Deb Smith

Lung cancer is usually diagnosed through different tests. X-rays and CT scans are common tests that can provide images of your lungs to see if any abnormalities are present. If there are abnormalities that are suspicious for cancer then a confirmation is needed with evaluation of tissue. Tissue can be

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The effects lung cancer has on your body are associated with the location of the cancer and the degree to which the disease has advanced. General features may include unexplained weight loss and night sweats. If it has spread to other parts of your body, it can cause pain at those sites or neurological...Full Post

Small cell lung cancer is the lesser common type of two types of lung cancer, the other being non-small cell lung cancer. In small cell lung cancer, cancer cells (also known as malignant cells) grow very quickly in the tissue of the lungs. Small cell lung cancer may form tumors in the lungs themselves...Full Post

The symptoms of pancreatic cancer depend on where the cancer is located and how far it has spread. In the early stages, there may be few or no symptoms. As the tumor grows, symptoms may develop. If the tumor prevents bile from flowing, jaundice, in which the skin and the whites of the eyes become

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There are several methods for diagnosing liver cancer. These include a thorough history and physical along with imaging, biopsy, and blood tests. Imaging tests include CT scans and MRIs. Blood work includes looking at tumor markers such as Alpha fetaprotein. A biopsy is only done if imaging is co

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There are several options for surgical treatment of lung cancer. The standard operation is a lobectomy and this can be performed via the standard thoracotomy or more recently with thoracoscopy. Based on the specifics of the tumor and its involvement, a pneumonectomy (removal of the entire...Full Post

Liver cancer is a broad term that can refer to primary liver tumors such as hepatocellular cancer or cholangiocarcinoma or secondary liver cancers that are metastases such as colon cancer metastases to the liver.

In general on is referring  to hepatocellular cancer with the term liver cancer. This

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The tests and procedures that may be ordered by your doctor for diagnosis of lung cancer include:

• Sputum cytology: A sample of phlegm (mucus you cough up from your lungs) is checked to see if cancer cells are present.

• Chest x-ray: an x-ray of the organs and bones inside your chest.

• Br

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Radiation typically has a very limited role in the treatment of GI carcinoid tumors and usually surgical removal is required. In the setting of metastatic liver carcinoid tumors however, a radiation "coated" beads with a Yittrium 90 Radioembolization can be very effective in locoregional management...Full Post

Chemotherapy is usually used as an adjunct to surgery and radiation in the fight against cancer either in a neoadjuvant (before surgery) or adjuvant (after surgery) setting. It can also be used as monotherapy against certain chemosensitive tumors like lymphomas and in a palliative setting where surgery...Full Post

Chemotherapy refers to the use of medications or medical therapy to "treat" or fight cancers and they typically act to slow cell growth or directly kill actively dividing cells such as cancers. Recently a new term referred to as targeted therapy is applied to molecular marker treatments targeting...Full Post

Radiation does not work well at curing this particular type of cancer. Surgical removal is usually the most effective way to treat gastrointestinal carcinoid tumor. However, if surgery is not an option, radiation can be useful. For example, radiation can alleviate pain that can result if the cancer

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It is not uncommon for cancer patients to have a "reactive" depression in response to the diagnosis and situation. Often the thought of chemotherapy, radiation, surgery and death are stress and anxiety provoking things and lead to this situational depression. If someone has a pre-existing history...Full Post

Cancers tend to lead to a loss of appetite despite the lack of mechanical reason one can't eat.  The best steps are to work with your oncology team, see a dietician and understand what high calorie foods like nutritional supplements can be taken to improve intake.  Appetite stimulants often compliment...Full Post

Well, to answer this question, cancer needs to be understood as a class of disease, similar to infections being a class of disease. For example, infections vary widely from a pimple (a skin infection) to AIDS. Similar to infections, cancer varies widely from skin cancer (very curable) to malignant

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