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How Blood Test Results Can Affect Chemotherapy

admin — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 03:12:33 +0000

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Melanie_Haiken]Melanie Haiken

These vary a bit depending on the lab, so the ranges that follow are guidelines rather than absolutes. Be sure to ask for a copy of the CBC each time it’s performed, and look at the lab results sheet for the normal range for that lab. Still, there are some general rules of thumb:

Red blood cells (RBC)Normal for men: 4.5 to 6.2 million per microliter (a single drop). Normal for women: 4.2 to 5.4 million per microliter.
White blood cellsNormal for men and women: 3,700 to 10,000 per microliter. Lowest level at which someone is safe from infection: 1,000.
PlateletsNormal range for men and women: 150,000 to 450,000 per microliterLowest level at which someone’s blood can still clot normally: 100,000. Level at which there’s a risk of spontaneous bleeding: 50,000. Level at which bleeding can become life-threatening: 5,000.

Hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that oxygenates the blood, provides the body with energy, strength, and stamina. When there isn’t enough oxygen in the blood, he’ll feel tired, weak, and sometimes faint or dizzy. He may have trouble catching his breath or feel pain in his chest as he tries to breathe. Extreme fatigue can bring with it memory or concentration problems, so he might seem confused or act like he’s not thinking straight. For more information, see Understanding Low Red Blood Counts. Platelets control clotting and stop bleeding, so when his platelets are low, he bruises easily and his body has trouble stopping the bleeding from even a small cut or scratch. (Women who are still having periods may have unusually heavy flow.) Nosebleeds and bleeding gums after brushing teeth can become an ongoing problem. Some people also get a rash that looks like little pinprick-sized red or purple dots, or they experience aching in their joints or muscles. Headaches are common too. For more information, see Understanding Low Platelets. The technical name for low white blood cell count is neutropenia, from the word neutrophil, and it means that his immune system is depressed. Another term you may hear is immunocompromised. Without regular immune function, his body can’t fight off germs and infections as it normally would. Watch closely for signs of fever, sore throat or cough, or chills and shaking. Keep an eye out for other signs of infection such as an injury that gets red and pus-filled or doesn’t heal. Another sign is diarrhea or loose stools for more than two days in a row. On the opposite extreme, an overly high white blood count is a sign his body is fighting an infection, although those fighting leukemia also can have elevated white counts.

Because the ranges considered normal are very wide, interpretation of the results can get muddy. One patient with a platelet count of 100,000 might have only minor bruising, for example, while another might have constant nosebleeds. It’s also important to keep in mind that a patient’s blood counts that are low as a result of chemotherapy and will rise again as his body manufactures new cells. Most of the time, it’s simply a case of waiting for the counts to rise again and keeping him safe in the meantime. However, for each count there is a level below which his doctor will take steps to elevate blood counts. These may include prescribing medicines or giving transfusions. Likewise, don’t be surprised if his doctor postpones a chemo treatment if she decides his blood counts are too low. http://www.caring.com/articles/blood-test-results http://www.caring.com/articles/low-blood-count-or-low-platelet-count

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Melanie_Haiken http://EzineArticles.com/?How-Blood-Test-Results-Can-Affect-Chemotherapy&id=3085575

Learn how blood test results can affect chemotherapy treatment. These vary a bit depending on the lab, so the ranges that follow are guidelines rather than absolutes. Be sure to ask for a copy of the CBC each time it’s performed, and look at the lab results sheet for the normal range for that lab.

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Elderly Immune System Needs A Boost: Older Cancer Sufferers Need Treatments Tailored To Their Aging Immune Systems

admin — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 03:49:35 +0000

ScienceDaily (Oct. 14, 2009) — Elderly cancer patients need a combination of treatments tailor-made to their specific needs to successfully combat the disease. The challenge is to boost their immune response to cancer vaccines, Story Source:

Adapted from materials provided by Springer.

Journal Reference:

1. Lustgarten J. Cancer, aging and immunotherapy: lessons learned from animal models. Cancer Immunology Immunotherapy, 2009; 58 (12): 1979 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-009-0677-8

because like the rest of our organs, our immune system ages and gradually becomes less efficient as we get older.

Appetite Loss and Chemo: How to Make Foods More Appealing

admin — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 19:00:35 +0000

Apazin

Fight Nausea, Vomiting, IBS

Regulates GI system
Eases diarrhea and constipation
Curbs body fluid loss due to diarrhea
Alleviates mouth sores and dry mouth
Stimulates appetite-increases the secretion of digestive enzymes

_____________________________________________________________

Having a decreased appetite during chemotherapy is common, and there are many different causes of this problem. Some chemotherapy drugs cause taste alterations or a change in a patient’s sense of smell. They can also cause dry mouth, mouth sores, nausea, and vomiting. In other instances, a patient’s appetite is affected by an early sense of satiety or a persistent sense of always being full. Depression may also alter a patient’s desire to eat.

Here are some quick and easy ways you and your caregivers can make the most of meal times:

Try eating small meals frequently. Snacking every 2 to 3 hours throughout the day can be easier to digest; the smaller portions will also be less overwhelming.
Start out the day strong with a well balanced breakfast. Oftentimes, your appetite will wane by the end of the day. Eating a healthy breakfast such as peanut butter or eggs on toast, or toast with fruit, can help get the needed calories in your system.
Eat foods at room temperature to increase their palatability.
If tastes or smell is off, add extra seasonings to meats.
Using plastic utensils to decrease the metallic taste in the mouth.
Using a salt water rinse or brushing teeth with a mint-based paste may also help food taste better.
If feeling full is a problem, try eating small frequent meals that are low in fat but high in carbohydrates and protein.
Drinking fluids between meals may also help prevent feeling overly full at meal times. Use friends and family to help in the meal preparation and shopping. Go through recipe books to look for new concoctions that may be appealing to you.
Make meal time an enjoyable event. Eat with friends and family members or listen to your favorite music or television show.

Speak to your physician if your appetite is affected by nausea, vomiting, constipation, diarrhea, or pain. There are many medications as well as appetite stimulants that may help maximize your appetite. Eating well during cancer therapy will help you maintain weight and quicken the recovery time when your treatment has finished.

Nutrition is an integral part of the cancer treatment process. Without proper nutrition you may alter your immune system and potentially delay the recovery process.

For more information on tips for improving your appetite during cancer treatment see the following article from TheDietChannel: Increase Your Calories and Protein during Cancer Treatment.

The Dietchannel.com

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One Virus Particle Is Enough To Cause Infectious Disease

admin — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 19:26:25 +0000

ENERhance
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One Virus Particle Is Enough To Cause Infectious Disease

ScienceDaily (Mar. 14, 2009) — Can exposure to a single virus particle lead to infection or disease? Until now, solid proof has been lacking. Experimental research with insect larvae at Wageningen University and Simon Fraser University in Canada has shown that one virus particle is theoretically enough to cause infection and subsequent disease.

A virus population is usually composed of a collection of variants of virus particles. In order to investigate whether virus particles (virions) can cause an infection independently from each other, and therefore individually, the researchers set up an experiment with two ‘marked’ virus variants. They exposed a population of hosts (caterpillars) to both variants.

The experiment showed that exposure to a low dosage of virus particles resulted in a small number host infections (20%). The majority of these hosts (86%) turned out to be infected by a single virus genotype. In contrast, exposure to a high dosage of virus particles resulted in virtually all the hosts (99%) becoming infected, where most of the hosts were infected by both types of virus. Only 14% were infected by only one of the two variants.

Based on the assumption that every virus particle operates independently from all other virus particles, the researchers set up a probability model. This model predicts how many virus particles have caused an infection and how many different virus genotypes are present in infected hosts, such as plants, insects or people. The results of the infection experiment with the susceptible insects are in agreement with the model predictions. From this it can be derived that the virus particles have an independent effect, and that a single virus particle can indeed cause infection and/or disease.

If there are few virus particles that lead to an infection, the number of virus particles determines the degree of diversity that can be present within the host. This is an important finding because the interactions between virus variants, such as competition and exchanging genetic information, determine the progression of disease and the evolution of the virus.

Until now, it was unclear whether a virus must be seen as an individual that can infect a host independently, or whether a cloud of viruses ‘cooperates’ to cause an infection. It is not yet known if the viruses that affect people can also act individually, but this research shows that it is possible.

The researchers recently published this finding in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B.

Journal reference:

1. Mark P Zwart, Lia Hemerik, Jenny S Cory, J. Arjan G.M de Visser, Felix J.J.A Bianchi, Monique M Van Oers, Just M Vlak, Rolf F Hoekstra, and Wopke Van der Werf. An experimental test of the independent action hypothesis in virus%u2013insect pathosystems. Proc. R. Soc. B, 2009; DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2009.0064..Adapted from materials provided by Wageningen University and Research Centre.

Strengthen Immune System-Build white blood cells

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Stress Will Harm your Immune System

admin — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 21:48:56 +0000

Soothe Insomnia

Reduce Stress
Regulates nervous system
Relieves stress, anxiety, mild depression, and insomnia
Promotes optimal sleep patterns
__________________________________________________________

By: Chuck Arnone

Many studies have shown a link between stress and illness. Stress seems to have become a constant factor in today’s fast-paced society which can weaken the immune system and accelerate the aging process.
We talk about the three most significant stressors, namely, unwanted aloneness, loss of control, and loss of hope.If you can address those three stressors, you can enhance the power of the immune system,which may have an effect on how it’s able to fight those cancer cells and lessen the effects of cold and flu symptoms.

What we are looking at is if you can enhance the power of the immune system by doing things that make you happy, you will be healthier. Immune cells spend much of their lives circulating in those blood vessels.Immune systems of optimistic people have been found to fare much better under stressful conditions than those with a negative attitude.Chemotherapy has an affect on many cells in your body.

There is no question that good nutrition is necessary for a healthy immune system and that means a healthy variety of proteins, carbohydrates, fat, minerals, vitamins, fluids, etc. Your nutrition choices as well as your emotions can have a big impact on your body’s ability to keep up your energy levels and immune system.

In one small study, researchers found that moderate exercise (three or more times a week) increased the immune cell counts of women undergoing breast cancer treatment back to normal levels, and also improved the women’s mood and ability to handle their feelings comfortably. A healthy immune system regulates our body’s healing process and protects it against infections and diseases. Premature aging and fatigue are just part of the problem with stress and your immune system. Sleep time is when your body and immune system do most of its repairs and rejuvenation. Tea is a wonder drink as it has the ability to strenghten your immune system and fight off germs.

The field of study that examines the link between stress and the immune system is known as psychoneuroimmunology. Several studies in this area indicate that physical and emotional stress can have either good or bad effects on the immune system’s response. Autoimmune diseases are a result from this attack; the more commonly occurring examples include systemic lupus erythematosus (lupus), Grave’s disease of the thyroid, and rheumatoid arthritis. Autoimmune diseases are very sensitive to any kind of stress and symptoms worsen during that time. It is also interesting to note that many autoimmune disorders, such as lupus and Grave’s disease, occur more commonly in women than in men. A positive attitude, connecting to other human beings, and minimizing stress all have a lot to do with immune system health, as well.

Part of the solution to living longer and being healthy is to protect your immune system. A healthy system regulates our body’s healing process and protects it against infections and diseases. Stress influences our health so profoundly because of the way it affects our nervous and immune systems. Because of the connection between stress and health, stress management should be a cornerstone of your healthy lifestyle. Think about your state of health for a moment. And also the health of those you know. How we learn to deal with stress makes a huge difference in how healthy we are. Studies have shown that how a person deals with stress affects your health.

About the Author:

Chuck Arnone’s research into the immune system and it’s affect on your health can be very informative.

Printed From: http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/stress-will-harm-your-immune-system-296958.html

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CANCER SURVIVOR NOW CANCER DOCTOR

admin — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 04:34:22 +0000

Naturopathic Doctors Reducing the Side Effects of Standard Cancer Treatments- chemotherapy and Radiation…

As most know, when getting diagnosed with cancer and seeing their Oncologist, they most often recommend chemotherapy and/or radiation. Both of these treatments have vast side effects, including; radiation induced fatigue, burning with urination, bone pain, blood in the urine or stool, nausea, vomiting, peeling of the inner lining of the mouth, peeling of the hands and feet, sores in the mouth and hair loss, to name a few.

These side effects are usually caused by a few things; For patients getting Radiation, they are often told to do a number of weeks, usually 6 weeks of treatment and with constant radiation to one particular part of the body, the burning, irritation, and tenderness usually occurs pretty quickly. Soon after Radiation induced Fatigue will set in.

With Chemotherapy, usually 3-4 cycles are recommended usually providing most of the side effects mentioned above. The problem with chemotherapy is this; chemotherapy usually has its potent killing effect within the first 5-7 days, and then the dose dependent curve of the chemo, in terms of it being effective past one week is greatly reduced. Here begins the problem-is that people are told to do chemotherapy and radiation yet their doctors are not talking with them about what to do to reduce/eliminate the side effects of these treatments.

There are a number of Natural Treatments, including High Dose I.V. therapy, Detox regimens, Supplementation centered around detoxing the liver and colon, diet, Acupuncture, etc that people can do to eliminate/reduce the side effects associated with these drastic conventional Treatments. One such doctor that specializes in Natural Cancer Treatments and Support is Dr. Joe Brown- A Naturopathic Doctor located in Tempe, Arizona.

Dr. Joe Brown has an outpatient Treatment facility in which he works with patients who are doing Conventional Treatment to help them both get throuth the side effects of these treatments and to stimulate their immune system to do what it should have done in the first place before being diagnosed. Dr. Brown’s Treatments center around stimulating the Immune System of people, providing an alkaline diet to alkalinize their body, providing a complete supplement regimen, and providing Treatments from literally around the world to patients. Dr. Brown’s goal is to treat the person with cancer, not just the cancer.

Dr. Joe Brown, N.M.D.
Natural Health Medical Centers – Outpatient Treatment Facility for Cancer Patients-Looking for Natural Treatments
2055 E. Southern Ave., Suite B
Tempe, Arizona 85282
602-421-2613 ph
480-456-8600- Back Line only answered during Business Hours
CancerAlternatives@DrJoeBrown.com
www.DrJoeBrown.com

Emphasis: Cancer – Patients diagnosed with cancer looking for Alternative Treatments

Licensed and Accredited by the State of Arizona
-Winner of the “Princeton’s Top Doctors” -2009, New York
-Winner of the Spirit Award-2008-Presented by Channel 3 T.V.-Good Morning Arizona (http://www.azfamily.com/video/somethinggood-index.html?nvid=258306)
-Alumni Association Ambassador of Southwest College Medical School- Tempe, Arizona
-Past CoHost of 1310 Independent Radio
-Winner of the Hero Award-2008 from 104.7 F.M.-Radio Station, Phoenix Arizona
-Featured in the INCURABLES Series, Satellite & Cable T.V. (Cancer Survivor, Now Cancer Doctor!!)
-Winner of the “Who’s Who in Medicine” – 2008, New York.

www.drjoebrown.com

“There are More Options than chemo and radiation!!”

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Understanding Ovarian Cancer

admin — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 21:00:06 +0000

Understanding Ovarian Cancer

Author: Lorna Darden

Ovarian Cancer is a women’s disease and it is on the rise. We as women have to take care of ourselves every single day. Even though no matter how much health food we eat and how much we exercise unfortunately, sometimes it’s not enough.

Ovaries are reproductive glands that produce the egg. There is one ovary on each side of the uterus in the pelvis. The egg travels through the fallopian tube and fertilizes into a baby. Ovarian Cancer begins in the ovaries. Many tumors can develop in the ovaries. Most of these are non cancerous, they can be removed by removing part of the ovary, the tumor or the ovary itself. If it is a cancerous tumor it can spread throughout the body and can be more complicated.

Your ovaries have three kinds of tissue:

Epithelial cells that cover the ovary.

Germs cells which are found in the ovary and develop into eggs that are released into the fallopian tube that are released every month.

Stromal cells which develops most of the female’s hormones estrogen and progesterone.

Tumors are named depending on which cells the tumor came from. It could be benign (no cancerous) and cancerous. There three ways to tell what kind of tumor it is by checking all three of tissues.

The Epithelial tumor covers most of the ovary. Most tumors that are found turn out to be this tumor.

The Germ cell tumor comes from part where the eggs develop in the ovary.

Stromal cell tumor comes from the connective tissue that holds the ovaries together.

Epithelial tumors usually do not spread and or lead to serious illness. Malignant tumors are cancerous and can spread to certain parts of the body. Noncanerous tumors are different from malignant cancer they do not grow into the connective tissue and to the stomach. The benign tumor can develop at a young age and even though it can be life-threatening, in most cases it is not. Epithelial ovarian cancer is called carcinomas. 85%-90% of ovarian cancer is epithelial. Here are the different types of ovarian cancer.

Fallopian tube cancer- Is very rare; it usually carries the same symptoms as ovarian cancer. It starts in the tube which carries the egg from the ovary to the uterus. The survival rate is about the same also.

Germ Cell Tumor- The germ cells form the eggs. Some tumors of this sort can be benign. Sometimes it can be life-threatening, only 5% of germ cell tumors are ovarian cancer.

Teratoma- Are germ cell cancers, they are the most common cancers. They usually affect women in their forties and teens, it is called a dermoid cyst, because it looks like skin. It can have different types of tissues like bones, hair and teeth. It can be removed by surgery.

Dysgerminoma- Is a common cancer as well. It affects women in their twenties and teens. It usually is cancerous; some do not grow or grow to fast. About 75% of patients have surgery to remove the ovary if it has spread.

Stromal Tumors- Are mostly found in women in their fifties. These tumors make up about 5%-7% of ovarian cancer. 5% of young girls develop this tumor. The symptoms are abnormal vagina bleeding, something like a period occurring after menopause. This happens because the tumor may cause female hormones; it can also cause breast development and early menstruation in girls.

Ovarian Cysts- Are a build up of fluid in the ovaries. They are usually not life-threatening in women that are ovulating and not going through menopause. If it produces while you are going through menopause and in a girl who has not started having her periods being concerned maybe an option. Your doctor will want to do a check-up after your cycle if you have a cyst. The doctor might want to wait a few months to see if it will go away. The only way to tell if the cyst is malignant, they will have to take it out and examine it. Some cancers can be treated with surgery, chemotherapy, and medications.

Be healthy, know your body and get regular check-ups.

Health and You

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/diseases-and-conditions-articles/understanding-ovarian-cancer-717277.html

About the Author:

I’m a wife and mom of three beautiful children. I live in ILLinois USA. I have been an online marketer for two years and have been writing articles for a year. My main subjects are business and health.

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Coping with ‘chemo brain’

admin — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 03:16:42 +0000

Many women who undergo chemotherapy for breast cancer describe unsettling changes to the memory and concentration. Researchers at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center say this phenomenon is very real, and have even given it a name: Chemo brain.

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Chemotherapy Cancer Treatments & Side Effects : Long-Term Side Effects From Chemotherapy

admin — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 02:08:24 +0000

The long-term side effects from chemotherapy cancer treatments can include a suppressed immune system, weight loss, hair loss and increased risk of developing other cancers. Find out how many chemotherapy side effects will go away with time with insight from a doctor in this free video on chemotherapy and cancer treatments.

Expert: Dr. David Cathcart
Bio: Dr. David Cathcart has been an occupational medicine physician at Heartland Regional Medical Center in St. Joseph, Mo. for more than 20 years.
Filmmaker: Johnny Cathcart

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Chemotherapy Cancer Treatments & Side Effects : Nutrition for Chemotherapy Side Effects:video

admin — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 01:51:08 +0000

Good nutrition for reducing chemotherapy treatment side effects includes eating several small meals, sticking with bland foods and avoiding liquids with meals. Ask a doctor about vitamin or mineral supplements that may help with chemotherapy using advice from a doctor in this free video on chemotherapy and cancer treatments.

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