Unfortunately, millions of people are striken with cancer on an annual basis. There are many different types of cancer — all having specific warning signs and treatment plans.
This piece will look into six of the more common cancers found around the United States. Symptoms will be discussed — as will potential treatment options for each disease.
Ovarian Cancer
Ovarian cancer can be particularly dangerous due to the lack of symptoms during early stages. In fact even in later stages, symptoms such as loss of appetite and weight loss don’t always point health care professionals towards cancer testing. It is easy for cases to slip through the cracks until the ovaries’ surrounding areas, at which point fatality rates increase dramatically and surgery may be necessary.
Surgeries for ovarian cancer can include the following:
- Laparotomy
- Omentectomy
- Hysterectomy
- Pelvic lymph node dissection
Colon Cancer
There are a number of symptoms associated with colon cancer. Weakness or general fatigue can exist — as can a random loss of weight. The appearance of blood in one’s stool can be a sign, as can constant changes in one’s bowel habits (whether constipated or the presence of diarrhea).
Here are some preventative measures:
- Moderate intake of alcohol
- No Smoking
- Constant Exercise
- Eating fruit, grains, and vegetables
- Medications to reduce risk of polyps
- Get colon scanned by age 50
Prostate Cancer
Prostate cancer is something that includes a number of different symptoms. Frequent urination is one, as is the presence of blood in the urine. Another common trait includes frequently urinating at night. Duly, some also suffer from rather immediate bouts of erectile dysfunction. A weak or interrupted urine flow/the need to completely empty the bladder (by straining) is also something to be considered.
Treatment for prostate cancer can include the following:
- Radiation Therapy
- Cryotherapy
- Hormone Therapy
- Surgery
- Active Surveillance
Liver Cancer
Liver cancer is something that can appear in different forms. Some people deal with a lump/pain in the right side of one’s abdomen. Others deal with the literal yellowing of their skin. Other symptoms include a loss of appetite, general fatigue, white stools, and losing weight without trying to do so.
When it comes to treatments/prevention measures, here are some things to consider:
- Minimize consumption of alcohol
- Having a balanced diet
- Surgery (Hepatectomy)
- Liver Transplant
- Chemotherapy
- Radiation Therapy
Melanoma
There are a few noteworthy symptoms for melanoma. One aspect would include looking at the moles on one’s body. A sudden change in size, color, or shape could be an indication of something more serious. Duly, other symptoms include itchiness/tenderness/pain in certain areas of the skin/mole, a redness or swelling on the border of the spot with irritation, and sores that do not heal.
For one, those susceptible to a higher risk of melanoma can take preventative measures:
- Use of Sunscreen
- Covering Areas of The Body (arms, neck, legs)
- Surgery
This involves the constant usage of sunscreen — as well as wearing clothing that covers the arms, legs, and head/neck area when heavy sun is present. From there, suspected melanoma can be diagnosed when a small skin sample is sent to a lab for testing. Normally, the main course of action is to have a surgical procedure to fully extract the melanoma from the skin. Depending on the stage of the problem, the surgery could become both more intrusive and more serious.
Breast Cancer
Sadly, approximations show that 1 in 8 U.S. women (roughly 12-percent) will develop breast cancer over the course of their lifetime. Duly, A man’s lifetime risk of potentially being diagnosed with breast cancer is 1 in 883.
Aside from age and gender, there are a number of factors which could contribute to an individual being diagnosed with breast cancer. As is the case with all cancers, a poor diet (high in fat) could increase one’s likelihood in getting breast cancer
In order to rid oneself of breast cancer, there are a number of options one could look into:
- Chemotherapy
- Lumpectomy
- Mastectomy
- Alternative Treatments (acupuncture, diet)
Some doctors will ask patients to undergo Chemotherapy (orally or injected drugs used to treat/kill cancer cells). These sessions could occur multiple times a week depending upon the severity of the disease.
In more severe cases, surgery can occur. A lumpectomy involves removing the tumor itself, along with smaller amounts of the tissue surrounding the impacted region. A mastectomy is a step further, as all of the breast tissue will be taken out. In addition to the treatments above, there are alternative treatments that help to alleviate symptoms (pain and swelling for example). These include acupuncture, massage, vitamin d, anti-inflammatory rich herbs and spices, and high fiber diets.
Lung Cancer
There are a number of symptoms most associated with lung cancer. Some of them include constant shortness of breath, bone pain, persistent headaches, chest pain, hoarseness, a cough that doesn’t go away, the gradual loss of weight, and the coughing up of blood (even in small quantities).
In terms of treatment, there are a few options:
- Surgery
- Chemotherapy
- Radiation Therapy
- Alternative Medicine
Depending on the severity, surgery may be looked at as the desired means of helping to ward off the disease. Cancerous tissue will literally be cut from the lung.
Chemotherapy is also used in many cases. A plethora of drugs and medicine is used with the goal of killing off cancerous cells. Radiation therapy (high-energy rays) and targeted therapy (pills to stop growth/spread of cancerous cells) are two other alternatives. There are also alternative medicinal options — though a doctor should be consulted in these cases.
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