It is tough to detect pancreatic cancer with an earlier stage. The problem is not that people disregard the symptoms, inside a large numbers of cases the symptoms only develop after pancreatic cancer is continuing to grow and begun to spread. Why don’t we look into the symptoms of pancreatic cancer, as well as the actions that may cause earlier detection. (more…)

They’re edible and as one of the common names, Bear Corn, suggests black bears eat the inflorescences for food and along with deer probably help to spread the seeds. Rumor has it that it acts as a laxative and bears use it to self-medicate a stubborn case of constipation when they awaken from hibernation in spring. The plants also have astringent properties and supposedly have been used by Native American women to relieve symptoms of menopause. That might be the origin of its common name squaw root. (more…)

The above are three pictures of the exit of my stomach and one of the entrance. As the lady taking the pictures jerked her camera snake from my stomach to my duodenum I writhed involuntarily. I was told not to move since it could be dangerous. I wanted to reply that I did not move volunatarily but it was, of course, impossible to speak with a hose down my throat.

My doctor says that he thinks that my symptoms are caused by the small white area in the top left photograph, which he believes is probably is a benign ulcer. He says that the biopsy is only a routine matter, but here in Japan a doctor would probably would not tell me if I were suspected of cancer anyway. I hear statistics such as, more than one half of those who die of cancer in Japan are never told. (more…)

One of the symptoms of toe cancer is that the dog loses a nail. The reason? The tumor is growing in the nail bed and ultimately destroys it.

Emmet, our black Labrador Retriever, was diagnosed with a malignant melanoma tumor in his toe last week. The treatment sounds pretty drastic — and it is. We’ve had the cancerous toe amputated, in hopes that we can prevent the cancer from spreading. Unfortunately, given that it is a melanoma, it is likely it has already spread and we just don’t know it yet. Fortunately for us, the toe we had removed is a non-weight bearing toe, so after the incision heals, he’ll hardly miss it. (more…)

In this picture my younger sister and I had just driven 12 hours to visit her. She was in the hospital being a royal pain to all her nurses and doctors. We gave the caregivers at the hospital a little respite by taking her home.

Twelve years ago my younger sister had a battle with thyroid cancer. She was in remission until this summer. We didn’t know that even though the thyroid is removed, thyroid cancer can show up in other places. She has multiple cancerous polyps in her lungs even though she is not a smoker. She has been undergoing radiation treatment and her doctors are optimistic because it was diagnosed early. (more…)

The prostate cancer is the abnormal growth of cells in the prostate gland which is the part of male reproductive system. Prostate cancer symptoms might or might not manifest in a man suffering from this condition. Being a slow developing type of cancer, some men who have the disease might not even know that they have it.

Prostate cancer symptoms are not evident in its early stage. Screening for prostate cancer is relatively simple to do, with an annual prostate examination and PSA test . Most patients with prostate cancer will be identified and with a relatively high chance of cure. Screening for diseases is a fact of modern medicine. For prostate cancer, the issue is complex, as the overall benefit to patients is far from clear. (more…)

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There are hundreds of different forms and types of cancer in the world today.  Each form can be incredibly dangerous and also widespread.  With millions of people being diagnosed every year, it can be a cause for worry in many people.  Fortunately there are things that you can do to monitor your own body to watch for cancer symptoms.  Of course, different type of cancer will have different cancer symptoms, but the more common cancers have common symptoms.  Knowing these cancer symptoms is the key to early detection and early detection is the key to successful cancer therapy and treatment. (more…)

One of the symptoms of toe cancer is that the dog loses a nail. The reason? The tumor is growing in the nail bed and ultimately destroys it.

Emmet, our black Labrador Retriever, was diagnosed with a malignant melanoma tumor in his toe last week. The treatment sounds pretty drastic — and it is. We’ve had the cancerous toe amputated, in hopes that we can prevent the cancer from spreading. Unfortunately, given that it is a melanoma, it is likely it has already spread and we just don’t know it yet. Fortunately for us, the toe we had removed is a non-weight bearing toe, so after the incision heals, he’ll hardly miss it.

This photo is a closeup of Emmet’s toe the morning of the surgery. You can see the missing nail and the swollen toe. We initially thought it was swollen because it was infected as a result of the missing nail. While it was infected, most of that swelling is actually the tumor. (more…)

Lung cancer is now the most common form of cancer in the United States. Lung cancer causes more death than any other cancer cases among men and women in this country. Fourteen percent of all cancer records in the United States are lung cancer cases and twenty-eight percent of cancer deaths are from lung cancer patients.

Major causes of lung cancers are cigarette smoking and breathing impure air including asbestos exposure. Asbestos exposure can lead to Mesothelioma, a cancer in the lining of the lungs or abdominal cavity.

Severity of lung cancer depends greatly to the amount of time a person spent smoking. As compared to non-smokers, smokers are at high risk of lung cancer. In fact, smokers are twenty-two percent more at risk of acquiring lung cancer than their non-smoking counterpart.

Additionally, because lung cancer symptoms do not manifest until it is already on its advanced stage, minor lung cancer symptoms are often ignored. (more…)

You should know some of the general (non-specific) signs and symptoms of cancer. But remember , having any of these does not mean that you have cancer – many other things cause these signs and symptoms, too.

Unexplained weight loss
Most people with cancer will lose weight at some point. An unexplained weight loss of 10 pounds or more (when you’re not trying to lose weight) may be the first sign of cancer. This happens most often with cancers of the pancreas, stomach, esophagus, or lung.

Fever
Fever is very common with cancer, but it more often happens after cancer has spread from where it started. Almost all patients with cancer will have fever at some time, especially if the cancer or its treatment affects the immune system. This can make it harder for the body to fight infection. Less often, fever may be an early sign of cancer, such as blood cancers like leukemia or lymphoma.

Fatigue
Fatigue is extreme tiredness that does not get better with rest. It may be an important symptom as cancer grows. It may happen early, though, in cancers like leukemia, or if the cancer is causing blood loss, which can happen with some colon or stomach cancers.

Pain
Pain may be an early symptom with some cancers such as bone cancers or testicular cancer. A headache that does not go away or respond to treatment may be a symptom of a brain tumor. Back pain can be a symptom of cancer of the colon, rectum, or ovary. Most often, pain that is linked to cancer is a symptom of cancer that has already metastasized (spread from where it started). (more…)