Medical Military Blogs

Archive for the ‘Cancer’ Category

In recent years we have discovered some tumor markers (substances found in the body when cancer) that fairly reliably augur tumor progression and prognosis. But not all tumors express the same markers. The study of these help oncologists to predict the behavior and reaction to certain treatments, and optimal therapeutic strategy for everyone.

Some of these markers are used routinely in clinical practice to decide the best treatment in some of the most common cancers, including lung, breast and colon. In lung cancer has been confirmed in patients with EGFR mutation (receptor epidermal growth factor in the acronym), the response to treatment with erlotinib (EGFR inhibitor) and survival are much higher .

This receptor is inhibited by smaller quantities and lower concentrations of chemotherapeutic agent, and is more effective. Survival achieved between 26 and 30 months, well above average in these patients. Read the rest of this entry »

Some markers that are detected in the tumor used to decide the best therapeutic

There are no diseases but sick. This statement, valid for any disease, it is even more in the case of cancer. Each tumor behaves differently and, therefore, is necessary to implement personalized treatments tailored to each patient.

The identification of substances expressing tumors, called markers, and the realization of xenografts, animal tissue in humans, are some of the medical advances that have enabled the operation of this Amended cancer medicine. Read the rest of this entry »

physical activity
Cancer is a disease that kills more people during the year. Its destructive power is very important and does not distinguish nationality, social background or economic status. The World Health Organization (WHO) is working hard to find new prevention, detection and reduction of risks caused by this disease.

Recently, the agency said that something as simple as physical exercise can help prevent a number of annual deaths caused by cancer. According to official statistics, nearly 3 million people can save their lives thanks to the implementation of activities such as gymnastics or walk.

However, WHO also recognizes that requires better prevention and detection to prevent the increasing occurrence of this disease.

It is recalled that die each year about 7.6 million people due to the different types of cancer diseases.

The FDA approved the first time in 30 years, an indication of antitumor Nexavar for treating liver cancer. Also, the drug received approval from European authorities.

The FDA approval was based on the positive results achieved in international phase III, placebo-SHARP (Sofafenib HCC Assessment Randomized Protocol, “Randomized Protocol for the evaluation of sorafenib in HCC”) which demonstrated that Nexavar extended in 44% overall survival of patients with liver cancer compared with placebo.
Two years ago Nexavar became the first new drug against advanced kidney cancer, the drug was jointly developed by Bayer HealthCare AG and Onyx Pharmaceuticals, Inc.

Hepatocellular carcinoma is the most common type of liver cancer and is responsible for about 90% of primary malignant liver tumors in adults. It is the sixth most common tumor worldwide and the third type of cancer causes more deaths. Are diagnosed annually over 600 thousand new cases worldwide and the incidence is increasing.

Head and neck cancer includes cancers of the mouth, nose, sinuses, salivary glands, throat and lymph nodes in the neck. Most begin in the moist tissues that line the mouth, nose and throat. Symptoms include

* A lump or sore that does not heal
* A sore throat that does not go away
* Trouble swallowing
* A change or hoarseness in the voice

Using tobacco or alcohol increases your risk. In fact, 85 percent of head and neck cancers are linked to tobacco use, including smoking and smokeless tobacco. If found early, these cancers are often curable. Treatments may include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy or a combination. Read the rest of this entry »

Regular exercise can reduce a woman’s breast cancer risk, but the benefits may be lost if sleep deprivation, according to U.S. researchers.

The 5968 study of women in Maryland confirms previous findings that people who exercise regularly are less likely to develop cancer.

But when the researchers looked at women aged 18-65 years, who were in the top half in terms of the amount of exercise per week, they found that sleep seems to play an important role in cancer risk

Those who slept less than seven hours each night were 47 percent higher cancer risk than those who slept more physically active women, researchers reported at a meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research.

“We believe it is very interesting and intriguing, although not something that has been widely studied,” James McClain of the National Cancer Institute, part of the U.S. government’s National Institutes of Health, said.

McClain, who led the study, says it is not clear exactly how little sleep can make one more susceptible to cancer, “Although the sufficient sleep has always been associated with health,” he said. Read the rest of this entry »

Many studies show that the risk of a woman suffering from breast cancer increases with the number of affected relatives. Between 10% and 20% of women with breast cancer have a relative in the first or second degree affected by this cancer and 50% claim to have at least one parent at any grade. Approximately 5% of women with breast cancer have a family history that points to the mutation of a gene confers a predisposition to high risk, have isolated two of these genes, BRCA1 and BRCA2, but these genes only account for between 30 and 40% of familial breast cancers that appear as an automatic dominant, so do not justify the etiology in a significant number of high-risk families.

There are other genetic mutations that are associated with an increased breast cancer risk, but are much less widespread than BRCA1 and BRCA2, are p53 and PTEN, each associated with less than 1% of cases. Read the rest of this entry »

Breast cancer is a major public health problem for women worldwide. In the United States, breast cancer remains the most common cancer in women and the second most common cause of cancer death. In 2007 it is estimated that breast cancer represents 26% of cancer cases and 15% of cancer deaths, which translates into 176,296 new cases and 40,515 deaths. Breast cancer was also the most common form of cancer in Europe in 2006, with 429,900 new cases, representing 13.5% of all new cancer cases.

Since 1990, the mortality rate from breast cancer has declined in the United States by 24% and similar reductions have been observed in other countries. Mathematical models suggest that both the use of mammography and the availability of adjuvant chemotherapy and tamoxifen as well as contributing to this improvement. Although breast cancer has traditionally been less common in non-industrialized countries, its incidence in these areas is increasing. Read the rest of this entry »

Male breast cancer is rare compared with female breast cancer, but if available, about 1% of breast cancers that are diagnosed are male.

Because this is usually paid little attention and diagnosed late, leading to treatment possibilities are less successful.

It takes the form later than in women, age is around 70 years. In the same way that women have breast tissue man and one of the high risk factors is having a relative with breast cancer.

But also consider factors such as, aging, a diseased liver, testicular atrophy, an imbalance between estrogen and androgen, high radiation exposure, obesity, influence to develop the disease.

Symptoms are the same as in women, nipple discharge, hard nodules and chest pain. Read the rest of this entry »

Cancer diagnosed each year 12 million people and 7.6 million (63%) die from this disease. Fortunately 40% of cancers can be prevented with changes in lifestyle. So this year, the slogan of World Cancer Day is “The cancer can also be prevented.

According to the International Union Against Cancer, some measures to substantially reduce the risk of developing this disease:

- Quit smoking and avoid passive exposure to smoke snuff.
- Reduce alcohol consumption.

Alcohol consumption increases the risk of mouth cancer, throat and larynx, breast, bowel and liver. The risk of cancer of the upper digestive tract is greater with increasing the amount of alcohol consumed over 250 ml of wine or 500 ml of beer. Consume about 1 liter of wine or 2 liters of beer daily is a risk between 4 and 6 times higher of developing these cancers compared with those who consume it in moderation or not drink alcoholic beverages.
In conclusion: reduce consumption of alcohol is an effective measure to prevent cancer. Read the rest of this entry »