One of the most distressing issue about cancer is the pain cause by the disease. However, now with the better understanding of how cancer causes pain and new ways to treat the pain, cancer patients do not need to suffer from extreme pain anymore.
There is a good article on cancer pain at :
http://www.cancerhelp.org.uk/help/default.asp?page=5883
Causes of cancer pain
Most cancer pain is caused by the tumour pressing on bones, nerves or other organs in your body. Sometimes pain is related to your cancer treatment. For example, some chemotherapy drugs can cause numbness and tingling in your hands and feet or a burning sensation at the site where they are injected. Radiotherapy can cause skin redness and irritation. Remember – pain may have nothing to do with your cancer - you may just be feeling the general aches and pains that some people get from time to time.
Acute and chronic painCancer pain can be acute or chronic. Acute pain tends to only last a short time. Chronic pain is more long term. For example, having an operation can cause acute pain. The pain goes when the wound heals. In the meantime, painkillers will usually keep it under control.Chronic pain can range from mild to severe. It can be there all the time. You may hear chronic pain called ‘persistent pain’. Painkillers or other pain control methods can successfully control chronic cancer pain in about 95 out of every 100 people (95%).If you have chronic cancer pain, you may also have episodes of acute pain that are not controlled by the medication you are taking. This is often called ‘breakthrough pain’. If you are on regular painkillers but still have episodes of pain, let your doctor know. He or she can prescribe extra 'top up' doses of painkillers for you to take when you need to. There is more information about how your cancer pain can be managed in Treating Cancer Pain.Whatever type of pain you have, it can affect your quality of life. Chronic pain can make it hard for you to do everyday things such as bathing, shopping, cooking, sleeping and eating. This is sometimes very hard for your close friends and relatives to understand, as they are not feeling your pain. There is more about how your pain can affect you and your loved ones and how to deal with this in support when you have pain.
Types of cancer painIt is extremely important for your doctor to find out the type and cause of your pain in order to treat it in the right way. Different pains are treated differently. You may have one or more of the 3 main types of pain. These are
Nerve pain
Bone pain and
Soft tissue painAnother type of pain can come on after amputation of a limb or other part of your body. This is really another type of nerve pain and is called phantom pain. Nerve painThis is caused by pressure on nerves or the spinal cord, or by damage to nerves. Your doctor may call it neuropathic pain. It is usually more difficult to treat than other types of pain. People often describe nerve pain as burning or as a feeling of something crawling under their skin. Nerve pain is not usually widespread. You often feel it in a particular place, or perhaps along the path of a nerve. Nerve pain is the one type of pain that can sometimes go on for a long time after an operation. Nerves are cut during surgery and they take a long time to heal because they grow so slowly. Nerve pain is particularly common after an operation to the chest called a thoracotomy. Some people may have pain around their scar for 2 years or more after their surgery. It does eventually go, but can be difficult to treat while it lasts.
Bone painBone pain can affect one specific area or several areas, depending on how much the cancer has spread. People often describe it as aching, dull or throbbing. Bone pain is very common in people who have breast, prostate or lung cancer. The cancer spreads to the bone, and it is the growth of the cancer within the bone that damages the bone tissue and causes the pain. You may also hear bone pain called somatic pain.
Soft tissue painSoft tissue pain means pain from a body organ or muscle. For example, you may feel pain in your back caused by tissue damage to the kidney. You cannot always pinpoint this pain, but it is usually described as sharp, aching or throbbing. You may also hear soft tissue pain called visceral pain. Some soft tissue pain comes from the covering of an organ, rather than the organ itself. The liver does not contain nerves. If it contains cancer, it is usually bigger than it should be. The enlarged liver stretches the fibrous covering, called the capsule. The capsule does contain nerve endings and that is what causes the pain. This type of pain is called liver capsule pain.
Phantom painPeople with sarcoma or osteosarcoma sometimes have to have a limb amputated. You may feel pain in an arm or leg after it has been removed. This is 'phantom pain'. But it is very real and people sometimes describe it as unbearable. You may also have phantom pain after having a breast removed. Doctors are still trying to understand why phantom pain happens. One theory is that the 'thinking part' of your brain knows that you have had a part of your body removed but the 'feeling part' of your brain cannot understand this. Other possible causes of phantom pain are
Changes in the air pressure or temperature
Stress
Not moving around enough and poor posture
Other illnesses such as flu and infections
Having your surgery done by an inexperienced surgeonBetween 6 and 7 out of 10 people (60 - 70%) who have had an arm or leg removed feel phantom pain. About one third of women who have had a breast removed to treat breast cancer feel phantom breast pain. The pain usually lessens after the first year, but some people can still feel phantom pain after one year or more.Phantom pain is quite common. It is real and you are not imagining it. In most people it will go away after a few months. It is as if your brain has to realise that part of your body has gone. Be sure to let your doctor know about phantom pain as it does respond to painkillers.How much pain you might haveThe amount of pain you have with cancer depends on
The type of cancer you have
Where it is
The stage of your cancer
How much pain you're able to tolerateHow much pain you can stand is your pain threshold. Everyone has a different pain threshold. It isn't related to how weak or strong you are. It is just one of those things.
Friday, August 31, 2007
Thursday, August 16, 2007
A new lung cancer vaccine
Among all the new therapeutic cancer vaccine in clinical trial now, this one is one of the most exciting. It tackles mucin producing tumour, which is present in many tumours like in the lung, colon etc. Hopefully, it would be available in the next few years. The article also mentions about other battle with lung cancer.
http://www.biopeer.com/biopeer/cancer_vaccines/index.html
Battle against lung cancer continues
In separate studies, researchers have come up with possible treatment options for lung cancer.Scientists are on their way to treating non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with gene therapy and nanotechnology. Scientists from the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center conducted a study on mice to test whether gene therapy administered through lipid-based nanoparticles can successfully fight tumors. They sent positively charged nanoparticles to the negatively charged cancer cell membrane. When these nanoparticles are taken into the cell, the genes express the tumor suppressing p53 or FUS1 gene depending on the design. The scientists then found that while p53 and FUS1 individually fought well against cancer, they were most effective when combined. The two together bring about apoptosis, a process wherein the cancer cells self-destruct. Since FUS1 hinders the functioning of a gene that destroys p53, the combination therapy caused more cells to die. In the final analysis, the combination caused a 75 per cent reduction in the number of tumors per mouse and a decrease of 80 per cent in the weight of the tumors. Meanwhile, the lung cancer vaccine Stimuvax that scientists from Cancer Research UK had prepared is now set to enter phase III of its clinical trial. Stimuvax is a therapeutic vaccine that will compel the immune system to kill MUC1, a molecule found in large quantities in tumor cells. This way, no harm will be done to the healthy cells. Merck KgaA will conduct this trial named START (Stimulating Targeted Antigenic Responses To NSCLC). The trial will evaluate the efficacy of Stimuvax in comparison to a placebo. It aims to involve over 1,300 patients across 30 countries. With lung cancer being the most common cancer worldwide, any progress towards its treatment is welcome news.
http://www.biopeer.com/biopeer/cancer_vaccines/index.html
Battle against lung cancer continues
In separate studies, researchers have come up with possible treatment options for lung cancer.Scientists are on their way to treating non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with gene therapy and nanotechnology. Scientists from the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center and the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center conducted a study on mice to test whether gene therapy administered through lipid-based nanoparticles can successfully fight tumors. They sent positively charged nanoparticles to the negatively charged cancer cell membrane. When these nanoparticles are taken into the cell, the genes express the tumor suppressing p53 or FUS1 gene depending on the design. The scientists then found that while p53 and FUS1 individually fought well against cancer, they were most effective when combined. The two together bring about apoptosis, a process wherein the cancer cells self-destruct. Since FUS1 hinders the functioning of a gene that destroys p53, the combination therapy caused more cells to die. In the final analysis, the combination caused a 75 per cent reduction in the number of tumors per mouse and a decrease of 80 per cent in the weight of the tumors. Meanwhile, the lung cancer vaccine Stimuvax that scientists from Cancer Research UK had prepared is now set to enter phase III of its clinical trial. Stimuvax is a therapeutic vaccine that will compel the immune system to kill MUC1, a molecule found in large quantities in tumor cells. This way, no harm will be done to the healthy cells. Merck KgaA will conduct this trial named START (Stimulating Targeted Antigenic Responses To NSCLC). The trial will evaluate the efficacy of Stimuvax in comparison to a placebo. It aims to involve over 1,300 patients across 30 countries. With lung cancer being the most common cancer worldwide, any progress towards its treatment is welcome news.
Wednesday, August 1, 2007
Green Tea and cancer prevention
There are many studies which showed various products can prevent cancer. One of the most studied product is green tea. This is the theory behind why Japanese lives longer, because they drink green tea.
I have an article here on green tea from National Cancer Insititute which is a reputable independant agency :
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tea and Cancer Prevention: Fact Sheet
Key Points
The antioxidants found in tea--called catechins--may selectively inhibit the growth of cancer (see Question 1).
In laboratory studies using animals, catechins scavenged oxidants before cell damage occurred, reduced the number and size of tumors, and inhibited the growth of cancer cells (see Question 3).
However, human studies have proven more contradictory, perhaps due to such factors as variances in diet, environments, and populations (see Question 4).
NCI researchers are investigating the therapeutic and preventive use of tea catechins against a variety of cancers (see Question 5).
Tea drinking is an ancient tradition dating back 5,000 years in China and India. Long regarded in those cultures as an aid to good health, researchers now are studying tea for possible use in the prevention and treatment of a variety of cancers. Investigators are especially interested in the antioxidants-called catechins-found in tea. Despite promising early research in the laboratory, however, studies involving humans so far have been inconclusive.
1. What are antioxidants?
The human body constantly produces unstable molecules called oxidants, also commonly referred to as free radicals. To become stable, oxidants steal electrons from other molecules and, in the process, damage cell proteins and genetic material. This damage may leave the cell vulnerable to cancer. Antioxidants are substances that allow the human body to scavenge and seize oxidants. Like other antioxidants, the catechins found in tea selectively inhibit specific enzyme activities that lead to cancer. They may also target and repair DNA aberrations caused by oxidants (1).
2. What is the level of antioxidants found in tea?
All varieties of tea come from the leaves of a single evergreen plant, Camellia sinensis. All tea leaves are picked, rolled, dried, and heated. With the additional process of allowing the leaves to ferment and oxidize, black tea is produced. Possibly because it is less processed, green tea contains higher levels of antioxidants than black tea.
Although tea is consumed in a variety of ways and varies in its chemical makeup, one study showed steeping either green or black tea for about five minutes released over 80 percent of its catechins. Instant iced tea, on the other hand, contains negligible amounts of catechins (1).
3. What are the laboratory findings?
In the laboratory, studies have shown tea catechins act as powerful inhibitors of cancer growth in several ways: They scavenge oxidants before cell injuries occur, reduce the incidence and size of chemically induced tumors, and inhibit the growth of tumor cells. In studies of liver, skin and stomach cancer, chemically induced tumors were shown to decrease in size in mice that were fed green and black tea (1, 2).
4. What are the results of human studies?
Although tea has long been identified as an antioxidant in the laboratory, study results involving humans have been contradictory. Some epidemiological studies comparing tea drinkers to non-tea drinkers support the claim that drinking tea prevents cancer; others do not. Dietary, environmental, and population differences may account for these inconsistencies.
Two studies in China, where green tea is a mainstay of the diet, resulted in promising findings. One study involving over 18,000 men found tea drinkers were about half as likely to develop stomach or esophageal cancer as men who drank little tea, even after adjusting for smoking and other health and diet factors (3). A second study at the Beijing Dental Hospital found consuming 3 grams of tea a day, or about 2 cups, along with the application of a tea extract reduced the size and proliferation of leukoplakia, a precancerous oral plaque (1).
However, a study in the Netherlands did not support these findings. It investigated the link between black tea consumption and the subsequent risk of stomach, colorectal, lung, and breast cancers among 58,279 men and 62,573 women ages 55 to 69. The study took into account such factors as smoking and overall diet. It found no link between tea consumption and protection against cancer (4).
5. Is NCI evaluating tea?
National Cancer Institute (NCI) researchers are also investigating the therapeutic use of green tea. One recently completed but unpublished NCI trial studied the antitumor effect of green tea among prostate cancer patients. The 42 patients drank 6 grams of green tea, or about 4 cups, daily for four months. However, only one patient experienced a short-lived improvement, and nearly 70 percent of the group experienced unpleasant side effects such as nausea and diarrhea. The study concluded drinking green tea has limited antitumor benefit for prostate cancer patients (5).
Other ongoing NCI studies are testing green tea as a preventive agent against skin cancer. For example, one is investigating the protective effects of a pill form of green tea against sun-induced skin damage while another explores the topical application of green tea in shrinking precancerous skin changes. For more information about NCI-sponsored studies on green tea, go to http://cancer.gov/clinical_trials/.
References: (1) Dufresne CJ, Farnworth ER. A review of latest research findings on the health promotion properties of tea. J. Nutri Biochem 2001; 12 (7): 404-421. (2) Hakim IA, Harris RB. Joint effects of citrus peel use and black tea intake on risk of squamous cell carcinoma of the skin. BMC Derm 2001; 1 (3). (3) Sun CL, Yuan JM, Lee MJ, Yang CS, Gao YT, Ross RK, Yu MC. Urinary tea polyphenols in relation to gastric and esophageal cancers: a prospective study of men in shanghai, china. Carcin 2002; 23 (9): 1497-1503. (4) Goldbohm RA, Hertog MG, Brants HA, van Poppel G, van den Brandt PA. Consumption of black tea and cancer risk: a prospective cohort study. JNCI 1996; 88 2): 93-100. (5) Phase II Study of Green Tea Extract in Patients with Androgen-Independent Metastic Prostate Cancer. Protocol Ids: NCCTG-N9951. NCI Clinical Trials http://cancer.gov/clinical_trials/.
I have an article here on green tea from National Cancer Insititute which is a reputable independant agency :
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tea and Cancer Prevention: Fact Sheet
Key Points
The antioxidants found in tea--called catechins--may selectively inhibit the growth of cancer (see Question 1).
In laboratory studies using animals, catechins scavenged oxidants before cell damage occurred, reduced the number and size of tumors, and inhibited the growth of cancer cells (see Question 3).
However, human studies have proven more contradictory, perhaps due to such factors as variances in diet, environments, and populations (see Question 4).
NCI researchers are investigating the therapeutic and preventive use of tea catechins against a variety of cancers (see Question 5).
Tea drinking is an ancient tradition dating back 5,000 years in China and India. Long regarded in those cultures as an aid to good health, researchers now are studying tea for possible use in the prevention and treatment of a variety of cancers. Investigators are especially interested in the antioxidants-called catechins-found in tea. Despite promising early research in the laboratory, however, studies involving humans so far have been inconclusive.
1. What are antioxidants?
The human body constantly produces unstable molecules called oxidants, also commonly referred to as free radicals. To become stable, oxidants steal electrons from other molecules and, in the process, damage cell proteins and genetic material. This damage may leave the cell vulnerable to cancer. Antioxidants are substances that allow the human body to scavenge and seize oxidants. Like other antioxidants, the catechins found in tea selectively inhibit specific enzyme activities that lead to cancer. They may also target and repair DNA aberrations caused by oxidants (1).
2. What is the level of antioxidants found in tea?
All varieties of tea come from the leaves of a single evergreen plant, Camellia sinensis. All tea leaves are picked, rolled, dried, and heated. With the additional process of allowing the leaves to ferment and oxidize, black tea is produced. Possibly because it is less processed, green tea contains higher levels of antioxidants than black tea.
Although tea is consumed in a variety of ways and varies in its chemical makeup, one study showed steeping either green or black tea for about five minutes released over 80 percent of its catechins. Instant iced tea, on the other hand, contains negligible amounts of catechins (1).
3. What are the laboratory findings?
In the laboratory, studies have shown tea catechins act as powerful inhibitors of cancer growth in several ways: They scavenge oxidants before cell injuries occur, reduce the incidence and size of chemically induced tumors, and inhibit the growth of tumor cells. In studies of liver, skin and stomach cancer, chemically induced tumors were shown to decrease in size in mice that were fed green and black tea (1, 2).
4. What are the results of human studies?
Although tea has long been identified as an antioxidant in the laboratory, study results involving humans have been contradictory. Some epidemiological studies comparing tea drinkers to non-tea drinkers support the claim that drinking tea prevents cancer; others do not. Dietary, environmental, and population differences may account for these inconsistencies.
Two studies in China, where green tea is a mainstay of the diet, resulted in promising findings. One study involving over 18,000 men found tea drinkers were about half as likely to develop stomach or esophageal cancer as men who drank little tea, even after adjusting for smoking and other health and diet factors (3). A second study at the Beijing Dental Hospital found consuming 3 grams of tea a day, or about 2 cups, along with the application of a tea extract reduced the size and proliferation of leukoplakia, a precancerous oral plaque (1).
However, a study in the Netherlands did not support these findings. It investigated the link between black tea consumption and the subsequent risk of stomach, colorectal, lung, and breast cancers among 58,279 men and 62,573 women ages 55 to 69. The study took into account such factors as smoking and overall diet. It found no link between tea consumption and protection against cancer (4).
5. Is NCI evaluating tea?
National Cancer Institute (NCI) researchers are also investigating the therapeutic use of green tea. One recently completed but unpublished NCI trial studied the antitumor effect of green tea among prostate cancer patients. The 42 patients drank 6 grams of green tea, or about 4 cups, daily for four months. However, only one patient experienced a short-lived improvement, and nearly 70 percent of the group experienced unpleasant side effects such as nausea and diarrhea. The study concluded drinking green tea has limited antitumor benefit for prostate cancer patients (5).
Other ongoing NCI studies are testing green tea as a preventive agent against skin cancer. For example, one is investigating the protective effects of a pill form of green tea against sun-induced skin damage while another explores the topical application of green tea in shrinking precancerous skin changes. For more information about NCI-sponsored studies on green tea, go to http://cancer.gov/clinical_trials/.
References: (1) Dufresne CJ, Farnworth ER. A review of latest research findings on the health promotion properties of tea. J. Nutri Biochem 2001; 12 (7): 404-421. (2) Hakim IA, Harris RB. Joint effects of citrus peel use and black tea intake on risk of squamous cell carcinoma of the skin. BMC Derm 2001; 1 (3). (3) Sun CL, Yuan JM, Lee MJ, Yang CS, Gao YT, Ross RK, Yu MC. Urinary tea polyphenols in relation to gastric and esophageal cancers: a prospective study of men in shanghai, china. Carcin 2002; 23 (9): 1497-1503. (4) Goldbohm RA, Hertog MG, Brants HA, van Poppel G, van den Brandt PA. Consumption of black tea and cancer risk: a prospective cohort study. JNCI 1996; 88 2): 93-100. (5) Phase II Study of Green Tea Extract in Patients with Androgen-Independent Metastic Prostate Cancer. Protocol Ids: NCCTG-N9951. NCI Clinical Trials http://cancer.gov/clinical_trials/.
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