitizing agent and light to destroy cancer cells. A photosensitizing agent is first either injected or applied to the skin. A waiting period will allow it to pass from normal cells. This period of time can be up to 48 hours and is called the drug to light interval.

Then light is sent into the tumor causing a chemical reaction with the photosensitizing agent and tissue oxygen produced by the light. The procedure takes about thirty minutes.

More →

New options mean new hope for cancer patients.

While some of the treatment options listed today have been used in cancer regimes for years, others mentioned are new. What they have in common is that they may fall into the category of “what exactly is that all about?”

Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy and Hyperthermic Intraoperative Peritoneal Chemotherapy or Hyperthermic Interperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC): Intraperitoneal chemotherapy is given directly into the abdominal cavity. Intra = into. Peritoneal = abdominal cavity. Hyperthermic = heated above the temperature of the human body.

More →

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of cancer is a treatment which involves the placement of a needle probe into a small tumor (5-7 cm) and utilizing heat generated by RFA energy (not radiation) into the needle to destroy the tumor. Once the probe is inserted, prongs are opened for placement. A video demonstration of the procedure is available online at the American Cancer Ablation Center site.

RFA is the same type of energy used in electrosurgical cauterizing units.

More →

May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month.

Skin Cancer includes

• Basal Cell Carcinoma
• Squamous Cell Carcinoma
• Melanoma

Last month Battling Cancer covered Melanoma in an exclusive post you can find in the archives.

More →