source: http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=8722
Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) is a protein found in many types of cells but associated with tumors and the developing fetus.
CEA is tested in blood. The normal range is <2.5 ng/ml in an adult non-smoker and <5.0 ng/ml in a smoker.
Benign conditions that can increase CEA include smoking, infection, inflammatory bowel disease, pancreatitis, cirrhosis of the liver, and some benign tumors (in the same organs which have cancers with increased CEA). Benign disease does not usually cause a CEA increase over 10 ng/ml.
The main use of CEA is as a tumor marker, especially with intestinal cancer. The most common cancers that elevate CEA are in the colon and rectum. Others: cancer of the pancreas, stomach, breast, lung, and certain types of thyroid and ovarian cancer. Levels over 20 ng/ml before therapy are associated with cancer which has already metastasized (spread).
CEA is useful in monitoring the treatment of CEA-rich tumors. If the CEA is high before treatment, it should fall to normal after successful therapy. A rising CEA level indicates progression or recurrence of the cancer. (Chemotherapy and radiation therapy can themselves cause a rise in CEA due to death of tumor cells and release of CEA into the blood stream but that rise is typically temporary).
Friday, November 20, 2009
Saturday, June 6, 2009
Encouraged to eat ...
Instead of taking excessive amounts of supplements and practising self-imposed dietary restrictions, experts say people with cancer are better off with a well-balanced diet and plenty of physical activity.
Nutrition is one of the most important areas in cancer treatment. Patients who maintain or gain weight (within the normal range) increase their chances of doing well.
Encourage them to eat the food they like and supplement them with low-fat, good quality protein that is rich in vitamins and fibre.
it is important for us to include good nutrition as part of cancer treatment plans. It may not cure us of cancer, but it will help us get all the energy we need to survive, reap the benefits of treatment and improve our quality of life.
see also http://thestar.com.my/health/story.asp?file=/2009/6/7/health/3866206&sec=health
Nutrition is one of the most important areas in cancer treatment. Patients who maintain or gain weight (within the normal range) increase their chances of doing well.
Encourage them to eat the food they like and supplement them with low-fat, good quality protein that is rich in vitamins and fibre.
it is important for us to include good nutrition as part of cancer treatment plans. It may not cure us of cancer, but it will help us get all the energy we need to survive, reap the benefits of treatment and improve our quality of life.
see also http://thestar.com.my/health/story.asp?file=/2009/6/7/health/3866206&sec=health
Monday, April 20, 2009
Tumor marker
see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tumor_marker.
A tumor marker is a substance found in the blood, urine, or body tissues that can be elevated in cancer, there can also be other causes of the elevation.
CEA, or carcinoembryonic antigen, is a blood-borne protein, produced by tumors of the gastrointestinal system and by the occasional lung and breast cancer case, meaning that an elevated level does not necessarily mean a bowel cancer. However, in a patient with a history of a treated bowel cancer, a rising CEA level can be an early sign of recurring bowel cancer. This usually occurs before the site of return can be identified on imaging or examination and so many oncologists question the wisdom of doing a blood test for CEA when the end result is bad news that alarms the patient. Nevertheless, a sequence of steady low CEA readings can provide much needed reassurance to the post-operative patient. Also, a rising sequence of CEA readings should alert the physician to the need for diagnostic tests such as PET scans.
CA15-3: Elevated CA15-3, in conjunction with alkaline phosphatase, was shown to increase chances of early recurrence in breast cancer.[2]
A tumor marker is a substance found in the blood, urine, or body tissues that can be elevated in cancer, there can also be other causes of the elevation.
CEA, or carcinoembryonic antigen, is a blood-borne protein, produced by tumors of the gastrointestinal system and by the occasional lung and breast cancer case, meaning that an elevated level does not necessarily mean a bowel cancer. However, in a patient with a history of a treated bowel cancer, a rising CEA level can be an early sign of recurring bowel cancer. This usually occurs before the site of return can be identified on imaging or examination and so many oncologists question the wisdom of doing a blood test for CEA when the end result is bad news that alarms the patient. Nevertheless, a sequence of steady low CEA readings can provide much needed reassurance to the post-operative patient. Also, a rising sequence of CEA readings should alert the physician to the need for diagnostic tests such as PET scans.
CA15-3: Elevated CA15-3, in conjunction with alkaline phosphatase, was shown to increase chances of early recurrence in breast cancer.[2]
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Biomarker Predicts Disease Recurrence In Colorectal Cancer
The current standard method, histopathology, is imperfect since it only involves looking at a very small sample of the regional lymph nodes under a microscope. There is no way to know whether occult metastases are present in the rest of the tissue.
Analysis of the lymph nodes for GUCY2C expression using a technique called reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), amplifies the sensitivity to detect cancer cells compared to histopathology.
Read more in http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/02/090217173036.htm.
Analysis of the lymph nodes for GUCY2C expression using a technique called reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), amplifies the sensitivity to detect cancer cells compared to histopathology.
Read more in http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/02/090217173036.htm.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
通过验血可确定是否带癌症遗传基因
常见的癌症如大肠癌、乳癌和皮肤癌，医学界已掌握有关的遗传基因资料，能通过血液检验基因，然后确定患者的家属患癌的机率是多少。
Read http://health.zaobao.com/pages1/medicine201000a.html
Read http://health.zaobao.com/pages1/medicine201000a.html
中西医结合治疗肿瘤
read http://health.zaobao.com/pages2/chinese170701.html
这些年来，中医和西医已取得一个共识，病人一旦发现肿瘤，第一个阶段是把肿瘤清除掉。清除的手段优先考虑的是动手术，这是早期癌症病人必须接受的治疗，除非病人有特别原因无法动手术。手术可以把肉眼看得到的肿瘤给清除掉，即使不能完全拿掉，也可以将大部分去除，减轻肿瘤细胞在病人体内复活的机会。这样有利于下一步的跟进治疗。
第二个治疗阶段是手术以后（或肿瘤细胞去除不干净）或不能动手术的病人，医生根据病人肿瘤不同的类型和生物学的特点，对放射性治疗敏感的，就采用放疗，对化学治疗敏感的，就采用化疗，这也是杀伤细胞，尽可能大量地消灭肿瘤细胞。比如肺癌，采用化疗效果最好，鼻咽癌就用放疗效果最好。这个医疗过程中，大量杀伤癌细胞，对正常的机体产生毒性副作用，应利用中医扶正治疗，减少毒副反应，增强病人的抵抗力。
医生动手术时，只能切除肉眼所看到的癌细胞，一些肉眼看不到的，就残留下来，这可能会在以后复发，这也得有条件的，这个条件是身体里头的抵抗力低了，少数残留的癌细胞开始作祟，我们强调病人在放、化疗后，能很好的维持抗体，可以完全控制少数量的癌细胞不作祟。有些病人完成治疗后，可以十年或二十年病情完全不复发。现在中西医结合研究肿瘤的最大课题，就是如何控制治疗后病情不复发，减少肿瘤细胞转移，研究成果已有苗头。
通常病人会处于虚弱的状态，我们必须通过中医药来重建病人的身体功能。中医药能恢复免疫力、骨髓与血液和胃肠道的正常功能，如果有肝肾功能的损伤，也能以中医药加以恢复。
如果还发现有残余的癌细胞，就必须继续接受化疗消灭，同时也必须配合中药治疗。完成所有的放疗或化疗后，得依靠中医药进行一个长期康复治疗。西医也有一套提高免疫力的生物治疗。康复包括饮食调节、运动。
人體免疫系統抗癌
read http://health.sinchew-i.com/node/1062?tid=8
英國癌症研究院的科學家發現了一種他們稱之為“危險受體”的細胞，這種細胞也許能刺激人體免疫系統對癌細胞作出反應。
人活著的時候，體內的細胞總是在不斷的死亡，同時又不斷生出新的細胞來接替死去的。
有時候，比如受了傷的時候，細胞就會產生非正常的死亡。
科學家在對一組叫作“受體”的人體細胞進行研究時發現，當這種細胞受刺激後，它們會向大腦發出信號，而大腦會隨即作出反應。
這一研究確認，受體細胞能夠阻止非正常的細胞死亡。所以研究人員把這種細胞叫作“危險受體”。
領導這一研究的索薩博士說，科學家已經知道，諸如細菌和病毒這樣的污染性有機體，能直接觸發人體免疫系統的反應。
事實上，癌症也是可能觸發免疫系統的反應的，因為惡性腫瘤中經常有非正常死亡的集束細胞。
科學家認為，對“危險受體”這種細胞有了更多瞭解後，也許能夠在利用人體免疫系統對抗自身癌症的研究方面有很大幫助
英國癌症研究院的科學家發現了一種他們稱之為“危險受體”的細胞，這種細胞也許能刺激人體免疫系統對癌細胞作出反應。
人活著的時候，體內的細胞總是在不斷的死亡，同時又不斷生出新的細胞來接替死去的。
有時候，比如受了傷的時候，細胞就會產生非正常的死亡。
科學家在對一組叫作“受體”的人體細胞進行研究時發現，當這種細胞受刺激後，它們會向大腦發出信號，而大腦會隨即作出反應。
這一研究確認，受體細胞能夠阻止非正常的細胞死亡。所以研究人員把這種細胞叫作“危險受體”。
領導這一研究的索薩博士說，科學家已經知道，諸如細菌和病毒這樣的污染性有機體，能直接觸發人體免疫系統的反應。
事實上，癌症也是可能觸發免疫系統的反應的，因為惡性腫瘤中經常有非正常死亡的集束細胞。
科學家認為，對“危險受體”這種細胞有了更多瞭解後，也許能夠在利用人體免疫系統對抗自身癌症的研究方面有很大幫助
Saturday, February 14, 2009
swollen lymph node?
The vast majority of swollen lymph nodes soon return to normal size on their own without the need for an antibiotic and do not indicate a serious or dangerous medical condition. Having said that, let's talk about the reasons lymph nodes get enlarged and when you may need to be concerned.
There are over 500 lymph nodes (also called lymph glands) in the body, which are connected in a network called the lymphatic system. Even though they are about the size of a pea, lymph nodes are usually not noticeable unless they are close to the skin's surface (such as in the neck, armpit or groin) or are much larger than usual.
Lymph nodes contain white blood cells and filter the germs in the body. Some nodes can become enlarged when they work overtime during common infections such as the common cold, strep throat, infected skin wounds or canker sores caused by a virus. An enlarged lymph node in the area of an infection (such as a swollen neck node during an ear infection) may double in size, going from about a quarter or half of an inch to nearly an inch wide. The node will usually shrink back to normal within a few weeks after the infection has passed.
A lymph node itself can get infected when overwhelmed by the infection it is trying to fight. The node may become swollen and tender to the touch, and the overlying skin may be red and warm. Infected nodes (called "lymphadenitis") are fairly common and may be treated with an antibiotic, warm compresses and over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen. If untreated, infected lymph nodes may progress to an abscess (pus collection) or spread bacteria to the overlying skin or into the bloodstream.
Less common causes of enlarged lymph nodes include infections such as cat scratch disease, tuberculosis and sexually transmitted diseases. Certain conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus are also associated with enlarged nodes. Finally, cancer and HIV infection are rare causes. In one report, the chance of a patient having a diagnosis of cancer after showing up to their primary care doctor with an enlarged lymph node was around 1 percent.
For enlarged lymph nodes that persist (longer than about two weeks), get bigger or happen along with other symptoms such as fever, unexplained weight loss and night sweats, your doctor may order blood tests, X-rays or other studies to try to determine the cause. A biopsy of the node may be needed if a cause is not found.
extracted from: http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/expert.q.a/01/19/swollen.lymph.nodes/
There are over 500 lymph nodes (also called lymph glands) in the body, which are connected in a network called the lymphatic system. Even though they are about the size of a pea, lymph nodes are usually not noticeable unless they are close to the skin's surface (such as in the neck, armpit or groin) or are much larger than usual.
Lymph nodes contain white blood cells and filter the germs in the body. Some nodes can become enlarged when they work overtime during common infections such as the common cold, strep throat, infected skin wounds or canker sores caused by a virus. An enlarged lymph node in the area of an infection (such as a swollen neck node during an ear infection) may double in size, going from about a quarter or half of an inch to nearly an inch wide. The node will usually shrink back to normal within a few weeks after the infection has passed.
A lymph node itself can get infected when overwhelmed by the infection it is trying to fight. The node may become swollen and tender to the touch, and the overlying skin may be red and warm. Infected nodes (called "lymphadenitis") are fairly common and may be treated with an antibiotic, warm compresses and over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen. If untreated, infected lymph nodes may progress to an abscess (pus collection) or spread bacteria to the overlying skin or into the bloodstream.
Less common causes of enlarged lymph nodes include infections such as cat scratch disease, tuberculosis and sexually transmitted diseases. Certain conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and lupus are also associated with enlarged nodes. Finally, cancer and HIV infection are rare causes. In one report, the chance of a patient having a diagnosis of cancer after showing up to their primary care doctor with an enlarged lymph node was around 1 percent.
For enlarged lymph nodes that persist (longer than about two weeks), get bigger or happen along with other symptoms such as fever, unexplained weight loss and night sweats, your doctor may order blood tests, X-rays or other studies to try to determine the cause. A biopsy of the node may be needed if a cause is not found.
extracted from: http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/expert.q.a/01/19/swollen.lymph.nodes/
Thursday, February 12, 2009
A survey on cancer patients
The question asked was: By undergoing chemotherapy, I (or the patient) expect or hope for:
The following are the results:
1) 34% of participants expect for a 100% cure. This means about one in three patients believes or hopes that he/she can be cured of cancer by chemotherapy.
2) 10% of participants expect only a partial cure (75% cure = 6% of participants; 50% cure = 2%, 25% cure = 2%).
3) 9% of the participants believe there is no cure but they undergo chemo because: (a) they have no choice (1%), (b) they hope to prolong life (6%) or (c) they hope to obtain better quality of life (2%).
4) 7% of participants have no idea at all – they just follow what the oncologists tell them to do.
5) 17% of participants believe they should go for both chemo and alternative therapies.
6) 23% of participants believe they should not go for chemo and would opt for alternative therapies.
7) None of the participant would consider doing nothing for his/her cancer.
read more at http://cacare.com/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1
The following are the results:
1) 34% of participants expect for a 100% cure. This means about one in three patients believes or hopes that he/she can be cured of cancer by chemotherapy.
2) 10% of participants expect only a partial cure (75% cure = 6% of participants; 50% cure = 2%, 25% cure = 2%).
3) 9% of the participants believe there is no cure but they undergo chemo because: (a) they have no choice (1%), (b) they hope to prolong life (6%) or (c) they hope to obtain better quality of life (2%).
4) 7% of participants have no idea at all – they just follow what the oncologists tell them to do.
5) 17% of participants believe they should go for both chemo and alternative therapies.
6) 23% of participants believe they should not go for chemo and would opt for alternative therapies.
7) None of the participant would consider doing nothing for his/her cancer.
read more at http://cacare.com/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1
Sunday, February 1, 2009
Cancer Pathology
read this site on colon, liver, pancreas and prostates , book preview on The Practice of Surgical Pathology By Diana Weedman Molavi: http://books.google.com/books?id=iXZ1AVTwhM0C&pg=PA102&lpg=PA102&dq=pleomorphic+nuclei&source=web&ots=eJtCqG_awN&sig=2ePazeBV8vkRBLOZWu0fejBaX8A&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=10&ct=result#PPA85,M1
Saturday, January 17, 2009
(molecularly) targeted therapy
drugs that specifically target receptors (mainly growth factor receptors) found on cancer cell surfaces. These drugs are effective and have few side effects. but only a few patients in a few clinical scenarios are suitable candidates for such therapies.
source: http://www.malaysiaoncology.org/section.php?sid=3&all=Y&PHPSESSID=656d08b203d2af0bf0400553beb35277
source: http://www.malaysiaoncology.org/section.php?sid=3&all=Y&PHPSESSID=656d08b203d2af0bf0400553beb35277
Curing of cancer
one third of cancers are cured. Most patients who have their cancer diagnosed early in stage I (confined to the organ of origin) or stage II (only the first station of nodes are involved) are cured by existing modalities and technologies. We are talking here of 70 to 90 per cent cure rates.
source: http://www.malaysiaoncology.org/section.php?sid=3&all=Y&PHPSESSID=656d08b203d2af0bf0400553beb35277
source: http://www.malaysiaoncology.org/section.php?sid=3&all=Y&PHPSESSID=656d08b203d2af0bf0400553beb35277
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)