For years, Cancer has been taking people’s lives, tearing families down, and making people stronger after they are weak. After noticing that everyone around us is affected by cancer in some way, I decided to interview and do research of my own to let people know what to look out for if they feel they could be a cancer’s next victim. There are several different kinds of cancer, but few get mentioned more than others. Some like: Colon cancer, Burketts Lymphoma, Bladder Cancer, Kidney Cancer, and Lung Cancer.
I am here to tell you what symptoms each has, and what treatments there are. I am not a doctor, but if you feel the need to speak to one, I advise you to make an appointment today. Colon Cancer Colon cancer (Colorectal cancer) is a type of cancer that forms in the tissue of the colon. Most Colon cancers begin in the cells that make and release mucus and other fluid, also known as an adenocarcinomas. It is the leading cause of cancer related death in the United States. With the help of early diagnosis, you can often be lead to a full cure.
Although there is no single cause of Colon Cancer, almost all start in the lining of the colon and rectum and begin as benign polyps which can slowly develop into cancer. Are you at risk? * Older than 60? * Are African American of eastern Europe descent? * Eat a lot of red or processed meat? * Have colorectal polyps? * Have Inflammatory Bowel Disease? (IBD) * Have a family history of Colon Cancer? * Have a personal history of Breast Cancer? Some symptoms may include: * Abdominal pain and tenderness in the lower abdomen * Blood in the stool.
* Diarrhea, constipation, or other change in bowel habits * Narrow stools * Weight loss with no known reason There are also several different stages of Colon Cancer; stage zero is first stage, it is on the innermost layer of the intestine; stage one is in the inner layer of the Colon; stage two has spread to the muscle wall of the Colon; stage three has spread to the lymph nodes. and lastly, stage four has spread to other organs outside the Colon. What will I do about treatment? * A Colonectomy (removal of the Colon) is often done to remove the cancer cells * Chemotherapy to kill the cancer cells.
* Radiation therapy to destroy cancerous tissue What about Complications? * Blockage of the Colon is possible, which can cause bowel obstruction * The cancer can return to the Colon * The cancer can spread to other organs or tissues * Development of a second primary colorectal cancer is also possible Again, I am not a doctor, so if you feel you may need to the doctor concerning Colon Cancer, schedule an appointment today. You may want to call your doctor if: * You have black, tar-like stools * Blood during a bowel movement * Change in bowel habits * Unexplained weight loss.
Burketts Lymphoma An aggressive B cell of Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma that occurs in children and young adults. There are three main types of Burketts Lymphoma: Sporadic, Endemic, Immunodeficiency. The disease may affect the jaw, central nervous system (CNS), bowel, kidney, ovaries, or often other organs. It is potentially curable. What exactly are the three main types? * Sporadic- Occurs throughout the world * Endemic- Found in Africa, often associated with the Epstein Barr Virus * Immunodeficiency- Most often found in people with HIV/AIDS Symptoms may include:
* Fever * Night Sweats * Unexplained swollen lymph nodes * Unexplained weight loss What tests and examinations will I go through? * Bone marrow biopsy * Chest X-Ray * CT scan of the chest, abdomen, and pelvis * Complete blood count (CBC) * Lymph node biopsy * PET scan What type of treatment will I get? * Chemotherapy The medicines that are used for Chemotherapy include: * Prednisone * Cyclophosphamide * Etoposide * Vincristine etc… Bladder Cancer A type of cancer that forms in the tissues of the bladder. Symptoms may include: * Blood in your urine.
* A frequent urge to urinate * Pain when you urinate * Low back pain Risk factors that can lead to Bladder Cancer can include smoking and exposure to certain chemicals in the workplace. People who have a family history of Bladder Cancer and older, white males have higher risks of being affected by Bladder Cancer. What treatment will I go through? * Surgery to remove the bladder * Radiation therapy * Chemotherapy * Biologic therapy (boosts your body’s own ability to fight cancer. Kidney Cancer A type of cancer that forms in the tissues of the Kidneys.
Includes renal cell carcinoma (Cancer that forms in the lining of very small tubes in the kidney that filters the blood and remove waste products); renal pelvis carcinoma (Cancer that forms in the center of the kidney where urine collects); Wilms Tumor, which is a type of kidney cancer that usually develops in children under the age of Five. Symptoms may include: * Flank pain- pain on the side of the body between the upper abdomen and the back * Abdominal mass- a mass in the area of the kidneys discovered during an examination * Anemia- a condition in which the number of red blood cells is below normal * Fever- not due to cold or flu.
* Unexplained weight loss, often rapid * Fatigue and general feeling of poor health What treatment will I go through? * Surgery- removal of the affected kidney or removing the tumor from the kidney * Freeze cancer cells * Heat cancer cells * Drugs that use your immune system to fight cancer (Biological Therapy) * Radiation therapy * Clinical Trials Lung Cancer A type of Cancer that forms in the tissues of the lung, usually in the cells and non small cell lung cancer. These types are diagnosed based on how the cells look under a microscope.
Symptoms may include: ( in the chest) * Coughing, especially if it persists or becomes intense * Pain in the chest, shoulders, or back unrelated to pain from coughing * A change in color or volume of sputum * Shortness of breath * Changes in the voice or being hoarse * Harsh sounds with each breath * Recurrent lung problems, such as Bronchitis or Pneumonia * Coughing up phlegm or mucus especially if it is tinged with blood * Coughing up blood (Elsewhere in the body).
* Loss of appetite or unexplained weight loss * Muscle wasting * Fatigue * Headaches, bone or joint pain * Bone fractures not related to accidental injury * Neurological symptoms, such as unsteady gait, or memory loss * Neck or facial swelling * General weakness * Bleeding, blood clots What treatment will I go through? * Wedge resection- the tumor and some surrounding tissue is removed * Lobectomy- a lobe of the lung is removed * pneumonecotmy- an entire lung is removed * Radiation therapy * Chemotherapy These are just a few cancers that are not mentioned like others, if you or someone you know has any of the symptoms listed for any cancer, please contact your health professional.
It is never too late to save someone’s life, even your own. Kick Cancers butt and show it who is boss.
Works cited Web. <www. cancer. gov/cancertopics/types/colonandrectal>. . N. p.. Web. <www. nlm. nih. gov/medicineplus/encylarticle/001308. htm>. . N. p.. Web. <www. cancer. gov/cancertopcs/types/bladder>. . N. p.. Web. <www. cancer. gov/cancertopics/types/lung>. . N. p.. Web. <www. urologyhealth. org/urology/index. cfm? article=24>. . N. p.. Web. <www. cancer. gov/cancertopics/types/kidney>.