Tuesday, October 19, 2010

DIABETES

What is Diabetes?

Diabetes is a common group of chronic metabolic diseases that cause high blood sugar (glucose) levels in the body due to defects in insulin production or function. Diabetes is also known as diabetes mellitus to distinguish it from a relatively rare metabolic disorder called diabetes insipidus that doesn’t affect blood sugar. Symptoms of diabetes occur when a lack of insulin or insulin resistance stops glucose from entering the cells and fueling and energizing the body. The resulting spike in glucose can result in symptoms such as increased hunger and thirst, weight loss, fatigue, and frequent infections. Long-term complications include kidney failure, nerve damage, and blindness.

Types of Diabetes

Diabetes is categorized into two main categories and one subcategory, but all are typified by problems of insulin resulting in high blood sugar levels in the body. The categories are:

Type 1 Diabetes
This type of diabetes is categorized as an autoimmune disease and occurs when the body’s misdirected immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. Although genetic or environmental triggers are suspected, the exact cause of type 1 diabetes—once referred to as insulin-dependent or juvenile-onset diabetes—is not completely understood. Type 1 accounts for only five to 10 percent of diabetes cases in the United States, and while it can occur at any age, most patients are diagnosed as children or young adults. Those with type 1 diabetes must take insulin daily to manage their condition.

Type 2 Diabetes
This type most often develops gradually with age and is characterized by insulin resistance in the body. Because of this resistance, the body’s fat, liver, and muscle cells are unable to take in and store glucose, which is used for energy. The glucose remains in the blood. The abnormal buildup of glucose (blood sugar) can result in hyperglycemia and impaired body functions. Type 2 diabetes occurs most often in people who are overweight because fat interferes with the body’s ability to use insulin, but it also can occur in thin people and the elderly. Family history and genetics play a major role in type 2 diabetes, and inactivity and poor diet can also increase the risk.

Gestational Diabetes
Gestational diabetes is defined as blood-sugar elevation during pregnancy and is known to affect about three to eight percent of women. Left undiagnosed or untreated, it can lead to problems such as high birth weight and breathing problems for the baby. Gestational diabetes usually resolves in the mother after the baby is born, but statistics show that women who have gestational diabetes have a much greater chance of developing type 2 diabetes within five to 10 years.

Prediabetes
This condition is marked by blood sugar levels that are too high to be considered normal but are not yet high enough to be in the range of a typical diabetes diagnosis. Prediabetes increases not only your risk of developing diabetes but also heart disease.

Diabetes Symptoms
Diabetes symptoms occur when glucose (blood sugar) levels in the body become abnormally elevated. The most common symptoms of diabetes include thirst, fatigue, frequent or increased urination, and blurry vision, but symptoms do vary from one person to the next and depend on which type of diabetes you have. Symptoms of type 1 diabetes tend to begin abruptly and dramatically. In type 2 diabetes, the symptoms are similar but develop slowly, or there may be no symptoms at all. It is common for no symptoms to be present in gestational diabetes. In some cases, your symptoms may seem vague or harmless. It is essential that if you experience one or more of these symptoms on a regular basis, you see your doctor immediately for a diabetes screening and blood tests.

Common Diabetes Symptoms

Thirst/Dehydration
Diabetes causes your blood glucose levels to rise. Increased glucose levels cause your body to pull fluid from your cells into the bloodstream and deliver the increased load to your kidneys, causing them to produce more urine than normal. Frequent urination, another common symptom, causes you to feel thirsty and thus drink more liquids, compounding the problem.

Weight loss
Your body’s inability to properly use the glucose generated from the foods you eat, as well as the significant number of calories lost to increased urination, cause your body to break down other energy sources available—such as fat—which can result in weight loss. You may be eating normally and constantly feel hungry yet continue to lose weight.

Fatigue
Glucose is a primary source of fuel for the body. If you have diabetes, your body’s inability to convert glucose into energy will inevitably lead to fatigue, ranging from a general worn-down feeling to exhaustion.

Blurred Vision
Abnormally high glucose levels in the blood can also lead to eye problems such as swelling of the lens, which causes blurred vision. Adequately controlling your blood sugar levels can help correct this symptom over time. Left undetected, though, diabetes can lead to more serious eye problems such as cataracts, glaucoma, and retinopathy. In fact, diabetes is the leading cause of blindness in adults age 20 to 74.

Recurring Infections
High glucose levels in your body’s tissues may hinder the body’s ability to heal and make you more susceptible to various kinds of bacteria and infections, especially of the skin, kidneys, bladder, and feet.

Advanced Diabetes Symptoms
Although some people with diabetes may have no symptoms or mild symptoms that seem relatively harmless, untreated diabetes can result in dangerously high levels of blood sugar, called ketoacidosis. (Ketoacidosis is rare in type 2 diabetes because insulin is still being produced.) This condition can cause:
  • Deep, rapid breathing
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Stomach pain
  • Flushed complexion
  • Confusion
  • Bad breath
  • Coma
Dangerously low levels of blood sugar, called hypoglycemia, are sometimes associated with diabetes treatments. Hypoglycemia can cause:
  • Fainting
  • Rapid heartbeat
  • Sweating
  • Dizziness and trembling
  • Confusion
  • Anxiety
  • Drowsiness
  • Cramps
Diabetes CausesDiabetes is a chronic disease that is caused by the body’s inability to use glucose (blood sugar) properly due to a lack of or defects in insulin production. The precise cause of this insulin malfunction isn’t entirely understood, but genetic and environmental factors come into play. Additional contributing factors include inactivity and obesity. Specific causes include the following:

Lack of Insulin
This is specific to type 1 diabetes. It occurs when insulin-producing beta-cells are damaged or destroyed and stop producing insulin. Insulin is needed to move blood sugar into cells throughout the body. The resulting insulin deficiency leads to elevated glucose in the blood and prevents the body from being fueled properly.

Insulin Resistance
This is specific to type 2 diabetes. It occurs when insulin is produced normally in the pancreas, but the body is unable to use it properly and move it into the cells for fuel. At first, the beta cells will produce more insulin in an attempt to overcome the body’s resistance to it, but over time, the cells will eventually “wear out.” At that point the body decreases its insulin production, which leads to elevated glucose levels in the blood.

Pregnancy
A small percentage—studies show less than eight percent—of pregnant women may develop gestational diabetes. Hormones developed in the placenta interfere with the body’s normal insulin response and lead to insulin resistance and high levels of glucose in the blood.

Genetics
Inherited risk factors are believed to be a factor in causing all types of diabetes, but because most people with these risk factors do not develop the disease, researchers believe environmental triggers—diet and even climate—may also play a role. Genetics are believed to play an even stronger role in type 2 diabetes, in which family history is one of the leading factors. At the same time, type 2 diabetes also has a stronger environmental basis than type 1 diabetes. In other words, a family history of type 2 diabetes is a hugely important risk factor, but only in western cultures where high-fat diets and sedentary lifestyles are common. People living in non-western cultures rarely develop type 2 diabetes, no matter what their genetic risk.

Diabetes Risk Factors

Diabetes affects more than 20 million Americans, and 57 million Americans have prediabetes (early type 2 diabetes). There are many common risk factors to both type 1 and type 2 diabetes, but some are more specific to one or the other. Here’s a comprehensive overview of risk factors.

Family History
Genetics play a role in determining how likely you are to develop some type of diabetes. Although researchers don’t fully understand the role of genetics in the development of diabetes, statistics show that if you have a parent or sibling with diabetes, your odds of developing it yourself increase.

Age
According to the American Diabetes Association, about one in 13 people in the United States have diabetes. But statistics show that your risk of type 2 diabetes increases as you get older, especially after age 45. In fact, more than 80 percent of cases occur in people over age 45, though recent statistics indicate that the incidence of type 2 diabetes is increasing dramatically among children, adolescents, and younger adults. Likely factors include reduced exercise, decreased muscle mass, and weight gain as you age. Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed by the age of 30.

Obesity
Excess body fat—especially around your middle—can lead to insulin resistance and increased blood sugar levels. Research suggests that excess fatty tissue can trigger inflammation in the body that leads to insulin resistance. But many people who are overweight never develop diabetes, so research remains inconclusive on the link between obesity and diabetes.

Poor Diet
Studies have shown that malnutrition—especially low protein and fiber intake—is a contributing factor in developing type 2 diabetes. A diet high in calories, fat, and cholesterol raises your risk, as does obesity, which increases your body’s resistance to insulin.

Lack of Exercise
Studies show that exercise makes muscle tissue more responsive to insulin, which is why regular exercise such as aerobic and/or resistance training can help lower your risk of diabetes. Talk to your healthcare provider about an exercise plan that’s right for you.

Ethnicity
Although research is inconclusive, some ethnic groups (particularly African Americans, Native Americans, Asians, Pacific Islanders, and Hispanic Americans) have a higher incidence of diabetes.

Gestational Diabetes
Women who develop gestational diabetes during pregnancy are at higher risk for developing type 2 diabetes later in life. Women who deliver a baby weighing more than 9 pounds are also at greater risk.

Diabetes Diagnosis

The results of specific glucose tests play a major role in diagnosing diabetes. These tests include:
  • Fasting blood glucose test
  • Random (non-fasting) glucose test
  • Oral glucose tolerance test
  • Glycated hemoglobin (A1C) test
  • Urine test
In addition, your physician will review your medical history and your family’s medical history, document your diabetes symptoms or lack of symptoms, and conduct a physical exam before making a diagnosis. Because some people with diabetes may not yet have noticeable symptoms, it’s important to have a regular physical or checkup. Random or fasting blood glucose tests are commonly part of an annual physical for diabetes patients.

Diabetes Tests

A series of urine and blood tests are used to diagnose all types of diabetes.

Fasting Blood Glucose (FPG) Test
This is one of the most common and preferred tests; it measures blood glucose in a person who has not eaten anything for at least eight hours. Both diabetes and prediabetes can be diagnosed this way. A blood glucose level of 126 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) or higher indicates diabetes.

Random (Non-fasting) Plasma Glucose Test
This measures blood glucose without fasting. This test, along with an assessment of symptoms, is used to diagnose diabetes but not prediabetes. A blood glucose level of 200 mg/dL or higher indicates diabetes.

Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT)
This blood glucose test, administered after fasting for at least eight hours, is performed two hours after drinking a glucose-containing beverage. It is also common to test blood prior to the glucose drink and then every 30 to 60 minutes afterwards for up to three hours. Both diabetes and prediabetes can be diagnosed this way, and it is routinely used to screen for gestational diabetes. A blood glucose level of 200 mg/dL or higher (two hours after drinking a beverage containing 75 grams of glucose) indicates diabetes. Because glucose levels are normally lower during pregnancy, gestational diabetes is based on slightly different numbers: 155 mg/dL two hours after drinking the glucose beverage.

Glycated Hemoglobin (A1C) Test
The higher your blood sugar levels, the more hemoglobin you’ll have with sugar attached. The A1C test measures the percentage of blood sugar attached to hemoglobin, the oxygen-carrying protein in red blood cells. The goal of the A1C test is to measure your average glucose levels for two to three months. A long-term average can be more accurate than a one-time test. An A1C level of 6.5 percent or higher on two separate tests indicates you have diabetes.

Urine Test
Although this test alone cannot diagnose diabetes, a urine analysis for abnormal levels of glucose and ketones from the breakdown of fat is often used as part of an overall diagnosis.

Diabetes Treatments

There is no cure for diabetes, but it usually can be treated and managed effectively. In fact, some people with mild type 2 diabetes can manage their condition with just diet and exercise and can avoid even having to take medication. Your healthcare provider will consider a comprehensive list of factors—your age; overall health; medical history; type of diabetes; extent of the disease; tolerance for specific medications, procedures, or therapies; expectations for the course of the disease; and your opinion or preferences—when assessing your treatment options. Treatments primarily involve diabetes medication, insulin therapy, and/or a diet and exercise plan.

Diabetes Drugs
Several different classes of oral medications are available to treat type 2 diabetes, and they are effective because these patients still have some ability to produce insulin in the pancreas. There are many types of diabetes pills, each with a specific purpose, and most patients take several different medications. There are no similar medications to treat people with type 1 diabetes. However, these medications may be used in combination with an insulin regime to manage blood glucose levels in type 1 diabetics. Learn more about drugs that lower blood sugar levels.

Insulin Therapy
Insulin therapy is needed for people with type 1 diabetes because their pancreases no longer produce it naturally. In type 2 diabetics, the pancreas produces low levels of insulin and may need lower levels of insulin therapy if other types of treatment do not adequately maintain healthy glucose levels.

Because stomach enzymes interfere with insulin, ingesting insulin orally isn’t effective in lowering blood sugar in diabetics. Insulin must be directly introduced into the bloodstream via injection. Common forms of delivery include a needle and syringe, an insulin pen that contains an insulin cartridge, or an insulin pump that continuously administers proper doses.

Not all insulin is the same. They differentiate from each other by several factors: when the isulin begins working after injection, when it works the hardest, and how long it lingers in the body. For these reasons, your doctor may prescribe different types of insulin to use at different times of the day. These include:

  • rapid-acting insulin
  • short-acting insulin
  • long-acting insulin
  • intermediate options
Glucose Monitoring
Regularly checking your blood sugar level is the only way to know if your blood sugar levels remain within your target range. Food, exercise, medications, illnesses, alcohol, time of day, and stress can all affect your glucose levels, causing many unwanted fluctuations.

The more you test your blood sugar and know how your body responds to those factors, the safer you will be. Also, paying attention to any signs of hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) or hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) can help manage your diabetes. Should you experience symptoms of either, immediately check your glucose level.

You doctor also may recommend regular testing, beyond your regular blood-sugar monitoring, of how effective your diabetes treatment plan is. A common way to do this through called A1C testing. It is not only the international standard for a diabetes diagnosis, but it measures your average blood sugar level over a period of two to three months. The test determines if changes need to be made to diet, insulin regimen, or other factors. While a patient’s target A1C goal varies depending on age and other factors, the American Diabetes Association recommends an A1C reading of below seven percent for most people.

Diet
Diet plays a crucial part in managing diabetes. However, no single diet is perfect for everyone. Diabetics, possibly in conjunction with advice from a dietician, should stick to highly nutritious foods that are low in fat and calories, such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Limiting animal products and sugars also helps in maintaining healthy blood sugar levels. Balancing proportionate amounts of carbohydrates, proteins, sugars, and fats are key to managing diabetes. Regular blood sugar monitoring after meals can help you and your doctor or dietician discover the foods are best for you and those you should avoid.

Exercise
Exercise helps diabetics by lowering their blood sugar. Physical activity not only helps maintain a healthy weight, but it also transports sugar to cells where it is turned into energy. Along with this, aerobic exercise increases a person’s sensitivity to insulin. With exercise, a person’s body needs less insulin to transport sugar. While every person’s diabetes treatment varies, getting about 30 minutes of aerobic exercise each day can help manage your diabetes. As with any part of your diabetes treatment, work with your doctor on an exercise program that fits your age and fitness level.

Pancreas Transplant
Pancreas transplants are usually reserved for people whose diabetes has become so severe that it is unmanageable through traditional treatments. As with any organ transplants, pancreas transplants require immune system-suppressing drugs to prevent the body from rejecting the new organ. Those drugs increase the likelihood of serious side effects, including infection, organ injury, and even cancer. However, if a pancreas transplant is successful, the patient no longer will need insulin treatment because the new pancreas will naturally produce insulin and regulate glucose.

READ MORE - DIABETES

CANCER

Cancer is an umbrella term for a large group of diseases caused when abnormal cells divide and invade other tissue and organs. Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the U.S., and more than 1.5 million Americans are diagnosed with some form of it every year. According to the American Cancer Society, half of all men and a third of all women in the U.S. will develop cancer in their lifetimes.

Cancer Growth and Metastasis

Healthy cells have a specific life cycle, reproducing and dying off in a way that is determined by the type of cell. But sometimes, because of abnormalities, the cells multiply out of control and also do not die off when they should. This process may result in growths called tumors, which in turn can cause a variety of symptoms, depending on where they grow.

However, not all tumors are cancerous. Benign tumors are noncancerous and do not spread to nearby tissues, though they can sometimes grow large and cause problems when they press against neighboring organs and tissue. Malignant tumors are cancerous, and they have the ability to invade other parts of the body.

Cancer cells can also migrate through the bloodstream or lymphatic system from the place they originally grew to distant areas of the body. This process is called metastasis. Cancers that have metastasized are considered more advanced than those that have not, and metastatic cancers tend to be harder to treat and more fatal.

Types of Cancer

Cancers are named for the area in which they begin, even if they spread to other parts of the body. For example, a cancer that begins in the lungs and spreads to the liver is still called lung cancer. There are also several clinical terms used for certain cancers:
  • Carcinoma is a cancer that starts in the skin or the tissues that line other organs.Sarcoma is
  • a cancer of connective tissues such as bones, muscles, cartilage, and blood vessels.
  • Leukemia is a cancer of bone marrow, which creates blood cells.
  • Lymphoma and myeloma are cancers of the immune system.

Risk Factors & Treatment


Not all of the causes of cancer are known, but many things have been found to affect a person's risk for developing certain kinds of cancer.
  • Diet
  • Exposure to chemicals
  • Unprotected exposure to the sun
  • Genetics
  • Certain viruses, such as HPV
  • Smoking
Visit the Cancer Prevention section for more information.

Treatment depends on the type of cancer and how advanced it is, but the most common types are:
  • Surgery to remove tumors
  • Chemotherapy (the use of toxic medications to kill cancer cells)
  • Radiation therapy (the use of focused beams of radiation to kill cancer cells)
There is no way to prevent cancer with 100 percent certainty, but there are several ways to significantly reduce your risk of developing it.

Quit Smoking

In addition to lung cancer, smoking tobacco is known to cause cancers of the mouth, throat, larynx, esophagus, stomach, pancreas, kidney, bladder, and cervix. Scientists estimate that 30 percent of all cancer deaths in the U.S. are due to smoking. Secondhand smoke, the smoke that nonsmokers are exposed to by being around smokers, is also known to increase the risk of cancer.

Although smokers who quit do not reduce their cancer risk to the level of someone who has never smoked, quitting still helps. According to the National Cancer Institute, people who stop smoking before age 30 have a 90 percent lower risk of dying due to smoking-related disease (such as lung cancer, emphysema, and chronic bronchitis), and those who quit before age 50 have a 50 percent lower risk.

Avoid Carcinogens

A carcinogen is a chemical known to cause cancer. Cigarette smoke, discussed above, contains more than 50 carcinogens. Other carcinogens include:
  • Asbestos
  • Benzene
  • Cadmium
  • Nickel
  • Radon
  • Uranium
  • Vinyl chloride
Minimize Exposure to UV and Other Radiation

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun (and tanning beds) can damage the DNA of skin cells and cause skin cancer. When going out in the sun, always take precautions to protect yourself by wearing a hat, sunglasses, and clothing that covers most of your skin, or by applying sunscreen frequently. Learn more about UV rays, SPF, and the most affective sunscreens.

Other forms of radiation—such as high levels of radon (a radioactive gas) in your home and medical tests that use radiation (x-rays, CT scans)—can also cause cancer. To avoid unnecessary exposure to radiation, test your home for radon (find simple, inexpensive test kits at hardware stores), and avoid excessive x-rays and similar tests when possible.

Eat Healthy and Exercise

Studies have shown that a diet high in fat and red and processed meats increases the risk of colon, prostate, and other cancers. Excessive alcohol consumption—more than one drink per day for women and two per day for men—is also linked to cancers of the mouth, esophagus, and liver. On the other hand, a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains has been found to decrease the risk of digestive system, lung, and other cancers.

Exercising regularly can also lower your cancer risk. Adults who get at least 2.5 hours of moderate intensity physical activity per week lower their risk of colon cancer by a third compared to those who do not exercise.

Obesity and Cancer
A combination of good food choices and exercise helps to achieve and maintain a healthy weight. These lifestyle habits help reduce the risk of cancer (and other diseases such as heart disease and diabetes). Studies have shown that being overweight or obese can increase your risk of breast, colon, esophageal, kidney, gallbladder, and uterine cancers.

Get Tested

Routine cancer tests do not prevent cancer from developing, but they do allow cancers to be detected early, which greatly improves a patient’s prognosis. The American Cancer Society recommends regular screenings for the following:

Breast Cancer
There has been a recent controversy regarding when women should begin regular screenings for breast cancer. The American Cancer Society (ACS) recommends annual mammograms starting at age 40. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommends that women between the ages of 50 and 74 years should have a screening mammogram every other year to check for breast cancer. Talk to your doctor about the right screening plan for you.

Cervical Cancer
The ACS recommends that women begin cervical cancer screening three years after their first vaginal intercourse but no later than 21 years of age, after which they should be screened every year if they are sexually active. Women between ages 30 and 65 whose previous pap smears have been normal should have the test done every three years.

Prostate Cancer
The ACS is less definitive about prostate cancer screening, stating that men should “make informed decisions with their doctor about whether to be tested.” This is due to the lack of research to prove that the potential benefits of screening outweigh the harms of testing and treatment. Men who are 50 years of age should discuss the pros and cons of screening. Those at a higher risk of prostate cancer—such as African-American men or men with a family history of prostate cancer—should start talk to their doctors at age 45.

Colorectal Cancer
There are several tests to screen for colorectal cancer and/or polyps. According to the ACS, women and men over the age of 50 should have an annual fecal occult blood test, which screens for cancer. Other recommended tests that screen for cancer and polyps include a flexible sigmoidoscopy (recommended every five years), a colonoscopy (every 10 years), a double-contrast barium enema (ever 5 years), or a CT colonography (every 5 years). Talk to your doctor about which tests and screening schedule is right for you.

Get Vaccinated

HPV

Some types of human papillomavirus (HPV) can infect the genital area; in fact, genital HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection. Certain types of HPV can cause genital warts, while other types can cause cervical cancer. A vaccine against HPV called Gardasil has been approved by the FDA and is recommended for all girls and women between ages 9 and 26.

Hepatitis B
Hepatitis B virus causes inflammation of the liver, potentially resulting in serious liver disease including chronic infection, scarring, and cancer. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), children should get their first dose of the vaccine—usually given in a series of three or four shots—at birth and should have complete the vaccine by 6 to 18 months of age. It is recommended for anybody under age 18 who did not get the vaccine at birth and for unvaccinated adults at higher risk for the disease.

The vaccine is not recommended for anyone severely allergic to baker’s yeast or other components of the vaccine. Those are ill or who have had a previous severe allergic reaction to the vaccine should not be vaccinated.

There are a variety of symptoms that may indicate the presence of cancer. Unfortunately, other diseases can cause similar problems, so it’s important that you see a doctor if you are having problems with one or more of the symptoms below. Conversely, cancer may be present even in the absence of symptoms, so regular screenings are important for certain cancers.
  • Pain
  • A lump under the skin
  • A new mole or a mole that changes size, or a lesion that doesn’t heal
  • Hoarseness
  • A cough that doesn't go away, coughing up blood, or shortness of breath
  • Trouble swallowing or pain/heartburn after eating
  • Changes in bowel or bladder habits, or blood in the stool or urine
  • Unexplained weight gain or loss
  • Enlarged lymph nodes
  • Neurologic symptoms such as tingling sensations, changes in vision, or seizures
  • Extreme weakness or fatigue
  • Depression
Cancer Treatments

Depending on the type of cancer, where it is located, how advanced it is, and whether it has spread to multiple areas of the body, doctors will choose one or a combination of the treatments below. These treatments can be used as primary therapy (used to kill existing cancer cells) or as adjuvant therapy (used to prevent cancer from coming back).

Surgery

The goal of surgery is to remove all or most of the cancerous tumor(s). Surgery is a very common cancer treatment, but it cannot be used in all cases. For example, cancers of the blood, such as leukemia, do not form tumors. Some tumors may be inoperable because they have grown into or are very close to vital organs. Cancer that has metastasized throughout the body cannot be treated with surgery.

The side effects of cancer surgery are the same as any other kind of surgery and include pain and possible infection. In addition, surgery may damage nearby organs or other important tissue, causing a range of problems.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy uses powerful drugs to kill cancer cells. It is usually given in cycles where the patient is treated for several days and then has a recovery period before another cycle of treatment. There are dozens of chemotherapy drugs, each with its own set of side effects, but the most common side effects are hair loss, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, weakness, fatigue, and a weakened immune system.

Radiation therapy

Radiation therapy is the use of concentrated radiation to kill cancer cells. While chemotherapy affects the entire body, radiation is usually targeted to specific areas, either by implanting radioactive materials in the body or by using computerized machines that control beams of radiation to deliver a very specific dose. Common side effects of radiation therapy are nausea, vomiting, skin sensitivity or burns, and fatigue.

Other Cancer Treatments

Surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy are the most common treatment types, but other options may be available:

  • Hormone therapy uses drugs and surgery to reduce levels of hormones that make certain kinds of cancers grow, especially breast and prostate cancers.
  • Biological therapy (or immunotherapy) attempts to train the body's own immune system to recognize and fight cancer cells.
  • Gene therapy attempts to alter the DNA of cancer cells, either to return them to normal or to make them more susceptible to other types of treatment.
  • Palliative care focuses on improving overall quality of life for patients and families facing serious illness. Recent research has found that cancer patients receiving palliative care had a better quality life and lived longer than those who only received standard treatment.







READ MORE - CANCER