Thursday, February 21, 2008

Information On Pancreatic Cancer

The world can look bleak and harsh at times. While many aspects of life are phenomenal, there are of course a few that create heartache and sadness. I guess we just have to accept the good with the bad. After all, we'll never know what it's like to live in a utopia. One aspect of life as we know it is disease. There's no getting around the misery caused by cancer. Millions of individuals are afflicted with this disease and unfortunately it's in the gene pool. Therefore there's no way to prevent cancer completely. You can try your best to live healthy and stay fit, but it won't absolutely prevent the big C. One thing you can do is acquire as much cancer information as possible. The more you know, the better off you are.

My aunt and her husband both died from cancer. They lived on a farm where pesticides continually polluted their drinking water. I know what you're thinking; this is not the first time this has occurred. I'm sure others have been affected in this very same way. It's sad when I think about it, because the right cancer information could have prevented this tragedy. What you know can truly save your life. As far as my aunt and her husband were concerned, they simply found out too late. What I have trouble understanding is how they didn't know they were in danger. Fields around their home were routinely sprayed with chemicals and they drank well water. Not city water. It baffles me to this day. This kind of cancer information was available in the 1990s. All they had to do was examine their situation. Something that's nearly impossible not to do these days.

Read all you can and find out about numerous causes of cancer. That cancer information you obtain today can really save your butt in the future. Some things I found out a few years back were to buy organic foods, avoid processes foods, and steer clear of inks and dyes on paper towels when using them for cooking. There are numerous little things. The more obvious cancer information is to avoid smoking, chewing tobacco and heavy drinking. All of which lead to certain types of cancer. Learn more about this relentless disease today. A healthy lifestyle is certainly crucial in preventing cancer and other health problems.

Cancer Treatments And The Side Effects

If you or a loved one has recently been diagnosed with cancer, then the discussion has mostly been regarding recommended cancer treatments, side effects, and efficacy. There are a number of cancer treatment options available, including alternative or natural cancer treatments, invasive and non-invasive procedures, chemotherapy, radiation, or a combination. Not every cancer treatment works the same for every patient. It depends a great deal on what type of cancer has been diagnosed, how much it has progressed, and what type of cancer treatments are effective at that particular stage. Some people opt not to proceed with any type of cancer treatment, which is also their choice. If the going through all the pain and suffering just isn’t worth it to them for whatever reason, they are allowed to make this decision. Some aggressive cancers have advanced so quickly that whatever type of therapy chosen may just not be able to stop the cancer from spreading, or it has progressed so far that treatment is not even an option.

When most people think of cancer treatment, they think of chemotherapy. Chemotherapy is used to treat the majority of cancers; there are over 100 different drugs that are used alone or in combination with others, that work systemically throughout the body. There is always a great chance that cancer cells have or will migrate to other parts of the body, which is why chemotherapy is used as the first line approach. Chemotherapy can be administered orally, intramuscularly, or intravenously, and be taken daily, weekly, or monthly. Unfortunately, some side effects are common with chemotherapy, but there are new cancer drugs being developed all the time that work to reduce side effects and make chemotherapy more bearable. Chemotherapy is usually the first step in cancer treatment, before surgery or other more aggressive options are chosen, unless of course there is no choice.

There are also a number of alternative cancer treatments that are very effective when used in conjunction with traditional approaches. Some of these alternative therapies include herbal supplements like various herbal remedies, but care must be taken to not use these treatments in any other way than prescribed, and plenty of research should be conducted first to make sure it’s not just a scam. Cancer patients should also inform their oncologist of everything they are taking, which includes all prescription and over the counter medications, and herbal preparations. There could be a chance of interaction between these chemicals and certain cancer treatments. Before making a decision regarding any type of cancer treatment, do your homework, and get a second opinion. What may be the right cancer treatment for one, may not be for another.