Stem cells are what keep the disease live in the human body. So far scientists only know that any part of the tumor, if extracted, could produce the same effect on another body, because they come to bloom again the disease.

…read the rest of this entry»

Radiation therapy is given through different methods depending on cancer type, location and health of the patient. In some cases, radiation therapy used in combination with other treatments. Here are some of the different types of radiation therapy and a brief explanation of the objectives:  …read the rest of this entry»

Radiation therapy (also called therapeutic radiology or radiation oncology) uses special kinds of energy waves or particles to fight cancer. Like surgery, radiation therapy is used in different ways depending on the type and location of the cancer. Certain levels of radiation work by destroying cancer cells or preventing them from growing or reproducing. This treatment may provide a cure for cancer, help control the disease or relieve symptoms.  …read the rest of this entry»

In 2001, everything was finally coming together for Leslie Mouton. She had a plum position as a television newscaster for San Antonio’s KSAT-TV. And after 12 years of living in separate cities because of the demands of their careers, Mouton and her husband, Air Force pilot Tony Mattox (”Mad Dog” to his buddies), were about to be reunited. In February 1999, Mattox had been deployed to Kosovo, leaving his wife and their six-month-old daughter, Nicole Danielle, behind. Now the little family would finally be together under the same roof.

The couple began trying to conceive their second child shortly after Mattox came home. “My life had finally gotten to where I wanted it to be after so many years,” says Mouton.

Then, “our world came crashing down around us,” Mouton says. One day, she was lying in bed giving herself a breast self-exam when she felt a lump in her left breast. The then 35-year-old called her husband in from the next room and went through a mental checklist of risk factors. “I had no known risks except that I had my first child after the age of 30, so I told my husband, ‘It’s probably just a cyst,’” she recalls. Nonetheless, Mattox urged her to see a doctor.

At her physician’s office, Mouton was apologetic. “I felt like I was wasting everyone’s time,” she remembers. She was just a few days shy of her period, so her doctor sent her home with a word of caution: “Come back [afterward] if the lump’s still there.” Her period came and went, but the lump remained.

On Friday the 13th in October 2001, Mouton had a mammogram, which revealed “a white blob with thin tentacles.” Her doctor immediately ordered a sonogram and a needle-core biopsy for the same day. The following Monday, Mouton got the call: She had an aggressive form of breast cancer called infiltrated ductal carcinoma.

She met with a surgeon the very next day. “The doc said, ‘It’s up to you: lumpectomy and radiation, or mastectomy,’” she recalls. Mouton made the call without hesitation. “If you go in and find the cancer’s more than we thought, then take [my breasts] out,” she told him. It wasn’t until after she woke up from surgery that Mouton found out the cancer hadn’t spread to her lymph nodes or outlying tissues. “My doctor came in and said, ‘You still have your breasts.’” …read the rest of this entry»

Gaining perspective in a general cancer support group

ANDREW:
Hello, and welcome to the American Cancer Society’s Cancer Survivors’ Network, the service created by and for cancer survivors. In Seattle, I’m your discussion leader, Andrew Schorr. Our topic, breast cancer for women over 55. On the phone with us are four breast cancer survivors from across the country, women who are all over 55 and are either currently in treatment or have recently completed it. Over the next few minutes we’ll discuss issues such as dealing with the impact of treatments on your daily life, how having support helps you tolerate the treatments better, making treatment choices, reconstruction as part of treatment, and the importance of getting out and not sitting at home. Let’s begin. Joining us today is Pam from Lansdale, Pennsylvania. Pam, I know you’re 62. You’re a widow with three kids who are grown up and out of the house, and I know one of those children is dealing with breast cancer herself. Is that right?

PAM:
Yes, that’s right.

ANDREW:
She’s in California. You’re in Pennsylvania. I understand that, initially, you were diagnosed with breast cancer in 1996, had a mastectomy, and chemo.

PAM:
Right.

ANDREW:
And then, six weeks ago, three years after the initial diagnosis of breast cancer, you found out that in the scar tissue there’s malignancy, and you have cancer again. How are you doing?

PAM:
A little better than a couple of weeks ago, because, Andrew, they’ve decided that this is just a local recurrence and not a whole new invasion, and that some radiation ought to be quite effective in clearing this up. And this also makes me feel better, because while there are side effects to radiation, my normal daily routine will not be interrupted. I can still go back to California to help my daughter out when she has reconstruction. So, I’m feeling much more positive now. …read the rest of this entry»

Finding colorectal cancer

ANDREW:
Hello, and welcome to the American Cancer Society’s Cancer Survivors’ Network, the service created by and for cancer survivors. In Seattle, I’m your discussion leader, Andrew Schorr. Joining us from New York City is Barbara Barrie, a veteran television, screen, and stage actress, and also a colon cancer survivor. Currently, Barbara is well known for her portrayal of Brooke Shields’ “Nana,” on the hit NBC sitcom, “Suddenly Susan.”

She’s been actively working as an actress for the past 35 years and in that time has been nominated for an Academy Award, an Emmy, and a Tony. And she won an Obie, a Drama Desk award, and the Best Actress Award at the Cannes Film Festival. But, all the awards in the world could not have prepared Barbara, now 68 years old, for colon cancer. Since that time, Barbara has been through three operations, chemotherapy, and radiation. Now she has a colostomy, but, she still wears bathing suits and leotards.

She divides her time among acting, writing-she’s written three books-and activism about colon cancer. Barbara, thank you for being with us today.

BARBARA:
Thank you for having me.

ANDREW:
Over the next few minutes Barbara, I know we can discuss some very important issues for people. Issues such as: finding your own way of handling the experience of diagnosis and treatment; bringing colon cancer out into the open-which is often hard, and maybe especially hard for women; the importance of monitoring your healing; the gift of clarity that can come over time when you have cancer; and also how life’s experiences can turn you into an activist. Maybe first, you could tell us how all this started for you? …read the rest of this entry»

Welcome and Participant Introductions

Bobbi de Cordova-Hanks:
Hello, and welcome to the American Cancer Society Cancer Survivors Network. I’m Bobbi de Cordova-Hanks, your host. Today I’ll be talking with three survivors who are all single mothers. As a two- time cancer survivor myself, I am pleased to be your host for today’s conversation. We’ll be talking about the effects of cancer on the family, as well as coping with changes in physical appearance and ability to work. We’ll be talking about: insurance and financial concerns; living with cancer–what helps most and what really hurts; and, of course, our fear of recurrence.

Our first guest is Leesa K., a 44-year-old survivor from Florida. We call her Leesa K. because we have two Lisas with us today. This Leesa is a divorced, single mom with three children, ages 25, 17 and 15. The youngest two still live at home. Welcome, Leesa.

Leesa K.:
Hello.

Bobbi de Cordova-Hanks:
In 1992, Leesa, you noticed a small, painful lump on your nose. The first two physicians attributed this to allergies. A third doctor did a biopsy and diagnosed you with squamous cell carcinoma [a type of skin cancer]. Your treatment included radiation and surgery. You lost most of your nose and a jaw bone so you underwent reconstructive surgery. A prosthetic jaw was implanted and you wear a prosthetic nose. You have now been cancer-free for six years. Thank you so much for joining us today, Leesa.

Leesa K.:
Well, thank you for asking me to be here.

Bobbi de Cordova-Hanks:
Also with us is another Lisa. She’s a 41-year-old survivor from Texas. Lisa E. is a single mom, divorced with two children–a girl, five years old, and a boy of seven. Welcome, Lisa.

Lisa E.:
Thanks for having me, Bobbi.

Bobbi de Cordova-Hanks:
In 2000 you didn’t heal after an elective surgery, and you developed pneumonia and subsequently were diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). You started chemotherapy and went into remission after the first cycle, and remain so today. Thank you for joining us, Lisa.

Lisa E.:
Thanks for having me, Bobbi. …read the rest of this entry»

Symptom and Description Nausea (feeling queasy or sick to your stomach) and/or vomiting (throwing up) may happen from your radiation therapy. It is most likely if you get radiation to your chest, stomach, abdomen, or spine. Nausea and vomiting are rare when other parts of your body are treated. Nausea and vomiting may start within 1 to 2 hours after your radiation treatment and may last for several hours.

Learning Needs Nausea and vomiting are very unpleasant. Either or both may be barely noticeable or may be severe and cause you to be unable to do things that are important to you. In addition, if you vomit a lot you can get dehydrated and have other problems from losing body salts.

You should call your doctor or nurse if:

• You have nausea that lasts for more than a few days, or if nausea keeps you from doing things that are important to you.
• You vomit more than once or twice a day for 2 days.
• You cannot keep any liquids (such as water, juices, soda) or food down. …read the rest of this entry»
  

Symptom and Description As menopause approaches, whether it is a natural process of aging, the result of surgical removal of the ovaries, or the effects of radiation or chemotherapy, many women will have symptoms of estrogen loss. While every woman will experience menopause in her own way, most will have hot flashes—ranging from rarely to more than ten times a day. Hot flashes are often worse at night and can disrupt sleep, causing mood changes and difficulty making decisions. Some women will complain of anxiety and even periods of depression. These symptoms will improve over time. Other problems can occur because of estrogen loss. The vagina becomes shortened and more dry. These changes can cause itching and burning and can interfere with comfortable sexual intercourse. A woman may also experience more vaginal and bladder infections. Other symptoms include headache, dizziness, skin changes, and thinning of the scalp and pubic hair.

Management The best way to manage the symptoms of menopause is to restore the body’s level of estrogen. This can be done by taking a pill (e.g., Premarin), by applying an estrogen patch to the skin twice a week, or by using a vaginal cream. However, estrogen therapy is not for every woman. Some women prefer to try other means of learning to live with the change of life. Your doctor will help you make the choice that is best for you. The following suggestions may help you with your symptoms of menopause.

…read the rest of this entry»

Dr. Ronit Elk:
Hello, and welcome to the American Cancer Society Cancer Survivors Network. I’m Dr. Ronit Elk, your host. Today I’m going to be talking with three women about their survivorship experience from their perspective as lesbians. I’m really extra excited to facilitate this discussion. I mean, there are several reasons for this. First of all, I’m a psychologist. I’m also a caregiver. I took care of my mother and father and my late husband, who unfortunately all passed away. I’m a cancer research advocate. But equally importantly, I’ve been in a very happy, committed relationship with my partner, Sue, for several years, and we are very involved in the gay community and excited to be a part of this outreach effort.

So today we’re going to be talking about issues like some of the discrimination by health professionals, some of the difficulties that I think lesbian women may experience in terms of insurance; other things like finding support and where we can find it and maybe have new ways to generate support. Another issue I’d like to touch on is taking responsibility for our own health and well-being; and finally, becoming advocates for ourselves and for our community, because that way we can just broaden the assistance to so many people. So before we start, let me just introduce our guests.

Our first guest is Marie, from Texas. Marie is a 42-year-old breast cancer survivor. She is un-partnered, and she doesn’t have children. Marie, were you diagnosed in 2001? …read the rest of this entry»