There is a very tight bond between polyps and colon cancer. That is to say that, although polyps are almost always benign, if they do turn out to be malign then you develop colon cancer.

Polyps can be found in other parts of the body, besides the colon. In time, if you have these growths in your colon, you can develop colon cancer. The size and shape of the polyps varies. Almost all polyps that one has in the rectum are benign, that is to say that they do not cause colon cancer and do not cause any symptoms as well. As time goes by, so does the risk of developing colon cancer increases. If you have polyps and do not remove them, you will are much at risk of developing colon cancer. After five years the risk of colon cancer is only 3 percent, but in ten years time it goes as high as 10 percent. After almost twenty years from being diagnosed with polyps, the risk of developing colon cancer reaches almost 25 percent. If one has it’ s polyps removed, the risk of having colon cancer is almost 2 percent, compared to almost eight if you do not remove them. Furthermore, if the polyps are removed by colonoscopy then the risk of developing colon cancer is reduced considerably.

On the other hand, if you do get diagnosed with colon cancer, there is no need to worry very much. The rate of colon cancer cure is very good. One of the most important factors of risk when talking about colon cancer is age. As older you get, as bigger the risk of developing colon cancer gets. Moreover, men are also more at risk of having colon cancer than women. In this type of cancer, the color of your skin also seems to be a factor. Black people are more at risk of having colon cancer than white people are. If you are a drinker or if you smoke, then the risk of developing colon cancer further increases. Exercise and a proper weight are important when talking about colon cancer. For example, if you are a sedentary person or if you have a “few ” extra pounds, then the risk of colon cancer increases.

Studies have shown that if you do not eat enough vegetables or fruits, or if you smoke more than a pack of cigarettes a day, then the risk of having polyps is much grater, thus increasing the risk of developing colon cancer.

For more resource on different colon cancer subjects please click this link http://www.colon-cancer-center.com. You can also find valuable information about stage3 colon cancer or even about colon cancer diet

Groshan Fabiola
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/colon-cancer-and-polyps-130881.html

At the prostate cancer symposium in Orlando, co-sponsored by the American Society of Clinical Oncology, Eric J. Small, MD, UCSF professor of medicine and urology presented the findings of the study he led helped by other 19 US institutions, regarding an effective treatment for prostate cancer.

The study was made on patients with asymptomatic metastatic hormone refractory prostate cancer (HRPC) and was designed for observing if the disease progression will be delayed and patients will survive longer.

Scientists said that the rate of survival increased by four and a half months in those who were administered the cancer vaccine compared with those who got the placebo.

The vaccine was well tolerated by patients and the side effects were mild: fever and chills. This is good news because chemotherapy gives a lot of unbearable side effects.

Scientists did not find out for how long the treatment will hold the cancer in check, but Jamie Bearse of the National Prostate Cancer Coalition said that as long as there are so few options regarding treating prostate cancer, this is quite an encouraging result and hope still exists.

In US, prostate cancer is quite common and more than 200,000 new cases are discovered every year. Most of the patients can follow a treatment based on surgery, radiation and hormone therapy, but asymptomatic metastatic HRPC is known to be resistant to hormone therapy and every year more than 30,000 men die because and no other treatment is effective against the disease.

Philip Kantoff of the Dana-Farber Cancer Center in Boston was delighted to hear about the discovery but said that the findings need to be confirmed.

In order to do so, Dendreon Corp. of Seattle (the developer of the vaccine) has begun another study on 98 men with advanced prostate cancer and so far the results seem to be confirming the discovery, said Mitchell H. Gold, the company’s president and chief executive. If in the end the results are promising, the company could ask for the approval of the FDA. The company wants to see the treatmentâ??s effects on patients with earlier stages of prostate cancer too, declared Mitchell Gold.

This vaccine does not shrink the tumor yet, but as long as it generates a good enough immune response it can be very useful to patients. This trial was an important one because it opened the way to other treatments regarding prostate cancer.

For more information about prostate cancer diagnosis and about prostate cancer prevention please review this web site http://www.prostate-cancer-center.com

Groshan Fabiola
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/new-promising-prostate-cancer-vaccine-130888.html

Prostate cancer is the second largest of all cancer related deaths in males; the only cancer that causes more deaths annually is lung cancer.

To stand a chance of combating the disease, it is important to have an early prostate cancer diagnosis. By having this early knowledge, the medical professionals have a better chance of containing the condition. They may be able to stop the cancerous cells from spreading to other parts of the body. At the same time, they will be working to eradicate the illness altogether.

Before testing or performing a prostate cancer diagnosis, a person needs to realize that there is a problem and then seek medical advice. Signs of the problem may initially come in the form of pains while urinating, having difficulty passing urine, passing blood in the urine, urinating more frequently or having difficulty gaining and maintaining a full erection.

Once a person has seen there is a problem and looked for more medical help, the medical professionals will have to perform tests to find out if the problem is prostate cancer or another condition, these test can be carried out in a number of ways.

Digital Rectal Examination (DRE)

The prostate is located at the point where the urethra leaves the bladder, and it also sits against the outer wall of the rectum about 5 centimeters inside the anus.

Because of the location of the prostate a good examination can be made through the rectum, this is done by a medical professional who will use a well lubricated glove to insert a digit (otherwise known as a finger), into the anus and feel the inner wall of the rectum. By doing this they can actually feel the rear of the prostate located on the other side. Although it is only the rear of the prostate that can be checked it has been reported that 85% of all prostate cancers originate from this part of the prostate.

If the medical professional feels any unusual lumps or bumps it means they may ask the person to have further tests.

Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA)

The prostate specific antigen test is a simple blood test, which is taken and tested for levels of the prostate specific antigen enzyme. By finding out the levels of PSA the medical professionals can see what the risk of cancer is. Below is a list of PSA levels and risks associated

PSA levels of 4 nanograms or less per milliliter is a positive indicator.

PSA levels above 4 nanograms per milliliter is a risk of prostate cancer.

PSA levels above 10 nanograms per milliliter extremely high risk of prostate cancer.

There are flaws with this test though because as a man grows older the levels of prostate specific antigens increase naturally, which is taken into account by the medical professionals, also a large proportion of men with high PSA levels do not have prostate cancer and likewise a proportion of men with prostate cancer have low PSA levels.

Confirming the prostate cancer diagnosis

If the medical professionals believe there is a chance of cancer they will request that you have a biopsy, where a small tissue sample from the prostate is taken. To take a biopsy of the prostate the medical professional will put a tiny needle gun in the anus and press it against the wall of the rectum where a hollow needle will pass through the wall of the rectum into the prostate and take a sample. This procedure is not very painful and is routinely done on an outpatient basis.

Verlyn Ross
http://www.articlesbase.com/non-fiction-articles/prostate-cancer-diagnosis-92359.html

Metastasis is its secondary spread through blood or lymph.

Prognosis really depends on histological type of the cancer but metastasis generally requires more aggressive treatment in the form of chemo & radio because it is wide-spread.

My best wishes are with your mother and you as her family in the battle against this cancer.

Colon cancer is thought to be the second most common type of cancer, after lung cancer. The presence of polyps in the colon lead to colon cancer. There are several ways to detect colon cancer, all tests done at your doctor’ s office.

The presence of polyps in your colon should not be so frightening, because the majority are benign. However, in time, they can lead to colon cancer. Studies have shown that people that have their polyps removed lower the risk of developing colon cancer. To detect these polyps and even colon cancer can take as less as five minutes.

One of the tests that your doctor can do to detect if you have colon cancer is flexible sigmoidoscopy. This test is very useful because with it’ s help doctors can detect colon cancer in the early stages, thus reducing the risk of death. Doctors can also tell if you are at risk of developing colon cancer with the help of this test, thus being able to prevent it. However, this test is not very suitable when it comes to hereditary cases of colon cancer. If you suffer from such a case, it is best that you use colonoscopy as a way of detecting colon cancer. Flexible sigmoidoscopy can be done without the help of sedation and this colon cancer test only takes about five minutes. This test can detect as much as seventy percent of all colon cancer cases and the number is even higher when it comes to detecting polyps. When having this test to detect colon cancer, you will fell no discomfort at all. The biggest advantage when using this test is that it can find colon cancer in its early stages and so your changes of

getting cured are very big.

The second procedure that one can have to detect colon cancer is colonoscopy. This is still the leading procedure when it comes to reducing the risk of colon cancer. More than ninety percent of all people that use this test reduce considerably their risks of developing colon cancer. This is also a very good procedure when it comes to biopsy or the removal of your polyps. Although the other test seems a little better when it comes to colon cancer, this is the most used and it also gives very good results.

In conclusion, a few minutes of your time can mean the difference in developing colon cancer or not.

For more resource on different colon cancer subjects please click this link http://www.colon-cancer-center.com. You can also find valuable information about colon cancer treatment or even about metastatic colon cancer

Groshan Fabiola
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/tests-to-detect-colon-cancer-131467.html

Another issue is it's proximity to other organs. It is near the duodenum, stomach, inferior vena cava, aorta. It is also a part of the biliary system and liver. It can spread to many important organs easily.

There is some increased hope on the horizon as new chemotherapy drugs are being developed. Dr. Vickers at the University of Minnesota is doing clinical trials on a new medication that will hopefully help with treating the disease.

Ultraviolet (UV) light exposure, most commonly from sunlight, is overwhelmingly the most frequent cause of skin cancer.

Other important causes of skin cancer include the following:

* Use of tanning booths

* Immunosuppression—impairment of the immune system, which protects the body from foreign entities, such as germs or substances that cause an allergic reaction. This may occur as a consequence of some diseases or can be due to medications prescribed to combat autoimmune diseases or prevent organ transplant rejection.

* Exposure to unusually high levels of x-rays

* Contact with certain chemicals—arsenic (miners, sheep shearers, and farmers), hydrocarbons in tar, oils, and soot (may cause squamous cell carcinoma)
Regarding your mother's comment, people who had at least one severe sunburn early in life have a greater risk of developing skin cancer. Mom is right!
Treatment for basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma is straightforward. Usually, surgical removal of the lesion is adequate. Malignant melanoma, however, may require several treatment methods, including surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy.

In order to prevent prostate cancer scientists are trying to find abnormal genes that are related to this disease and so identify those who are at risk of developing prostate cancer.

For these people special treatment will be instituted earlier in order to stop the disease from occurring.

Nowadays the scientists use the DNA micro-array technology for studying many genes at the same time and discover those that are related to prostate cancer. This screening could save a lot of time and could replace the currently used PSA blood test.

DNA micro-array identified a product of one gene (named EZH2) that seems to appear more frequently in advanced prostate cancers than in early staged cancers. Scientists want to find out if this gene product signalizes that the cancer is more aggressive or not. This could help doctors decide whether that form of cancer needs treatment or must only be supervised carefully.

Researchers have discovered that tomato and soybeans contain some substances that are useful in preventing prostate cancer (lycopenes and isoflavones). Vitamins are also useful: vitamin D, E and selenium decrease the risk of prostate cancer.

A new clinical trial has been developed in order to see if patients with prostate cancer respond to medication that decreases the level of the androgen hormone called DHT. These drugs (Finasteride and dutasteride) have been used until now only for treating benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH).

Staging prostate cancer is very important for doctors because it helps them institute the most proper treatment. CT and MRI are not so efficient in this case. Instead, enhanced MRI is quite helpful because it detects the possible cancer cells in the lymph nodes.

As a possibility of treatment is surgery. The radical prostatectomy could have some risks. If the nerves that control erection have to be removed the man will end up being impotent. Doctors are testing a replacement of those nerves with the Sural nerve but they are not positive about the usefulness of this technique.

Radiation therapy is also possible. If using conformal radiation therapy (CRT) and intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) the radiation will be directed straight to the prostate gland and affect less other normal tissues.

Chemotherapy seems to be effective in prostate cancer too. Chemotherapy drugs can be successfully used in combination with other drugs like: Taxotere associated with Calcitriol, a form of vitamin D.

A vaccine has also been tested with amazing results on prostate cancer patients. This vaccine is not like the others that are designed to prevent a disease. This is made to treat advanced prostate cancer by increasing the immune systemâ??s response to cancer cells. The vaccine has been made out of a genetically engineered protein and a dendritic cell provided from the patientâ??s bloodstream. Three shots of the vaccine (Provenge) were made over the course of a month. The immune system will react and will activate immune T-cells to find and destroy the cancer cells.

Monoclonal antibody treatment can also be applied in this case. They stimulate the bodyâ??s natural cell-killing mechanism or they carry a radioactive molecule that will destroy the cancerous cell.

Another treatment is using angiogenesis inhibitors. These drugs prevent the growth of blood vessels and so, the tumor cells will not be nourished any more.

Sometimes the prostate cancer spreads in the body and affects the bones. For stopping the bone pain doctors use radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and CT. with this technique they will destroy the tumor by heating it.

For recovering patients are advised to adopt a certain lifestyle. They must not eat meat, fish, eggs, or dairy products, keep an active lifestyle and even perform yoga.

For more information about prostate cancer prevention and about early symptoms prostate cancer please review this web site http://www.prostate-cancer-center.com

Groshan Fabiola
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/possibilities-of-treating-prostate-cancer-131465.html