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Saturday, June 30, 2012

Here are some celebrity cancer survivors


Celebrity Cancer Survivors

Christina Applegate battled breast cancer - and won.
Stories of celebrity cancer survivors can be very encouraging for those going through the stages of cancer and for their families. High profile stars who share their struggles with fans can inspire hope and optimism.

Celebrity Breast Cancer Survivors

Many celebrities, both male and female, have survived battles with breast cancer. According to Cancer.org, 12% of the population, or one in eight people, have had or will experience breast cancer in their lifetimes. It's no surprise, therefore, that the disease has affected so many celebrities. Here are a few of them.

Christina Applegate

Actress Christina Applegate, star of Samantha Who?, announced in the summer of 2008 that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer. The disease runs in her family, so she decided on a very aggressive treatment: a double mastectomy. After reconstructive breast surgery, she is happily cancer free.

Melissa Etheridge

Melissa Ethridge
Singer Melissa Etheridge's breast cancer battle began in 2004. Her treatment included chemotherapy and a lumpectomy, in which the tumor and surrounding tissue is removed. In 2005, Etheridge played at the annual Grammy Awards ceremony - a memorable performance because she was still bald as a result of the chemo. She is now free of cancer.

Richard Roundtree

Richard Roundtree is an actor best known for playing the role of John Shaft in the 1971 film Shaft. He is living proof that breast cancer does not discriminate and can affect men as well as women. He was diagnosed with the disease in 1993 and fought it with a combination of chemotherapy and double mastectomy surgery. Today, Roundtree is an advocate for early detection of breast cancer and speaks to male groups on the subject.

Other Celebrities Who Have Survived Breast Cancer

There are many more famous faces who have battled and won against breast cancer. They include:
Sheryl Crow
  • Actress Edie Falco
  • Singer Anastacia
  • Actress Lynn Redgrave
  • Former Charlie's Angels stars Jaclyn Smith and Kate Jackson
  • Actress and spokesmodel Suzanne Sommers
  • Musician Sheryl Crow
  • Actress Rue McClanahan
  • Fashion designer Betsy Johnson
  • Former First Lady Nancy Reagan
  • Singer Kylie Minogue
  • Singer Carly Simon
  • Former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor
  • Champion figure skater Peggy Flemming

Other Celebrity Cancer Survivors

Of course, there are many more types of cancer besides breast cancer and many more celebrities who have battled them and emerged victorious. What most survivors have in common is early detection and treatment.

Lance Armstrong

Lance Armstrong is one of the most well-known celebrity cancer survivors, due to his tireless efforts to raise funds and awareness for the disease. Armstrong is a cyclist who has won the Tour de France seven times. He has battled testicular cancer, which spread to his lungs and brain in 1996. Despite the severity of his illness, he recovered after an aggressive series of treatments, including several surgeries and rounds of chemotherapy.
Robert DeNiro

Sharon Osbourne

Sharon Osbourne, wife of heavy metal rocker Ozzy Osbourne, battled colon cancer in 1992. The cancer spread to her lymph nodes and for a long time it looked as if she wouldn't make it. Despite having the odds against her, Osbourne beat the disease and has since spent much of her time and energy raising awareness and helping other cancer patients. The Sharon Osbourne Colon Cancer Program helps patients in a number of ways, including in-home care and transportation to and from the hospital.

Robert DeNiro

Actor Robert DeNiro, who is perhaps one of the best-known actors in Hollywood, was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2003. His cancer was detected early; since his dad dies at the age of 73 as a result of cancer, DeNiro has been proactive in getting regular checkups. After surgery, DeNiro was happy to announce that he is now cancer free.

More Famous Cancer Survivors

There are hundreds of other celebrities who have survived cancer, including:
  • Actress Farrah Fawcett
  • Singer Rod Stewart
  • TV and radio personality Tom Green
  • Actress Cybill Shepherd
  • Singer-songwriter Delta Goodrem
  • Actress Elizabeth Taylor
  • Actress Fran Drescher
  • Former South African President Nelson Mandela
  • Former U.S. Presidential candidate John McCain

Shared Stories of Hope

Celebrities who share their stories of how they battled cancer and won are often inspirational to those who are suffering from the disease themselves. After their recoveries, many stars decide to use their fame to raise awareness for the disease, encourage people to seek treatment and organize fundraisers to help find a cure.
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Friday, June 29, 2012

Understanding Cancer Symptoms, Treatments, Tests, Signs, Complications & Preventions


Definition

Cancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in the body. Cancerous cells are also called malignant cells.

Alternative Names

Causes, incidence, and risk factors

Cells are the building blocks of living things. Cancer grows out of normal cells in the body. Normal cells multiply when the body needs them, and die when the body doesn't need them. Cancer appears to occur when the growth of cells in the body is out of control and cells divide too quickly. It can also occur when cells “forget” how to die.
There are many different kinds of cancers. Cancer can develop in almost any organ or tissue, such as the lung, colon, breast, skin, bones, or nerve tissue.
There are many causes of cancers, including:
  • Benzene and other chemicals
  • Certain poisonous mushrooms and a type of poison that can grow on peanut plants (aflatoxins)
  • Certain viruses
  • Radiation
  • Sunlight
  • Tobacco
However, the cause of many cancers remains unknown.
The most common cause of cancer-related death is lung cancer.
The three most common cancers in men in the United States are:
In women in the U.S., the three most common cancers are:
Some cancers are more common in certain parts of the world. For example, in Japan, there are many cases of gastric cancer, but in the U.S. this type of cancer is pretty rare. Differences in diet may play a role.
Some other types of cancers include:

Symptoms

Symptoms of cancer depend on the type and location of the tumor. For example,lung cancer can cause coughing, shortness of breath, or chest pain. Colon canceroften causes diarrhea, constipation, and blood in the stool.
Some cancers may not have any symptoms at all. In certain cancers, such asgallbladder cancer, symptoms often do not start until the disease has reached an advanced stage.
The following symptoms can occur with most cancers:

Signs and tests

Like symptoms, the signs of cancer vary based on the type and location of the tumor. Common tests include the following:
Most cancers are diagnosed by biopsy. Depending on the location of the tumor, the biopsy may be a simple procedure or a serious operation. Most patients with cancer have CT scans to determine the exact location and size of the tumor or tumors.
A cancer diagnosis is difficult to cope with. It is important, however, that you discuss the type, size, and location of the cancer with your doctor when you are diagnosed. You also will want to ask about treatment options, along with their benefits and risks.
It's a good idea to have someone with you at the doctor's office to help you get through the diagnosis. If you have trouble asking questions after hearing about your diagnosis, the person you bring with you can ask them for you.

Treatment

Treatment also varies based on the type of cancer and its stage. The stage of a cancer refers to how much it has grown and whether the tumor has spread from its original location.
  • If the cancer is confined to one location and has not spread, the most common goals for treatment are surgery and cure. This is often the case withskin cancers, as well as cancers of the lung, breast, and colon.
  • If the tumor has spread to local lymph nodes only, sometimes these can also be removed.
  • If surgery cannot remove all of the cancer, the options for treatment include radiation, chemotherapy, or both. Some cancers require a combination of surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy.
Although treatment for cancer can be difficult, there are many ways to keep up your strength.
If you have radiation treatment, know that:
  • Radiation treatment is painless.
  • Treatment is usually scheduled every weekday.
  • You should allow 30 minutes for each treatment session, although the treatment itself usually takes only a few minutes.
  • You should get plenty of rest and eat a well-balanced diet during the course of your radiation therapy.
  • Skin in the treated area may become sensitive and easily irritated.
  • Side effects of radiation treatment are usually temporary. They vary depending on the area of the body that is being treated.
If you are going through chemotherapy, you should eat right. Chemotherapy causes your immune system to weaken, so you should avoid people with colds or the flu. You should also get plenty of rest, and don't feel as though you have to accomplish tasks all at once.
It will help you to talk with family, friends, or a support group about your feelings. Work with your health care providers throughout your treatment. Helping yourself can make you feel more in control.

Support Groups

A cancer diagnosis often causes a lot of anxiety and can affect your entire quality of life. Several support groups for cancer patients can help you cope.

Expectations (prognosis)

The outlook depends on the type of cancer. Even among people with one type of cancer, the outcome varies depending on the stage of the tumor when they are diagnosed.
Some cancers can be cured. Some cancers that are not curable can still be treated well. And some patients can live for many years with their cancer. Other tumors are quickly life-threatening.

Complications

One complication is that the cancer may spread. Other complications vary with the type and stage of the tumor.

Calling your health care provider

Contact your health care provider if you develop symptoms of cancer.

Prevention

One of the best ways to prevent cancer is to not smoke or chew tobacco. Many cancers can be prevented by avoiding risk factors such as excessive exposure to sunlight and heavy drinking.
Cancer screenings, such as mammography and breast examination for breast cancer and colonoscopy for colon cancer, may help catch these cancers at their early stages when they are most treatable. Some people at high risk for developing certain cancers can take medication to reduce their risk.

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Thursday, June 28, 2012

Quote to help and inspire cancer survivors


If you have lived through cancer and survived the cures, then it is obvious that is was not your time and your mission in life has yet to be realized.  Use your experiences as a shield against would be obsticles because in near death experiences, you learn how strong you really are, and what you can really overcome,  and one you have realized that, any other life obsticle is cake walk to you.

Lets find our reason for being alive!

Ais York Almahdi
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Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Find A Cancer Doctor or Specialist


Find A Cancer Doctor or Specialist

Learn More About CTCA Doctors & Other Clinicians: Chat with Us | Email Us

At Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA), dedicated cancer experts come together to form a care team assigned specifically to you. Your care team will do everything they can to fight the disease and help you maintain your quality of life. To learn more, search our cancer experts by specialty, location, or name.

Specialty

Location

Name

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Your CTCA Care Team

At CTCA, your treatment is personalized around your individual needs. You’ll discover this difference as soon as you meet our team of doctors and specialists.
Our Patient Empowered Care® clinic brings your medical oncologist, clinic nurse, registered dietitian, naturopathic clinician and nurse care manager to you. With this approach, you'll have greater comfort, convenience and privacy, meeting with your cancer care team in one room.
Together, you and your care team will develop a comprehensive treatment plan designed to meet your needs. Physicians from a variety of disciplines – from oncology to gastroenterology – provide the latest advances in cancer-fighting technology.
The rest of your care team provides supportive therapies, like nutrition, mind-body medicine and physical therapy, to help you tolerate treatment, manage side effects and maintain your quality of life.


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