Cancer diagnosis – Senator Medical AB

Four Things Patients with Cancer Should Know About Coronavirus 2020

admin — Fri, 06 Mar 2020 13:56:48 +0000

Here are the four key things that patients with cancer need to know as they prepare for the corona-virus:

Take Preventive Measures Like You Normally Would
Make Sure You Get the Flu Shot
Only Testing Can Determine If You Have Corona-virus
Cancer Drugs Manufactured Overseas Are Okey

Reference Article

Who can take benefit of Electrochemotherapy? Simply explained!

admin — Mon, 13 Jan 2020 13:39:48 +0000

What is electrochemotherapy?

Electrochemotherapy is a way of getting specific chemotherapy drug into cancer cells.

It is a combination of:

Chemotherapy injected into the tumour or bloodstream
Aan electric pulse to send the chemotherapy into the cancer cells (called electroporation)

A special probe sends an electric pulse to the tumour. The electric pulse changes the outer layer of the cancer cell. This makes it easier for the chemotherapy to get inside the cell.

Who can have electrochemotherapy?

Doctors use electrochemotherapy for cancers that started in the skin or have spread to the skin from elsewhere. These include:

Basal and squamous cell skin cancers
Melanoma skin cancer
Kaposi’s sarcoma
Breast cancer that has spread to the skin
Head and neck cancers that have spread to the skin

Electrochemotherapy has been approved by many of European Health Authorities including the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) as a possible treatment to relieve symptoms for people with cancers affecting their skin. It can help to control symptoms when other treatments are no longer working.

Most people who have this treatment have shown improvement in their symptoms. How much it helps varies from one person to another. You might need more than one treatment to control your symptoms.

Research is looking into finding out more about how well it works and which patients it can help.

Having electrochemotherapy

You usually have electrochemotherapy as a day patient. But occasionally people need to stay in hospital overnight. You will have either a general anaesthetic, so you are asleep, or you might have a local anaesthetic with a drug to make you sleepy (sedation).

You have chemotherapy as either:

An injection into the tumour (intratumoural)
An injection into your bloodstream through a small tube (intravenously)

The type of chemotherapy you might have is either Cisplatin or Bleomycin. You have much lower dose than with standard chemotherapy treatment. This is because the electric pulse helps the chemotherapy get through the cell wall. Lower doses of chemotherapy mean fewer side effects.

Injection into the tumour

You might have this treatment awake with a local anasethetic to numb the area or you might be asleep (general anasethetic).

First you have an injection of local anaesthetic to numb the area. The doctor then injects the chemotherapy and you have the electric pulse immediately afterwards.

Injection into a vein

You usually need to have this while you are asleep, under general anaesthetic.

You have the chemotherapy into a vein. Then eight minutes later, you have the electric pulse to the tumour.

The electric pulse comes from a special machine. Attached to the machine is a probe. The probe is the size of a large pen and has an electrode on it. The doctor puts the electrode against your skin to deliver an electric pulse to the tumour.

Your whole treatment can take between 10 and 60 minutes, depending on how many tumours you have.

Side effects of electrochemotherapy

The main side effect is pain in the area where the electrode touches the skin. This is usually mild and lasts for a couple of days. More rarely some people have more severe pain that can last between two and four weeks. Your doctor or clinical nurse specialist will give you some painkillers if you need them.

Some people have muscle contractions during the treatment. Your doctor can slightly alter the way they give treatment if this is uncomfortable. You may also feel sick but this is usually mild and you can have anti sickness medicines. Infection in the area you have treatment is rare. Tell your doctor if you notice the area has become redder, swollen, painful or if there is any discharge.

You might notice the colour of your skin changes where you had treatment. It might be darker or lighter. This usually fades with time but can be permanent for some people.

The area where you have treatment can form an ulcer or the skin might breakdown. If this happens you will need a nurse to dress it until it heals. This might take a couple of weeks.

Research into electrochemotherapy

So far, researchers have used electrochemotherapy to control symptoms of advanced skin cancers when other treatments aren’t working.

In the future, researchers hope that electrochemotherapy could become a treatment for early skin cancers. But we need to compare it with the current standard treatments and this can take many years.

Researchers are also looking into using electric pulses to treat cancers in body cavities. These include early bladder cancers and cancers in the chest. This treatment in body cavities is called electromotive drug administration.

Reference: Cancer Research, UK, 2019

Which Cancer Therapies Fall Under Immunotherapy Protocols?

admin — Thu, 17 Oct 2019 11:49:05 +0000

Adoptive Cell Transfer Therapy (ACT)

ACT is a type of immunotherapy which helps the body fight disease through the presence of T-Cells. T-cells are lymphocytes which play an integral role in the immune response. T-cells are found in the patient’s blood and tissue, grown in a laboratory environment, and then re-infused into the patient. ACT is also referred to as: adoptive cell transfer, cellular adoptive immunotherapy, and T-cell transfer therapy.

Checkpoint Inhibitors

Checkpoint inhibitors are drugs that block certain proteins that restrain T-cells from attacking cancer cells. When these proteins are blocked, the T-cells are unleashed to attack cancer cells more effectively.

Monoclonal Antibodies (MABs)

Monoclonal antibodies (MABs) are produced in a laboratory and they can enhance the body’s natural mechanisms to attack cancer cells. There are different types of MABs and they function in various ways to treat cancer including: blocking cell growth, triggering an immune system response, directly attacking cancer cells, etc.

Treatment Vaccines

Cancer treatment vaccines stimulate the immune system to identify and destroy cancer cells that have cancer-specific antigens on their surface. The vaccines can help destroy cancer cells, prevent the return of cancer, and/or halt the growth of a cancerous tumor.

Cytokines

Cytokines are proteins made by the body’s immune cells. Cytokine therapy may help the immune system attack cancerous cells. The two main types of cytokines used to treat cancer are interleukins and interferons.

Reference: Oncology Specialists of Charlotte

September is Ovarian Cancer Awareness month

admin — Tue, 10 Sep 2019 08:28:42 +0000

What is Ovarian Cancer?

Ovarian cancer is a disease in which, depending on the type and stage of the disease, malignant (cancerous) cells are found inside, near, or on the outer layer of the ovaries. An ovary is one of two small, almond-shaped organs located on each side of the uterus that store eggs, or germ cells, and produce female hormones estrogen and progesterone.

Cancer Basics

Cancer develops when abnormal cells in a part of the body (in this case, the ovary) begin to grow uncontrollably. This abnormal cell growth is common among all cancer types.

Normally, cells in your body divide and form new cells to replace worn out or dying cells, and to repair injuries. Because cancer cells continue to grow and divide, they are different from normal cells. Instead of dying, they outlive normal cells and continue to create new abnormal cells, forming a tumor. Tumors can put pressure on other organs near the ovaries.

Cancer cells can sometimes travel to other parts of the body, where they begin to grow and replace normal tissue. This process, called metastasis, occurs as the cancer cells move into the bloodstream or lymph system of the body. Cancer cells that spread from other organ sites (such as breast or colon) to the ovary are not considered ovarian cancer. Cancer type is determined by the original site of the malignancy.

What is the general outlook for women diagnosed with ovarian cancer?

In women ages 35-74, ovarian cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer-related deaths. An estimated one woman in 78 will develop ovarian cancer during her lifetime. The American Cancer Society estimates that there will be over 22,280 new cases of ovarian cancer diagnosed this year and that more than 14,240 women will die from ovarian cancer this year.

When one is diagnosed and treated in the earliest stages, the five-year survival rate is over 90 percent. Due to ovarian cancer’s non-specific symptoms and lack of early detection tests, about 20 percent of all cases are found early, meaning in stage I or II. If caught in stage III or higher, the survival rate can be as low as 28 percent. Due to the nature of the disease, each woman diagnosed with ovarian cancer has a different profile and it is impossible to provide a general prognosis.

Reference: NOCC

Top 10 jobs with higher risk of cancer

admin — Mon, 26 Aug 2019 13:44:45 +0000

Exposure to carcinogenic toxins such as formaldehyde, arsenic, and carbon monoxide is common in some occupations.

Here are 10 commonly held jobs that can be associated with a higher risk of cancer.

Pilots

Lifeguards

Any Desk-job

Nail-salon workers

Farmers and others in agricultural jobs

Firefighters

Painters

Rubber manufacturers

Construction Workers

Morticians and undertakers

Read the entire article HERE

Good news! Death rates for breast cancer have been falling on average 1.8% each year over 2007-2016.

admin — Mon, 19 Aug 2019 06:53:20 +0000

Latest cancer statistics show a great progress in 2019

Number of New Cases and Deaths per 100,000: The number of new cases of female breast cancer was 127.5 per 100,000 women per year. The number of deaths was 20.6 per 100,000 women per year. These rates are age-adjusted and based on 2012-2016 cases and deaths.

Lifetime Risk of Developing Cancer: Approximately 12.8 percent of women will be diagnosed with female breast cancer at some point during their lifetime, based on 2014-2016 data.

Prevalence of This Cancer: In 2016, there were an estimated 3,477,866 women living with female breast cancer in the United States.

Read the entire article from National Cancer Institute WEBSITE

How Viruses Are Being Used to Fight Cancer?

admin — Thu, 15 Aug 2019 15:21:59 +0000

The viruses that cause measles, polio, herpes and the common cold are being genetically engineered to fight certain aggressive cancers.

VIRUSES CAN UNDOUBTEDLY be very dangerous, but while they are well known to cause devastating illnesses, a wide variety of them – including measles, polio, herpes and the adenovirus – have recently been used to treat cancer, especially aggressive types. Oncolytic virotherapy is an emerging treatment, with major institutions investing research and time into fine-tuning this therapy.

In 2015, researchers at the MD Anderson Cancer Center at the University of Texas genetically modified the adenovirus, which can cause the common cold, to help treat Glioblastoma Multiforme, a very aggressive brain tumor. Malignant gliomas are both the most common and most lethal type of central nervous system tumors, with glioblastoma being the most aggressive subtype. The current standard of care involves a combination of surgery, radiation and chemotherapy, but even with this treatment these tumors remain incredibly fatal, and after second-line therapy there is currently no standard of care.

How are viruses being used to fight cancer?

The virus is engineered to leave healthy tissue cells alone and target proteins that exist only in the cancer cells. Once the virus detects the particular protein, it replicates continuously until it fills the cancer cells and causes it to explode. After the cancer cell bursts, the unleashed viruses find their way to other cancer cells and the process continues. If the cancer comes back, the virus will recognize it and attack it. In another approach, once the immune system has encountered the engineered virus, it can identify cancer cells that contain the modified virus and destroy them – that is, a cancer cell that was initially able to escape detection by the immune system can now be recognized and eliminated.

What viruses are being used to help treat cancer?

Duke University has used an oncolytic virus to treat Glioblastoma Multiforme by inserting a live, genetically modified polio virus into brain tumors via a catheter. The adapted virus, without the part that causes the viral disease, penetrates the cancer cells and spark an immune response to attack the cancer cells. The rate of overall survival of patients treated with this at 24 months was 21%, compared to 4% in the general population group.

The herpes virus Talimogene Laherparepvec (also known as TVEC) is used to treat melanoma and is currently FDA approved. It is genetically engineered to help shrink the tumor and then activate the immune system to continue to recognize and destroy cancer cells. Unlike other cancer treatments that use viruses, this oncolytic virus is genetically engineered to includegranulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor to help draw immune cells to the tumor. This can further enhance the response of our immune system to fight these once unrecognizable cells.

Most recently a strain of the common cold virus, cocksackie virus (CVA21), has been used to attack and kill bladder cancer cells by triggering a protein that triggers an immune response. In a study, 15 patients at the University of Surrey in England were given the cocksackie virus one week prior to surgery through a catheter. When the tumor samples were analyzed after surgery there was evidence that the virus had targeted and killed some of the bladder cancer cells in all 15 of the patients, with no significant side effects. Once those cancer cells had died, the virus then infiltrated and attacked other cancer cells, leaving the healthy ones intact.

Read the original article HERE

Photo: GETTY IMAGES

Role and duties of a surgical oncologist

admin — Fri, 09 Aug 2019 10:16:29 +0000

History of Surgical Oncology

Surgical oncology, as a specialised method of surgery for cancerous tumours, has evolved since the last three decades. Surgery is usually considered to be the most effective method of treatment of cancer. Ephraim McDowell undertook the first reported cancer surgery for ovarian tumour in 1809.

Who is a Surgical Oncologist?

Surgical oncologists specialise in the treatment of malignant neoplastic disease, with in-depth knowledge and expertise to perform the standard and advanced procedures as considered necessary for each patient. An accomplished surgical oncologist not only possesses the ability to diagnose tumours but has adequate knowledge in haematology, pathology, medical oncology and radiation oncology. Surgical oncologists, when considered necessary, refer patients to radio therapists for tests, and ensure appropriate multimodality care. This, in turn, aids in undertaking the accurate line of treatment. Over the past 30 years, Dr. Amish Dalal has successfully diagnosed and treated patients with cancer.

Multidisciplinary Management of Cancer

As discussed above, surgical oncologists referring patients to radio oncologists denote the multidisciplinary management of the treatment. Solid malignancies can be treated successfully simply through therapy alone, when detected during the early stage. However, in addition to standard therapy treatment, surgeries are indicated in advanced stages. This supports the argument that surgery is usually opted as an effective method in the treatment of cancer. Dr Amish V Dalal, a Surgical Oncologist, is renowned for his expertise in conducting cancer surgeries.

An Overview of the Role of a Surgical Oncologist

The role of a surgical oncologist primarily spans over four areas:

Exploring the scope of effective treatment solely through therapy, especially in early stages, which may avoid the need of a resection (removal of a tumour through surgery)
Excision of malignant tumours
Removal of malignant lymph nodes at the time of surgery
Treating any cases of recurrence of the disease

A study of the complete history of a patient and physical examination during consultation helps the surgical oncologist to assess the medical condition of the patient and decide upon the line of treatment, that is, whether it is treatable through therapy alone, or it warrants resection. If managed through surgery, a combination of post-surgical treatment including radiotherapy and chemotherapy is generally followed.

An acclaimed surgical oncologist is adept with removing cancer tumours and a portion of surrounding tissue, which may not look infected macroscopically but carries the risk of being malignant, which may be detected microscopically. This procedure usually helps in preventing the disease from spreading to other parts of the body and recurring in the future. In the case of borderline resection, the oncologist conducts a surgery, referred to as ‘Debulking’, to remove as much tumour as is considered possible and follow-up with post-surgery therapy to relieve pain. Amish Dalal, a renowned Oncologist, is proficient with conducting gynaecological oncological surgeries, after analysing the nature, location and stage of tumours.

Methods of Surgery

The method of surgery followed by the surgical oncologist depends on the location and stage of the disease, as well as other factors including health condition and fitness of the patient. Doctor Amish Dalal has the necessary expertise in the following methods of cancer surgery:

Open Surgery
Laparoscopy, depending on the patient’s medical condition and financial resources
Robotic Surgery

Doctor Amish Dalal, with his knowledge in his field of specialisation and along with the state-of-the-art surgical equipments, is able to provide world-class management of the disease. Dr. Amish Vasant Dalalalso conducts Robotic Surgery – one of the most advanced surgical methods in the field of medical science. The surgery provides the surgeon the advantage of 10x magnification along with a 3D view while operating. This method of surgery not only reduces pain considerably but also ensures speedy recovery as compared to Open Surgery.

Role Of A Surgical Oncologist Post-Surgery: Reconstructive Surgery

Many patients, in cases where oncological surgery may have had a disfigurative impact on body aesthetics, may opt for a reconstructive surgery. Reconstruction that follows close to the heels of the oncological surgery is known as ‘Immediate Reconstruction’. Reconstructive Surgery can also be undertaken a few weeks or months later, and is referred to as ‘Delayed Reconstruction’. In such cases, the patient is referred to a plastic surgeon for ‘Oncoplastic Surgery’.

Facts about Melanoma; 2019

admin — Tue, 06 Aug 2019 16:37:12 +0000

An estimated 192,310 cases of Melanoma will be diagnosed in the U.S. in 2019.

If #melanoma is recognized and treated early, it is almost always curable. See the video for more information on Melanoma and our wonderful possibilities to face with it (click to see the video)

Source: Skin Cancer Foundation

Are you more exposed to cancer just because of your job?

admin — Tue, 06 Aug 2019 07:17:10 +0000

Professions associated with Cancer risk

About 5-8% of all cancers worldwide are caused by exposures to carcinogens in the workplace, according to the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health. Although the rate of workplace-related cancers has decreased due to safety regulations, exposure to some dusts, gases, and chemicals can increase cancer risk in those who are frequently exposed. What’s more, there are hidden health risks for the average worker in seemingly safer industries or environments that could increase the risk of getting cancer.

Professions at a higher risk of exposure and cancer risk include:

Office jobs

Sitting for most of the day — whether at a desk, in front of a screen, or behind the wheel — can increase one’s cancer risk. Studies have found that those who sat for more than 8 hours a day with no physical activity had a risk of dying similar to the risk posed by obesity and smoking. Overtime, sitting regularly for long periods of time can cause other adverse effects, such as:

Increased blood pressure
High blood sugar (hyperglycemia)
High cholesterol levels
Excess body fat around the waist

Shift work

Chronic disruptions to natural circadian rhythms have been linked to an increase in a variety of disorders, including cancer. When you work a night shift — such as taxi or rideshare drivers, merchandise stocker, or police officers — your body’s natural circadian rhythm is disrupted. This can not only cause changes in sleeping patterns, but in other activities such as body temperature and digestion. Studies have shown that cancer development is closely related to a loss of circadian balance in how we burn energy, respond to infection and disease, and age.

Truck drivers are especially at risk because in addition to the overnight work, the job entails sitting a lot of the time, regardless of the time of day.

Agriculture and forestry careers

Sun exposure can cause burns from UV rays, increasing the risk of skin cancer or melanoma. This is especially true in areas or climates where there is increased sun exposure, and in those with fair skin or a family history of skin cancer. Exposure to some agricultural chemicals — such as pesticides and fertilizers, or engine exhaust — can also increase the risk of cancers like lymphoma and leukemia.

Rubber manufacturing jobs

Working in factories that produce tires, rubber gloves, rubber bands, and other rubber products increases exposure to carcinogenic chemicals. Chemicals and toxins from rubber manufacturing are more often absorbed through the skin from repetitive skin constant, not just through inhalation. The International Agency for Research on Cancer(IARC) conducted a study determining that there are specific chemicals related to a heightened risk of bladder, leukemia, lung, and stomach cancer in the rubber industry.

Construction and mining work

The biggest carcinogenic risk for construction workers is exposure to asbestos. An estimated 1.3 million construction and general industry workers are potentially exposed to asbestos each year. Cancers associated with asbestos exposure include larynx, lung, ovary, and mesothelioma.

Miners are also at risk of exposure to asbestos, but underground workers are also more likely to encounter uranium and radon, which can lead to a higher risk of cancer. Working in mines can put you at risk for a variety of cancers, including brain, mesothelioma, stomach, and thyroid cancers.

Reducing career-related cancer risk

Across these professions, there are some preventative measures you can take to lower your cancer risk.

If working in construction, agriculture, or a job that requires you to be outside for most of the day, use sunscreen and limit exposure as much as possible by finding shade when possible. Sunglasses are also important to protect your eyes from harmful UV rays.

Fields such as construction and rubber manufacturing have laws that protect workers from and limit chemical and asbestos exposure. These regulations protect workers, requiring they wear protective equipment (such as face masks) and setting legal asbestos exposure limits. Quitting or never smoking cigarettes can help decrease the risk of asbestos-related lung cancer.

If you find yourself sitting most of the day, stand or take a brief walk every 30 minutes. If possible, try a standing desk or position your work surface above a treadmill. Studiesshow that an hour of moderate exercise a day counters the effects of too much sitting.

Reference article