viernes, 30 de enero de 2009

EL CANCER UNA AMENAZA


Physician Data Query, PDQ ®, is a computerized system (database) that contains information about the prevention, detection and treatment of cancer. PDQ ® also contains information on genetics, health care and support of complementary and alternative medicine. It is a service of the National Cancer Institute for people with cancer and their families, for physicians, nurses and other medical professionals. The information in Physician Data Query, PDQ ® is reviewed and updated each month by experts in the areas of treatment, prevention, detection and care support. PDQ ® also offers information on research in new treatments (clinical trials), doctors who treat cancer, and hospitals with cancer programs. Summaries of information on cancer in PDQ ® The summary of information in Physician Data Query, PDQ ® about cancer, are peer reviewed and updated monthly by six editorial boards of specialists in adult treatment, treatment of children, child care support, detection and prevention, genetics and medicine Complementary and alternative medicine. These councils review the current literature from more than 70 biomedical journals, evaluate their importance and abstracts summarize clear. Many of these papers are also available in Spanish. ________________________________________ Are clearly written and contain the latest information on cancer, which is reviewed and updated monthly by the experts. • PDQ ®: Questions and Answers Fact sheet about the PDQ database of National Cancer Institute. • Treatment of cancer in adults (PDQ ®) The summaries of information in Physician Data Query, PDQ ® on treatments for adults are based on scientific data and provide information about prognosis and treatment of the major types of cancer as adults. Abstracts are available from more than 70 types of cancer and include brief summaries of some less common cancers. The summary of treatments for adults in Physician Data Query, PDQ ®, are designed in two versions. The first version is for patients with cancer and the second is for medical professionals. The versions are written for patients with an easy to understand language and not technical. Versions for professional medical summaries provide detailed information about the prognosis, staging (stage) and treatment of each type of cancer, and key citations refer to the medical literature and include links to the synthesis of appointments. • Treatment of childhood cancer (PDQ ®) Summaries of information on treatment for children in Physician Data Query, PDQ ®, offering information about the main types of cancer in children, and no information on common cancers of childhood. The summary of treatments for children in Physician Data Query, PDQ ®, are designed in two versions. The first version is for patients with cancer and the second is for medical professionals. The versions are written for patients with an easy to understand language and not technical. Versions for professional medical summaries provide detailed information about the prognosis, staging and treatment of each type of cancer, and key citations refer to the medical literature and include links to the synthesis of appointments. • Medical Care Support (PDQ ®) (how to overcome the effects of cancer) The summary of information on health care support Physician Data Query, PDQ ®, refer to the care that is offered to improve the quality of life of cancer patients. The summary of information on health care support PDQ ® for patients with cancer provide descriptions of the pathophysiology and treatment of common physical and psychosocial complications of cancer and its treatment, such as pain, hypercalcemia (excess calcium in the blood) and nausea and vomiting. Summaries of medical support Physician Data Query, PDQ ®, are designed in two versions. The first version is for patients with cancer and the second is for medical professionals. The versions are written for patients with an easy to understand language and not technical. Each version of the document for medical professionals almost always contains a description, information on the etiology, assessment and management, and a bibliography of current literature. • The complementary and alternative medicine in the treatment of cancer (PDQ ®) Summary information reviewed by experts on the use of complementary and alternative medicine as a treatment for cancer. NORMAL CELLS And cancer cells The cell is the simplest, with life itself, which is organized tissues. It is composed of a mass surrounded by protoplasm which contains a nucleus. A cell wall surrounds the cell and separated from their environment. Within the core DNA, which contains the information that program cellular life. The man is composed of millions of cells. The cell divides and by doing so their structures are also divided into exactly equal to the other above with the same components and functions as the original. The cells grow at a normal pace and remain limited in their areas. Muscle cells are formed and grow in the muscles and not bone, those in the kidneys do not grow in the lungs, and so on. These features and this growth rate is determined by the DNA. Some cells have less time to live than others, such as cells of the gut have a life span of two weeks, while the red blood cells live for about three months. Other cells will live as long as the person lives and only divide to replace themselves, this would be the case of bone cells that act when it comes to repair a fracture. The life of each cell is different and will operate as it issued its DNA is different for each type of cell. Each cell is distinct. Blood brings oxygen and nutrients necessary for life and includes cellular waste products produced by cells and transported to the organs of filtering and cleaning (kidneys, liver, lungs). The lymph is a colorless liquid that is composed, mostly by lymphocytes, a type of white blood cells, and that goes around the body through lymph vessels. The immune system is responsible for defending the body through leukocytes that seek and destroy bacteria and viruses. Leukocytes traveling through blood and lymph and accumulate in places where there is infection to surround and kill the bacteria or virus, and later migrate through lymph vessels to lymph nodes. Lymph nodes are like clusters of grapes in different parts of the body. Each node receives the lymphocytes and where they are filtered and destroy bacteria, cell debris and the very worn. When an infection, the lymph nodes are swollen. If the infection occurs in a tooth, the swollen neck. If the infection is in one hand, be increased for those in the armpit. Nodes may also be inflamed when a tumor. Normal cell becomes a cancer cell because of a change or mutation in the DNA. Sometimes these cells whose genetic load has changed, die or are eliminated in the lymph nodes. But other times, remain alive and reproduce. Cancer cells have a different aspect, because its form has changed or because they contain nuclei larger or smaller. These cells are unable to perform the functions that correspond to cells belonging to that tissue. Generally multiply quickly, because they lack a control mechanism of growth. Often, they are immature because they are multiplied in a very fast and do not have enough time to grow before fully divided. By forming a large number of cancer cells, piles, pressure or other bodies to block and prevent them from carrying out their work. As there is limited space where they are originating, and spread to other areas, say they are invasive. Tend to migrate to other places, through the blood or lymph. The cells that are responsible for defending the body tend to destroy and separate, but if they survive may produce new growth in a different place, metastasis, and damage to other organs. Each of the cells in our body are closely regulated some aspects such as growth, interaction with other cells and even their life cycle. Cancer happens when a certain type of cells lost these normal control mechanisms and begins to grow in a way that the body can not regulate. The different types of cancers have signs, symptoms, treatment and prognosis differ depending on the type of cells involved and the degree of uncontrolled cell growth. What is cancer? All types of cancer, including those that occur in childhood, have a common pathological process of cancer cells to grow unchecked, become abnormal sizes and morphologies, ignore its usual limits on the inside of the body and destroy neighboring cells, in the long run, it may end up spreading to other organs and tissues (known as metastasis). As the cancer is spreading, consuming ever-greater part of the nutrients the body needs to function. Cancer patient consumes energy, destroys organs and bones, and weakens their defenses against other diseases. Fortunately, childhood cancer is relatively uncommon, affecting U.S. only about 14 of every 100,000 children each year. Considering all age groups, the most common cancers in children are leukemia, lymphoma and brain cancer. After ten years, there is an increased incidence of osteosarcoma (bone cancer). Each type of cancer affecting different parts of the body, and its treatment and cure rates are also different. The factors that trigger cancer in children do not often coincide with those that can trigger in adults, such as smoking or exposure to environmental toxins. In rare cases, children who have certain genetic disorders such as Down syndrome, may have a higher risk of developing cancer. Also, children who have undergone chemotherapy or radiotherapy due to a pre-cancer may also have a higher risk of developing another cancer in the future. However, in most cases, childhood cancers are due to mutations (or changes) is not in the genes inherited from their cells in the growth process. Since these errors occur randomly and unpredictably, there is currently no way to prevent them. It is possible that your child's pediatrician will detect some early signs of cancer in a periodic review. Still, many of these symptoms (including fever, swollen lymph nodes, frequent infections, anemia, or bruises) are also proper to infections or other disorders other than cancer. For this reason, it is not uncommon for both doctors and parents to suspect other childhood diseases at the first signs of cancer. After receiving the cancer diagnosis, it is important to seek help for his son in a medical center specializing in pediatric oncology or cancer treatment in children. Cancer Treatment The treatment of cancer in children includes chemotherapy (using drugs to kill cancer cells), radiation (the use of radiation to kill cancer cells) and surgery (to remove cancerous cells or tumors). The treatment program for each case depends on the type of cancer, its aggressiveness, which is widespread and the child's age. Surgery In children with leukemia or lymphoma, surgery often plays a minor role. This is because leukemia and lymphoma are cancers that affect the circulatory and lymphatic systems, which are widely distributed throughout the body, making it difficult to treat locally removing a specific area. However, in the isolated osteosarcoma and other tumors that affect small parts of the anatomy and do not have metastases in other parts of the body, surgery is often an effective weapon to fight cancer, combined with chemotherapy and / or radiotherapy. Children with certain types of cancers may be candidates to undergo a bone marrow transplant. Bone marrow is a spongy tissue that is in the interior of certain bones of the body and plays the role of producing blood cells. If a child suffers from a type of cancer that affects the function of blood cells, a bone marrow transplant (in conjunction with chemotherapy to kill cancer cells) can promote the growth of healthy new cells. The bone marrow transplant is also sometimes used to treat cancers in which the operation is not committed to blood cells, because it helps doctors to use higher doses of chemotherapy that would be tolerated if the patient had not been made transplantation. Quimioterapia Chemotherapy is a medication that is used as a complementary treatment to kill cancer cells that remain in the body. Children and adolescents with cancer often receive chemotherapy intravenously (injected into a vein) or oral (by mouth). Some types of chemotherapy can be applied in intrathecal (in cerebrospinal fluid or spinal fluid). Medicines entering the bloodstream and kill cancer cells in those parts of the body affected by cancer. The duration of chemotherapy and the type of drugs that are used depends on the type of children suffering from cancer and its response. The treatment is different in each patient, so that a child may have to undergo chemotherapy daily, weekly or monthly. It is also possible that the doctor recommended several courses of treatment, so that the body of the child to rest and recover between cycles and cycle. Many of the drugs used in chemotherapy involve the risk of problems in the short and long term. Short-term effects include nausea, vomiting, hair loss, fatigue, anemia, increased risk of bleeding and increased risk of infection due to destruction of the bone marrow and kidney damage and menstrual irregularities. Some of the drugs used in chemotherapy was also associated with risk of bladder inflammation, hematuria (blood in urine), hearing loss and kidney damage. Others may cause heart problems and skin. Some of the side effects are long-term infertility, growth disorders, organ damage and increased risk of developing a second cancer. Call your child take precautions and to prescribe other drugs to counteract the maximum possible number of side effects of chemotherapy. Radiotherapy Radiotherapy is one of the most common treatments for cancer. When a child is subjected to radiation, is irradiated by a beam powerful waves or particles, which injure or destroy cancer cells. Many kinds of childhood cancers are treated with radiotherapy in combination with chemotherapy and / or surgery. Radiation has many potential side effects (such as increased risk of malignancies and sterility), you should discuss with your child's pediatrician. The main goal of treatment is to cure cancer, this is the absolute priority over any other aspect of patient care. Anyway, there are many drugs and therapies that can help make treatment more bearable. Facing Cancer Wherever possible, older children with cancer should be actively involved in their treatment. They should provide information on their specific type of cancer and its effects using a language adapted to their age and level of understanding. However, when cancer affects younger children under 4-years-usually sufficient to explain just who are "sick" and need "medicine" to get better. In all age groups, the goal is to avoid the fear and misunderstanding. Older children may feel guilty, as if cancer was his fault. Psychologists, social workers and other members of the team treating cancer can be a great help to reassure the child, support and help you cope and express their feelings. The cancer treatment team can guide and support to patients and their families. Can help them bear the suffering and to cope with uncertainty and changes in the life of the patient and the family imposed by cancer and its treatment. If necessary, the team may also contact or visit the school to explain the child's diagnosis and their teachers or fellow students. Replace the fear, ignorance and misunderstanding by the empathy, understanding and information is a fundamental goal in the process of helping a child with cancer cope with their illness. The diagnosis and treatment of childhood cancer are lengthy processes that require time and patience, and treatment is associated with side effects, both short and long term. But thanks to medical advances, more and more children with cancer who successfully complete treatment, which may leave the hospital environment and grow like any other child. At present, up to 70% of all children with cancer can be cured. Revised and updated by: Robin E. Miller, MD Date of Review: June 2007

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