Lung Cancer: Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatments

What is Lung Cancer?
Lung cancer is a condition that consists of uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in one or both of an individual’s lungs. Abnormal cells found in lung cancer reproduce rapidly and never develop into normal tissue. Lumps of cancer cells eventually occur (tumors) and begin to disrupt the normal function of the lungs.

More than 87 percent of lung cancers are related to smoking. Some smokers will never develop lung cancer and if a person quits smoking, it will significantly reduce their risk of this disease. Exposure to other carcinogens such as asbestos and radon gas also increase the risk of lung cancer, especially when combined with cigarette or cigar smoking.

Surgical Oncology: Skilled Surgeons and Star Trek Technology

The da Vinci S surgical system dramatically enhances the precision, control and dexterity of surgeons, enabling them to perform complex surgeries in a manner never before possible. Powered by state-of-the-art robotic technology, the hand movements of your surgeon are translated into precise movements.

General and specialized surgeons throughout the Oakwood contribute greatly to the success of the cancer programs.

Most often, the surgeon, through surgical exploration and biopsies makes the diagnosis of cancer. Their expertise is essential as the first line of treatment. Many of the surgeons actively participate in the multidisciplinary discussions with the medical oncologists, radiation oncologists, radiologists and pathologists.

Throughout Oakwood there are specialized nursing units which provide care to the inpatients requiring post-operative care. These nursing units have specialized nurses and nursing assistants for the care of a particular surgery site, such as colon/rectum, breast, thoracic and more. The surgeons and nurses work closely to assure a speedy and complication free post-operative experience.

Surgical expertise in the area of cancer care provided at Oakwood includes the following and others:

• Breast cancer (including breast conservation and reconstruction)
• Gastrointestinal cancers (stomach, liver, pancreas, gallbladder, small intestines, colon, rectum, anus)
• Genitourinary cancers (bladder, kidney, prostate, testis)
• Gynecologic cancers (ovarian, uterine, cervical)
• Head and Neck cancers (larynx, throat, oral, nose, neck, sinus, eye)
• Neurologic cancers (brain, central nervous system)
• Skin cancers (melanoma)
• Thoracic cancers (esophagus, lung)

Leukemia: Risk Factors and Symptoms

Leukemia is a type of cancer that begins in the blood cells. Blood cells grow and marrow in the bone marrow before they are pushed out into circulation. When someone has leukemia, the bone marrow produces abnormal white blood cells that are pushed out into circulation. The abnormal cells are leukemia cells.

At first, leukemia cells function almost normally. Overtime, they may crowd out other cells in the circulation, making it hard for the normal cell to do their job.

 There are different types of leukemia. Sometimes it is a chronic, or slow growing disease, and other times it is acute, or fast growing. It can also affect different types of white blood cells such as lymphoid cells or myeloid cells.

Risk factors related to leukemia:

• High-levels of radiation exposure
• Exposure to certain chemicals such as benzene and formaldehyde
• Chemotherapy used to treat other cancers can sometimes result in leukemia
• Down’s syndrome
• Human T-cell leukemia virus 1(HTLV1)
• Myelodysplastic syndrome

Symptoms:

• Feeling tired or weak
• Fever or night sweats
• Frequent infections
• Headache
• Bleeding and bruising easily
• Pain in bone or joints
• Pain or discomfort in abdomen
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Weight loss

Mammogram FAQs: Part 4, Breast Cancer

What are the factors that place a woman at increased risk of breast cancer?
The risk of breast cancer increases gradually as a woman gets older. However, the risk of developing breast cancer is not the same for all women. Research has shown that the following factors increase a woman’s chance of developing this disease:

• Personal history of breast cancer – Women who have had breast cancer are more likely to develop breast cancer again.
• Family history – A woman’s chance of developing breast cancer increases if her mother, sister, and/or daughter have a history of breast cancer (especially if they were diagnosed before age 50).
• Certain breast changes on biopsy – Having a diagnosis of atypical hyperplasia (a non-cancerous condition in which cells have abnormal features and are increased in number) or lobular carcinoma in situ (LCIS) (abnormal cells found in the lobules of the breast) increases a woman’s risk of breast cancer. Women who have had two or more breast biopsies for other benign conditions also have an increased chance of developing breast cancer. This increase is due to the condition that led to the biopsy, and not the biopsy itself.
• Genetic alterations – Specific alterations in certain genes (BRCA1, BRCA2, and others) increase the risk of breast cancer. These alterations are rare; they are estimated to account for no more than 10 percent of all breast cancers.

Mammogram FAQs: Part 3, Patient Safety

Should women be concerned about radiation dose during mammography?
No. The risk of harm from radiation is very small when compared to the benefits of early breast cancer detection. Mammography Quality Standards Act (MQSA) has established a maximum radiation dose limit that is considered to be safe. There have been improvements in mammography that deliver 50 times less radiation than they received 20 years ago, with the risk of long-term effects being almost zero.

What should women with breast implants do about screening mammograms?
Women with breast implants should continue to have mammograms. (A woman who had an implant following breast cancer surgery should ask her doctor whether a mammogram of the reconstructed breast is necessary). It is important to inform the facility about breast implants when scheduling a mammogram. The technician and radiologist must be experienced in x-raying patients with breast implants. Implants can hide some breast tissue, making it more difficult for the radiologist to detect an abnormality on the mammogram. If the technologist performing the procedure is aware a woman has breast implants, steps can be taken to make sure that as much breast tissue as possible can be seen on the mammogram.

If I change facilities or need a second opinion, do I need my mammograms?
Good question! The answer is yes, but be sure they are originals–not copies. By law, you are entitled to your original mammograms. A doctor needs to compare past mammograms with current ones to see if there have been any changes, and original mammograms are needed for this comparison. Ask your facility for your original mammograms and for a copy of the medical version of your report. You will probably be asked to fill out a form to release your medical records. You can ask the facility to send your records to another medical facility, to your doctor, or to you. Your facility may charge a fee for this service. If they do, the fee must not be more than the cost of providing this service to you.