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ED Drugs Tested for Chemotherapy

Recent tests from Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California may have come up with a new use for impotence drugs: treating brain tumors. A research team from Cedars-Sinai looked specifically at Levitra and Viagra (you may have heard of them). Although the two drugs get a lot of press for their powers in the bedroom, it looks like they may have another power — with the ability to help a lot of people. In laboratory tests on rats with brain tumors, vardenafil (Levitra) and sildenafil (Viagra) were able to carry chemotherapy drugs safely past the blood-brain barrier. Did you … Continue reading →

Not All Breast Cancer Patients Need Chemotherapy

Two recent studies took a look at whether or not chemotherapy is the best treatment for breast cancer — with interesting results. The studies were reported at the 31st Annual San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, an annual gathering of scientists from around the world. One study found that women were less likely to have a relapse or die if treated with a less harsh drug than the standard chemotherapy drug, Adriamycin. One study (from Loyola University in Chicago, IL) used a gene test to help predict whether or not a woman actually needs chemotherapy to treat breast cancer — or … Continue reading →

Teen With Cancer Has to Cancel Date With Taylor Swift

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A few months ago, Kevin McGuire, an eighteen year old who has cancer, ended up getting a date with Taylor Swift. Unfortunately, he isn’t well, and cannot go to the Country Music Awards with her, after all. His community is showing him a ton of support, in response. Kevin McGuire was first diagnosed with cancer when he was thirteen years old. He is now eighteen, and continuing to battle the disease. Many teens have concerns about going to prom. Kevin was worried that he would not find a date for prom because he was going through chemotherapy, and believed that … Continue reading →

My First Oncology Appointment

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So my oncologist just told me that he could treat me this time BUT when it came back he could not. I am sitting there in a small room with my husband and the doctor and the room feels like it is getting smaller. Did this doctor just tell me that basically a recurrence was a given and it would kill me? I was only 35 years old my youngest child just turned 3 and my oldest was just 6. Was this some cruel cosmic joke? Did I really do something so bad that this is it? Did I take … Continue reading →

Cancer: Local Spread vs. Metastasis

One of the most insidious things about cancer is the way it can spread. I’m not especially a fan of the way it can keep coming back after treatment, either, but that’s a story for another day. The American Cancer Society talks about two different types of spread: local or regional spread and metastasis. Local or regional spread is when a cancer extends beyond the organ in which it started. For example, a very large breast cancer could spread into the lymph nodes in the armpit or the lungs. Metastasis means that the cancer has moved to an entirely new … Continue reading →

Facts about Canine Cancer

The brochure I picked up for Chase Away K9 Cancer was chock full of interesting information. There were a lot of facts about canine cancer that I wanted to share. Veterinary experts estimate that as many as one out of every three dogs will get some form of cancer. That’s a very high (and scary) percentage. Look at it this way: I’ve had three dogs (Miko, Lally, and Moose). Odds are, one of them will experience cancer. Cancer is the leading cause of disease-related death in dogs. More facts about canine cancer: Approximately HALF of all dogs over the age … Continue reading →

The Kanzius Machine

A former businessman named John Kanzius is working on a cure for cancer. No, he’s not a scientist or a doctor. He’s a guy who battled leukemia and spent a lot of time on the cancer ward at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. Kanzius said it was the sad faces of the children that inspired him. Although he’s been through more than thirty rounds of chemotherapy for his own cancer, he started work on his radio wave machine because of the kids. During a sleepless night, Kanzius remembered the radios he built as a child. Using his wife’s … Continue reading →

Coping With Cancer Related Fatigue

Cancer — and cancer treatments — leave some people with a condition known as cancer related fatigue (CRF). Cancer related fatigue is different from everyday tiredness. The main symptom of cancer related fatigue is an overwhelming feeling of tiredness. Even the simplest activities (like shopping or eating) can be exhausting. Other symptoms that are common in people who are being treated for cancer whether or not they experience CRF include: Sleep difficulties. Stress. Loss of appetite. Low blood counts. So what can you do to pick up your energy levels? Here are some tips to help you cope with cancer … Continue reading →

Treating Lung Cancer

Lung cancer treatment is generally determined by type of lung cancer (small cell or non-small cell) and stage of the disease. Treating non-small cell lung cancer: In stage one and stage two, treatment focuses on dealing with the tumor. While the tumor is being removed, doctors will often look at other areas of the lung that may be close to the tumor or involved with the tumor. If other areas of the lung are involved, your doctor may suggest chemotherapy. For patients who can’t handle surgery to remove the tumor, chemotherapy may be the sole treatment option. Stage three patients … Continue reading →

Life After Cancer: Spouses

Cancer is devastating for the patient and for the people close to the patient. In a recent survey from www.WebMD.com, more than half of the spouses of men with prostate cancer said that they took an active role in their husbands’ experience. Spouses of cancer patients often experience the same emotions the patients themselves do: fear, helplessness, anxiety, depression, and a loss of intimacy. Spouses who take an active role may supervise treatments and medications, help make treatment decisions, and act as support and morale booster. Many of the cancer survivor spouses said that the disease brought them closer together. … Continue reading →