According to a study at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, post-menopausal women who took fish-oil supplements had a 32 percent lower risk of breast cancer. 35,0000 women in Western Washington took part in the survey, and were given omega-3 fish-oil pills.

However, Emily White, an epidemiologist working on the study, does not recommend that women begin taking fish-oil supplements. According to White, the new research, while intriguing, is not definitive. The study targeted women who were already taking fish-oil supplements, which may have developed a bias, since supplement users may have healthier lifestyles or other health conditions.

To confirm the effects of fish-oil on fighting cancer, scientists would need to run clinical trials comparing fish-oil supplements and placebos. During such trials, any side effects regarding omega-3 supplements, which contain 5-10 more fatty acids than in a serving of fish, would be revealed.

The American Heart Association already recommends at least two servings of fish per week to enhance cardiovascular health. However, they do not provide any specific recommendations about supplements.

According to Dr. Wendy Demark-Wahnefried of the University of Alabama at Birmingham, in one year, women who have had chemotherapy for breast cancer can see a change of muscle for fat that is equivalent to ten years of normal aging.

This means that a 45-year-old woman may find herself with the heavier, weaker body type of a 55 year old.

Growing evidence shows that physical activity has a major impact. It can help fight off a tremendous decline in physical function that can last after cancer treatment.

Demark-Wahnefried’s study of 641 overweight former breast cancer patients concluded that at-home exercises, muscle strengthening and a better diet can slow physical decline.

The American College of Sports Medicine urges survivors to exercise at least 2.5 hours a week, the amount recommended for an average person. Although it is understandable that cancer survivors may not feel strong enough for that much exercise, they are encouraged to avoid inactivity on their good days. The exercise recommended is not heavy whatsoever, it can be as simple as walking or playing golf.

As major medical groups urge young women to receive the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine to help prevent cervical cancer, only one-third of them actually have received the vaccine. Only 34 percent of girls ages 13 to 17 were vaccinated in the six states surveyed by a telephone survey called the Behavioral Risk Fact Surveillance System (BRFSS).

The HPV vaccine prevents four strains of the human papillomavirus, the sexually transmitted infection which is found in about 70 percent of all women with cervical cancer. Some types of HPV cause warts that you can see or feel, others do not cause any symptoms at all, and most people do not know about their HPV infection. Cervical cancer is one of the most common cancers of the female reproductive systems. It is the cancer of the uterine cervix, the portion of the uterus attached to the top of the vagina. The biggest complication of cervical cancer is infertility. The HPV vaccine and routine pap tests help prevent this cancer.

Both the American Cancer Society and the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices urge women and girls to receive the vaccine. Last year, there were 11,000 cases of cervical cancer diagnosed in the United States. More than 4,000 of those women will eventually die from the disease.

The HPV vaccine is approved for boys and girls, beginning at age 11 to 12. It can also be given to adolescents and young adults as old as 26.

Thymus cancer is a rare cancer that develops in the thymus. The thymus is a small organ located just behind the breast bone (sternum), in the chest between the lungs. It sits just in front of and above the heart.

The thymus is an important component of the immune system, as it helps the body fight off viruses, fungi and other types of infection. It is divided into two halves, which are called lobes

Symptoms of thymus cancer are usually not felt until the tumor is big enough to press upon surrounding blood vessels. When this happens, the patient will usually experience a shortness of breath, swelling of the face or arms, or both, chest pain below the breastbone and loss of appetite. Another symptom, through rare, is difficulty swallowing.

Thymus cancer is diagnosed through a physical exam, medical history check, blood tests, a biopsy and imagining scans such as a chest x-ray, computed tomography (CT) scan, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan, and/or the positron emission tomography (PET) scan. Treatment varies based on the type and stage of thymus cancer and may include surgery, chemotherapy, clinical trials and alternative therapy.

The American Cancer Society launched a national campaign today in hopes of encouraging women to make healthy lifestyle changes and to raise cancer awareness. According to the society, one in three women will be diagnosed with cancer in her lifetime.

The society kicks off their campaign with “Choose You,” a program with events in Times Square of New York City and a blog-type website, ChooseYou.com. Women are asked to visit the website for tips and important information regarding health and cancer prevention. The society asks women to make a $5 pledge and commit to developing a healthy lifestyle, beginning with making changes in one of the five areas: eating better, exercising more, protecting skin, avoiding tobacco or getting cancer screening.

The website also provides posts on a variety of topics, including quick and easy exercise that can be done around the house, the benefits of quitting smoking, the importance of cancer screening, healthy recipes, and more.

In a survey of 2,000 women ages 25 to 64, the society found that 90% say they “fall short” of maintaining a healthy diet, 85% fail to do at least 30 minutes of exercises five days a week. The society hopes that their campaign improve these figures by teaching the women the importance of exercising and eating healthy, especially in relation to cancer prevention.

Kaposi sarcoma is a cancer the forms from the cells that line the blood vessels or lymph nodes. The abnormal cells of Kaposi sarcoma form blotches or tumors under the skin. Kaposi sarcoma can cause serious problems or even become life threatening when the lesions are in the liver, digestive tract or lungs. Tumors in the digestive tract can cause bleeding, while tumors in the lungs may cause difficulty breathing.

There are four types of Kaposi sarcoma. The most common is AIDS-related Kaposi sarcoma, which occurs in people with advanced HIV infections. This is also the most aggressive type. The classic Kaposi sarcoma is a rare type. It usually develops in men aged 50 to 70, of Mediterranean or Eastern European descent. This type usually presents itself as lesions on the legs or feet. Endemic (Africa) Kaposi sarcoma develops in people who live near the equator in Africa. This type normally affects young men. The fourth type is Immunocompromised Kaposi Sarcoma. Affecting the skin or internal organs, this type typically occurs when a patient takes immunosuppressive drugs after an organ transplant.
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Endometrial cancer (also called uterine cancer) is one of the most common cancers in American women. It begins in the cells of the endometrium, the lining of the uterus, which is a hollow, pear-shaped pelvic organ where fetal development occurs during pregnancy. Endometrial cancer is often detected early, as it causes frequent vaginal bleeding between menstrual periods or after menopause. If this cancer is discovered early, surgically removing the uterus eliminates all of the cancer.

The first sign of endometrial cancer is abnormal vaginal bleeding. Most endometrial cancer develops in postmenopausal women, or women whose periods have stopped, which is why abnormal bleeding should be a loud warning sign. Other symptoms include prolonged periods, an abnormal and nonbloody vaginal discharge, pelvic pain, pain during intercourse and unintended weight loss.

Because endometrial cancer is much more likely to be cured the earlier it is found, it is very important to see your doctor if you experience any symptoms. Many of the same symptoms may be associated with noncancerous diseases, such as vaginal infections, uterine fibroids or uterine polyps, which also need medical attention.

The exact cause of endometrial cancer is unknown. However, scientists believe that estrogen levels influence the development of endometrial cancer. Factors that can increase estrogen, which are also risk factors for endometrial cancer include: many years of menstruation (known as periods beginning before age 12 or experiencing a late onset of menopause), never having been pregnant, irregular ovulation, obesity, a high-fat diet, diabetes, estrogen-only replacement therapy (ERT) and ovarian tumors. Other factors include being over the age of 55, having a personal history of breast or ovarian cancer, being treated with tamoxifen for breast cancer, being African-American, having an inherited disease called hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC).

The most common treatment for endometrial cancer is surgery. Sometimes only the uterus is removed, and in other cases all of the reproductive organs, the uterus, fallopian tubes, lymph nodes and ovaries have to be removed. Other treatment may include radiation therapy and chemotherapy.

Castleman disease (CD) is a disorder which affects the lymph nodes and related tissues. Lymph nodes are part of the immune system and formed by different cells that work together to fight off infections. Lymph node tissue is found in many places throughout the body, including the thymus gland (found behind the chest bone and in front of the heart), spleen, tonsils and bone marrow.

CD is also known as giant lymph node hyperplasia and angiofollicular lymph node hyperplasia. Although not officially a cancer, the disease acts almost identically as lymphoma, cancer of the lymph nodes. Many people with Castleman’s disease develop lymphoma over time.

The two main forms of Castleman disease are localized and multicentric. Localized Castleman disease only affects a single set of lymph nodes, usually those in the chest and abdomen. CD causes them to enlarge and press on other organs and tissues. The affected person will feel pain and pressure in the area. Enlarged lymph nodes in the chest can press on the windpipe or smaller breathing tubes and cause breathing problems. Sometimes the enlarged lymph nodes will be in the neck, groin, or underarms and can be felt easily.

Multicentric Castelman disease affects more than a single group of lymph nodes. It can also affect other organs which contain lymphoid tissue. This type sometimes occurs in people suffering from human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Multicentric CD is more serious than localized, especially in people with HIV. People who have multicentric CD often have serious infections, fevers, weight loss, fatigue, night sweats and nervce damance that can cause numbness and weakness. Blood tests show too few red blood cells, a condition known as anemia, and high levels of antibodies in the blood, also known as hypergammaglobulinemia. This type of CD can severely weaken the immune system and greatly increase the risk of developing lymphoma. This type of CD can be fatal.

The only cause of CD that is currently known is the herpes virus 8 (HHV8). It is linked to the development of multicentric Castleman disease. This virus is also linked to the development of Kaposi’s sarcoma, a cancerous tumor of the blood vessel walls, which is also common in multicentric CD. People who are HIV-positive are more likely to have both CD and Kaposi sarcoma.

There are no consistent risk factors for Castleman disease, except for being HIV positive. The disease can affect anyone. The average age of people with unicentric Castleman disease is around 30 or 40, whereas most people with the multicentric form are in their 50s and 60s. The disease is diagnosed through a variety of tests. A physical examination is performed, as well as blood and urine tests. Imaging techniques such as an x-ray or an MRI scan may also be needed. In order to differentiate CD from other lymphatic disorders, a lymph node biopsy is performed, in which a sample of the lymph node is taken for examination. Treatment depends on the type of CD, and includes surgery, radiation therapy or drugs.

Brain cancer is defined by the presence of a brain tumor, an abnormal growth and accumulation of cells within the brain. There are two types of brain cancer: primary and metastatic. Primary brain cancer begins in the brain. Metastatic cancer begins somewhere else in the body and spreads to the brain.

A doctor is able to identify the signs and symptoms that are specific to each type of brain tumor, as well as their location. Many tumors do not cause symptoms until they are very large. When they do, they may lead to a rapid decline in the person’s health. In other cases, tumors may have symptoms that develop very slowly. Specific tumors vary, depending on the location, size and swelling of the tumor, as well as how far it has spread. The most common symptoms are headaches, seizures (especially in older adults), weakness in one part of the body and changes in mental functions. Headaches caused by brain tumors may be worse when the person wakes up, occur during sleep, be accompanied by vomiting, confusion ,double vision, weakness or get worse with coughing, exercise or a change in body positions.

Other symptoms may include changes in alertness, hearing, taste or smell, clumsiness, confusion, memory loss, difficulty swallowing, eyelid drooping, uncontrollable movements, lack of bladder control, loss of coordination, muscle weakness and trouble walking.

Risk factors for brain cancer differ based on the type of tumor. However, there are five main categories of risk factors: race, age, exposure to radiation, chemical exposure and family history. Brain tumors occur most frequently in whites, with the exception of maningioma which occurs typically in African Americans. The risk of a brain tumor increases as you age, with the majority of tumors occurring in people 45 and older. However, a brain tumor can develop at any age. People who have been exposed to ionizing radiation have increased risk of brain cancer. Examples include radiation therapy used to treat cancer and exposure caused by atomic bombs. People exposed to certain chemicals in the industries they work in have an increased risk of brain cancer. Industries include agricultural, electrical, health care and oil refineries. Lastly, a small portion of tumors occur in people with a family history of brain tumors or genetic syndromes.

Diagnosis of brain tumors includes a series of tests. A CT scan of the head, electroencephalogram (EEG), examination of tissue removed from the tumor during surgery or CT-guided biopsy (which may confirm the exact type of tumor)examination of the cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) (may reveal cancerous cells) or an MRI of the head may be performed.

After the brain tumor is diagnosed, there are a few different treatment options available. Treatment is chosen by your doctor depending on the tumor classification. The most common treatment options include surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

Devic’s disease (also known as Neuromyelitis optica or NMO) is a rare disorder similar to multiple sclerosis (MS). It is an inflammatory disease of the central nervous system that causes episodes of inflammation and damage to the myelin, the fatty, protective covering of the nerves, in the eye and the spinal chord. It may cause temporary or permanent blindness, in one or both eyes, varying degrees of weakness or paralysis in the legs and arms, painful spasms, loss of sensation, and bladder or bowel dysfunction. Devic’s disease is most common in women. The onset varies from childhood to adulthood.

The main symptoms of Devic’s disease are a rapid, intense decrease in vision in either or both eyes, diminished light sensitivity, loss of color vision, loss of sensation, numbness, loss of bladder control, lack of coordination, and muscle weakness.

The outcome of this disease is highly variable, depending on whether there is a tendency for relapses to occur after the initial symptoms. The major risk to patients is severe damage to the upper spinal cord, which can lead to the inability to breathe on one’s own. Some patients seem to enter a long period of time where the disease remains stable.

Diagnosis of Devic’s disease requires several steps. First, a neurological examination is needed to examine parts of the nervous system such as muscle strength, reflexes, coordination and balance, sensation, vision and speech. Then, a 45 minute Magnetic Resonance Image (MRI) scan is done in order to examine the neck, spinal cord, soft tissues and brain. Evoked potentials, to test and record the brain’s responses to sound, touch and light are then performed using a gel to position small disks on the scalp and in some cases, the earlobes, neck, shoulders and back. This testing is harmless, painless and very sensitive in detecting damaged areas in the brain. In some cases, a spinal tap is necessary. In this procedure, a physician uses a thin, hollow needle to remove small samples of fluid from within the spinal canal.

Short-term treatment of Devic’s disease includes medication to manage acute attacks and prevent future ones. Currently, there have not been any controlled clinical trials that have proven effectiveness of any long-term treatment. However, plasma exchange may be a long-term option. Plasma exchange is a procedure that involves removing some blood and mechanically separating the blood cells from the fluid. Blood cells then are mixed with a replacement solution, such as albumin or a synthetic fluid with properties like plasma. The solution with the blood is then returned to the body. This works in approximately 40 percent of patients.