LUNG CANCER SYMPTOMS AND RISK FACTORS

The following information was obtained in part from the MDAnderson website:

SYMPTOMS OF LUNG CANCER

Symptoms of lung cancer vary from person to person and may include:

*    a cough that will not go away and gets worse over time

*    constant chest pain, or arm and shoulder pain

*    coughing up blood

*    shortness of breath, wheezing or hoarsness

*    repeated episodes of pneumonia or bronchitis

*    swelling of the face and neck

*    loss of appetite and/or weight loss

*    fatigue

*    clubbing of fingers

Many of these symptoms are not cancer, but if you notice one or more of them for more than two weeks, see your doctor, even if you have none of the following risk factors.  Better safe than sorry.  Early diagnosis increases the chance of better treatments or even a cure.

RISK FACTORS



*    smoking is by far the most important risk factor.  Individuals who smoke   pipes and cigars are at even higher risk.

*    family history--research is beginning to show that a family history of lung cancer may be a risk factor.  

*    personal history.  A person with a previous cancer diagnosis is more likely to develop a second lung cancer.

*    occupational or environmental exposure--people who are routinely exposed to radon or asbestos are at increased risk for developing lung cancer--particularly if they are smokers

*    radiation exposure--people who are routinely exposed to radiation from occupational, medical, and environmental sources are at increased risk.

*    industrial exposure--people who are exposed to certain industrial substances like arsenic can be at high risk

*    air pollution--the byproducts of the combustion of fossil feuls can put people at risk.

*    environmental tobacco smoke (second hand smoke)--people who live with or are routinely around smokers are at higher risk

*    lung diseases--people with tuberculosis (TB) are at higher risk

SMOKING IS RESPONSIBLE FOR 87% OF ALL LUNG CANCER CASES IN THE UNITED STATES.  Eliminating the use of tobacco is the key to reducing the impact of the disease.

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RISK FACTORS AND SYMPTOMS OF PANCREATIC CANCER

RISK FACTORS OF PANCREATIC CANCER

Risk Factors

When you get a diagnosis of cancer, it’s natural to wonder what may have caused the disease. Doctors can’t always explain why one person gets pancreatic cancer and another doesn’t. However, we do know that people with certain risk factors may be more likely than others to develop cancer of the pancreas. A risk factor is something that may increase the chance of getting a disease.
Studies have found the following risk factors for cancer of the pancreas:

• Smoking: Smoking tobacco is the most important risk factor for pancreatic cancer. People who smoke tobacco are more likely than nonsmokers to develop this disease. Heavy smokers are most at risk.
• Diabetes: People with diabetes are more likely than other people to develop pancreatic cancer.
• Family history: Having a mother, father, sister, or brother with pancreatic cancer increases the risk of developing the disease.
• Inflammation of the pancreas: Pancreatitis is a painful inflammation of the pancreas. Having pancreatitis for a long time may increase the risk of pancreatic cancer.
• Obesity: People who are overweight or obese are slightly more likely than other people to develop pancreatic cancer.

Many other possible risk factors are under active study. For example, researchers are studying whether a diet high in fat (especially animal fat) or heavy drinking of alcoholic beverages may increase the risk of pancreatic cancer. Another area of active research is whether certain genes increase the risk of disease.
Many people who get pancreatic cancer have none of these risk factors, and many people who have known risk factors don’t develop the disease.

Symptoms

Early cancer of the pancreas often doesn’t cause symptoms. When the cancer grows larger, you may notice one or more of these common symptoms:

• Dark urine, pale stools, and yellow skin and eyes from jaundice
• Pain in the upper part of your belly
• Pain in the middle part of your back that doesn’t go away when you shift your position
• Nausea and vomiting
• Stools that float in the toilet

Also, advanced cancer may cause these general symptoms:

• Weakness or feeling very tired
• Loss of appetite or feelings of fullness
• Weight loss for no known reason

These symptoms may be caused by pancreatic cancer or by other health problems. People with these symptoms should tell their doctor so that problems can be diagnosed and treated as early as possible.

The above information has been copied and pasted from the National Cancer Institute.  This concludes our information we will share on pancreatic cancer.  Most of us are aware if there is something amiss with our own bodies.  It is like the "check engine" light coming on in our vehicles.  Some will take heed and others will wait until the truck stops.  Take time to know your own body.  Ultimately, it is up to you to take care of you.

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IDENTIFYING THE PANCREAS AND CANCER

 

IDENTIFYING THE PANCREAS   

The Pancreas

The pancreas is an organ that is about 6 inches long. It’s located deep in your belly between your stomach and backbone. Your liver, intestine, and other organs surround your pancreas.

The widest part of the pancreas is called the head. The head of the pancreas is closest to the small intestine. The middle section is called the body, and the thinnest part is called the tail.

The pancreas makes pancreatic juices. These juices contain enzymes that help break down food. The juices flow through a system of ducts leading to the main pancreatic duct. The pancreatic juices flow through the main duct to the duodenum, the first part of the small intestine.

The pancreas is also a gland that makes insulin and other hormones. These hormones enter the bloodstream and travel throughout the body. They help the body use or store the energy that comes from food. For example, insulin helps control the amount of sugar in the blood.

WHAT IS CANCER?

Cancer Cells

Cancer begins in cells, the building blocks that make up tissues. Tissues make up the pancreas and the other organs of the body.

Normal cells grow and divide to form new cells as the body needs them. When normal cells grow old or get damaged, they die, and new cells take their place.

Sometimes, this process goes wrong. New cells form when the body doesn’t need them, and old or damaged cells don’t die as they should. The buildup of extra cells often forms a mass of tissue called a growth or tumor.

Tumors in the pancreas can be benign (not cancer) or malignant (cancer). Benign tumors are not as harmful as malignant tumors:

• Benign tumors (such as cysts):
  • are usually not a threat to life
  • can be removed and usually don’t grow back
  • don’t invade the tissues around them
  • don’t spread to other parts of the body
• Malignant growths:
  • may be a threat to life
  • sometimes can be removed but can grow back
  • can invade and damage nearby tissues and organs
  • can spread to other parts of the body
• Pancreatic cancer can invade other tissues, shed cancer cells into the abdomen, or spread to other organs:
• Invade: A malignant pancreatic tumor can grow and invade organs next to the pancreas, such as the stomach or small intestine.
• Shed: Cancer cells can shed (break off) from the main pancreatic tumor. Shedding into the abdomen may lead to new tumors forming on the surface of nearby organs and tissues. The doctor may call these seeds or implants. The seeds can cause an abnormal buildup of fluid in the abdomen (ascites).
• Spread: Cancer cells can spread by breaking away from the original tumor. They can spread through the blood vessels to the liver and lungs. In addition, pancreatic cancer cells can spread through lymph vessels to nearby lymph nodes. After spreading, the cancer cells may attach to other tissues and grow to form new tumors that may damage those tissues

This post has been copied and pasted from The National Cancer Institute.  This is the first part of understanding pancreatic cancer.

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TESTICULAR SELF EXAM

TESTICULAR SELF EXAM

   Since there was a big spike of traffic when I posted how to perform a breast self exam, I thought I should mention that men also get the disease and should follow the guidelines posted for the breast self exam.  Men should also perform a testicular self exam.  All of this information about self exams underscore the idea of knowing your own body.  That way, if there is something out of the ordinary, you are the first to know, not the last.  So, the following instruction was found on a link on the WebMD.com website:

Testicular Self-Examination (TSE)

TSE is best performed after a bath or shower, when the scrotal muscles are warm and relaxed. If you do the exam at another time, remove your underwear so that your genitals are exposed.
Stand and place your right leg on an elevated surface about chair height. Then gently feel your scrotal sac until you locate the right testicle. Roll the testicle gently but firmly between your thumb and fingers of both hands, carefully exploring the surface for lumps. The skin over the testicle moves freely, making it easy to feel the entire surface of the testicle. Repeat the procedure for the other side, lifting your left leg and examining your left testicle. Feel the entire surface of both testicles.
If you do notice a lump or swelling during TSE, contact your doctor right away. Do not wait for the lump to go away. It may not be cancer. But if it is testicular cancer, immediate treatment provides the best chance for a cure.

By	Healthwise Staff
Primary Medical Reviewer	E. Gregory Thompson, MD - Internal Medicine
Specialist Medical Reviewer	Christopher G. Wood, MD, FACS - Urology, Oncology
Last Revised	January 13, 2011

WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise

Last Updated: January 13, 2011

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information.

© 1995-2011 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise,
last updated January 31, 2011

.

The following was copied from the WebMD site:
  A genital exam is an important part of a routine physical exam for every teenage boy and every man.  Testicular cancer is one of the most common cancers in men younger than 35.  Some doctors recommend regular testicular exams for males ages 15 to 40 to detect testicular cancer in its early stages. Testicular cancer is one of the most common cancers in men younger than age 35. Many testicular cancers are first discovered by men themselves, or by their sex partners, as a lump or enlarged swollen testicle. In the early stages of testicular cancer, the lump, which may be about the size of a pea, usually is not painful. Testicular cancer found early and treated promptly has a very high cure rate.

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BREAST SELF EXAM

HOW TO EXAMINE YOUR BREASTS

   This is cancer awareness month.  Let's take this time to review how to perform a breast self exam.  The American Cancer Society suggests that beginning in their 20's, women should be told about the benefits and limitations of breast self exam (BSE). I personally believe that at least when females begin menstruating, they should be trained to perform this simple exam.  The following is what the ACS has posted on their site:

A woman can notice changes by knowing how her breasts normally look and feel and feeling her breasts for changes (breast awareness), or by choosing to use a step-by-step approach and using a specific schedule to examine her breasts.

If you choose to do BSE, the following information provides a step-by-step approach for the exam.  The best time for a woman to examine her breasts is when the breasts are not tender or swollen.  Women who examine their breasts should have their technique reviewed during their periodic health exams by their health care professional.

How to examine your breasts

Lie down on your back and place your right arm behind your head. The exam is done while lying down, not standing up. This is because when lying down the breast tissue spreads evenly over the chest wall and is as thin as possible, making it much easier to feel all the breast tissue.
Use the finger pads of the 3 middle fingers on your left hand to feel for lumps in the right breast. Use overlapping dime-sized circular motions of the finger pads to feel the breast tissue.
Use 3 different levels of pressure to feel all the breast tissue. Light pressure is needed to feel the tissue closest to the skin; medium pressure to feel a little deeper; and firm pressure to feel the tissue closest to the chest and ribs. It is normal to feel a firm ridge in the lower curve of each breast, but you should tell your doctor if you feel anything else out of the ordinary. If you're not sure how hard to press, talk with your doctor or nurse. Use each pressure level to feel the breast tissue before moving on to the next spot.


Move around the breast in an up and down pattern starting at an imaginary line drawn straight down your side from the underarm and moving across the breast to the middle of the chest bone (sternum or breastbone). Be sure to check the entire breast area going down until you feel only ribs and up to the neck or collar bone (clavicle).
There is some evidence to suggest that the up-and-down pattern (sometimes called the vertical pattern) is the most effective pattern for covering the entire breast without missing any breast tissue.
Repeat the exam on your left breast, putting your left arm behind your head and using the finger pads of your right hand to do the exam.
While standing in front of a mirror with your hands pressing firmly down on your hips, look at your breasts for any changes of size, shape, contour, or dimpling, or redness or scaliness of the nipple or breast skin. (The pressing down on the hips position contracts the chest wall muscles and enhances any breast changes.)
Examine each underarm while sitting up or standing and with your arm only slightly raised so you can easily feel in this area. Raising your arm straight up tightens the tissue in this area and makes it harder to examine.
This procedure for doing breast self-exam is different from previous recommendations. These changes represent an extensive review of the medical literature and input from an expert advisory group. There is evidence that this position (lying down), the area felt, pattern of coverage of the breast, and use of different amounts of pressure increase a woman's ability to find abnormal areas.  (ACS)

  There are some youtube videos of how to perform this exam if this post has been unhelpful for you.  If you noticed any changes to feel such as a lump, to color such as redness, dryness, or flaking, or if you notice a discharge from the nipple, please contact your doctor and have him/her follow up.  Any changes noted by you is worth a phone call to your doctor.  It is your health.

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