Breast Cancer

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First Signs of Breast Cancer Progression

By: Trevor Price

In the U.S., over 90 percent of breast cancer diagnoses happen during the early breast cancer stages. Early detection is good news for the patient as it often translates to effective treatment.

Nonetheless, early diagnosis is only a fraction of the whole medical picture. Other disease characteristics, like hormone receptors and lymph nodes, can aid in prognosing results and help doctors and patients choose the right treatment.

Although breast cancer is on the rise in North America and the UK, the mortality rate is decreasing. This decline in mortality is credited to an increased number of women obtaining mammograms, improved evaluation techniques, and effective ancillary treatments.

Thus if the majority of diagnosed breast cancer cases are discovered during the preliminary stages, what effect does that have on patients and what are the best treatment courses?

The Early Stages of Breast Cancer

Earlier breast cancer stages are called TNM stages 1, 2 and 3a. This scoring system approximates how far the carcinoma has advanced. It s also based on whether any present tumors are operable.

Most instances of early stage breast cancer are curable through surgery, radiation therapy or systemic therapy. The survival rate for patients diagnosed this early have a 5 year success rate of over 75 .

Normal Treatment Reactions

Treatment reaction generally hinges on lymph node engagement, the size and grade of any tumors, the age of the patient, hormone (estrogen and progesterone) receptors, and the status or condition of biologic markers like HER2/neu.

Lymph Node Indicators

Lymph nodes are an effective way to predict the effects of breast cancer. Essentially, the more positive lymph nodes that are present, the lower the patient s survival rate and the higher the chances of relapse.

Commonly, patients with earlier stage breast cancer are classified into either those presenting negative nodes, 1 to 3 positive lymph nodes, 4 to 9 positive nodes, or 10 and more nodes.

Tumor Size

If a patient exhibits negative lymph nodes and a tumor that is smaller than 1cm, the prognosis is often very good. Most doctors use tumor size as an effective and critical indicator during the early stages of this disease.

The Grade of Tumor

As the grade of the tumor increases, so does the potential relapse rate. However, due to the unreliability of tumor data, most pathologists do not rely on this information for their prognosis.

Estrogen and Progesterone Receptors

Estrogen and progesterone receptors within the tumor is also used to prognosticate breast cancer during the earlier stages. Generally, those patients with a receptor positive form of breast cancer tend to have a better prognosis and survival rate than those who don t.

HER2/neu as an Indicator

HER2/neu is what s called a marker it s a biological element typically present in the body or within the tumor in about 25 of all breast cancer cases. When HER2/neu levels are high, that usually translates to a more aggressive variety of breast cancer and a worse prognosis.

Age of the Patient

Generally, patients who are older (50 and up) have a better prognosis than patients under the age of 35.

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Neuroblastoma Cancer

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Gaining an Awareness of the Stage 4 Neuroblastoma Cancer in Youngsters

By: Trevor Price

Neuroblastoma stage 4 is the most advanced stage of the neuroblastoma cancer. It means that the disease has spread to other areas of the body, like the liver or bone marrow, and the prognosis is not always good.

If you are the parent of a child diagnosed with neuroblastoma in the fourth stage, read on for an overview of the disease, information on stage 4 and how the disease is treated.

A Neuroblastoma Overview

Approximately 650 cases of neuroblastoma are diagnosed every year in the U.S. It s the third most common kind of cancer in children and the most frequent form in infants. Approximately 90 percent of all cases of neuroblastoma are diagnosed in children aged 6 and under.

About 30 of all neuroblastoma cases begin in the adrenal glands, another 30 start in the ganglia of the abdomen s sympathetic nervous system, and the majority of the remainder begin in the neck s sympathetic ganglia, chest or pelvis.

Rates for Five Year Survival

The five year survival rate for infants (under the age of 1) is 83 , while it is 55 for children between the ages of 1 to 4, and 40 for older children.

But children with stage 4 neuroblastoma normally have much lower survival rates. They hover between 50 and 80 for infants (under a year old) and drop to 15 for children over the age of 1.

Treatments Used for Stage 4 of Neuroblastoma

Children who are diagnosed with stage 4 neuroblastoma are considered high risk. They are typically subjected to intensive, high dosage chemotherapy accompanied by surgery and stem cell transplantations. Typically though, surgery is the first step unless the neuroblastoma has spread too far.

In most cases, treatment involves a combination of medications. The main drugs used to treat children with neuroblastoma are cisplatin, vincristine, cyclophosphamide, etoposide and topotecan. These drugs produce a positive response in two thirds of children.

In certain cases, particularly when the cancer has spread too far to be completely removed by surgery as is the case with the fourth stage of neuroblastoma chemotherapy is the primary treatment.

Bone Marrow Transplantation and Blood Stem Cell Transplantation

Because high dosage chemotherapy will wipe out bone marrow, new blood cells are no longer being developed, so children are at a high risk. Because kids diagnosed with stage 4 neuroblastoma must often undergo intense chemotherapy sessions, they should also be prepared for a bone marrow transplant and/or a secondary blood stem cell transplant.

Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy has been used in the past to destroy any neuroblastoma cells that remain behind after surgery. It s also used to shrink tumors.

However, in many instances of late stage and advanced neuroblastoma, it s rarely used unless it s implemented as a pain management tool or in conjunction with chemotherapy.

Children facing cancer of any type are in such a vulnerable position. The earlier in life a malignant diagnosis, the great the prospect of survival. Parents who suspect the potential for this cancer should obtain confirmation from a trusted oncologist specializing in the disease.

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Osteosarcoma

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Condensed Review of Osteosarcoma Among Youth

By: Trevor Price

Childhood osteosarcoma is a form of malignant bone cancer and the 6th most common form of cancer in children under the age of 15. The disease affects over 500 adults and 400 children every year, with a two thirds survival rate.

Causes of Osteosarcoma

Unfortunately, the causes behind osteosarcoma are not known. Theories exist about environmental triggers such as fluoride in drinking water or exposure to radium.

Symptoms Associated with Osteosarcoma

Typically, the most common side effect associated with osteosarcoma is pain, often emanating from the tumor location. Larger tumors, particularly those on the knees, can appear as swelling. In addition, because the affected bone is usually weaker, it s more susceptible to breaking.

Over 50 of all cases of childhood osteosarcoma occur around the knee area.

Risk Factors

Age

The risk for developing osteosarcoma peaks during the adolescent growth period. Some researchers think that there may be a correlation between rapid bone growth development and a child s risk for developing the cancer.

Gender of the Patient

Osteosarcoma typically occurs in males and is seen twice as frequently as in young women.

Exposure to Radiation

If a patient has been subjected to radiation treatment for other cancers or conditions, they will have a higher risk of contracting the disease.

Additional Bone Diseases

Patients who have suffered from other bone diseases, like Paget s disease of the bone, have an increased risk of being diagnosed with osteosarcoma. Typically though, this occurs in adults and is rare with children.

Genetics

Childhood osteosarcoma is often more prevalent in children with certain rare cancer syndromes that are inherited such as retinoblastoma or Li Fraumeni syndrome.

Types of Osteosarcoma

There are three sub types of osteosarcoma that can be recognized by how they appear on X rays and under a microscope. Some of these sub types have a better prognosis than others.

The three sub types of osteosarcoma are high grade, intermediate and low grade. High grade is a conventional development of the disease characterized by small cell formation. Intermediate grade is periosteal, meaning the membrane around the bones is affected. Low grade is also periosteal, but also includes low grade intrasseous.

How Osteosarcoma is Treated

Osteosarcoma is occasionally treated with surgery at which point the afflicted limb or a portion of the afflicted limb is amputated. Usually, the patient or parents of the patient choose to use the same surgeon for both the biopsy and the therapeutic surgery.

Patients or the parents of patients should consult with their surgeon about the best method and how best to remove the cancer while saving as much use of the affected arm or leg as possible.

Despite the prevalence of surgery, most cases of childhood osteosarcoma are treated with chemotherapy in conjunction with surgery. There are a variety of drugs used in osteosarcoma chemotherapy programs, with each dose determined by the individual patient and disease.

A child suffering from this affliction and the parents of this child have very difficult decisions to make when presented with options of chemotherapy and surgery. Those facing the prospect of an amputation should definitely seek a second medical opinion before moving forward.

Author Resource:-> For great info on various cancers - see http://www.cancerinfotips.com/ - a popular site about symptoms and treatments - such as pancreatic cancer symptoms- http://www.cancerinfotips.com/pancreatic-cancer-symptoms.shtml - breast cancer signs and many more!

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