Treatment for Hodgkin's disease usually includes radiation therapy or chemotherapy. Sometimes, both are given. Treatment decisions depend on the stage of disease, its location in the body, which symptoms are present, and the general health and age of the p...
Chemotherapy is the use of anticancer drugs to fight the disease. Chemotherapy is a systemic therapy, which means the anticancer drugs travel through the bloodstream, reaching all parts of the body. In general, chemotherapy drugs affect rapidly dividing ce...
It is often hard to limit the effects of therapy so that only cancer cells are removed or destroyed. Because healthy tissue may also be damaged, treatment can cause unpleasant side effects. The side effects of cancer treatment are different for each person...
Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to kill cancer cells. Chemotherapy is sometimes given after surgery for colorectal cancer to try to prevent the disease from recurring, or coming back. This additional treatment is called adjuvant therapy. The doctor may us...
Biological therapy is a cancer treatment that helps the body’s immune (defense) system attack and destroy cancer cells. For some patients, biological therapy may be combined with chemotherapy as adjuvant treatment after surgery. Patients may need to stay i...
Clinical trials are designed to determine whether a new approach is both safe and effective. Treatments that may be studied include: Radiation twice daily Hyperthermia, in which a tumor is heated to increase the effect of radiation Drugs injected into the ...
Stereotactic radiosurgery is another way to treat brain tumors. An MRI or CT scan is used to pinpoint the location of the tumor, and the treatment is given in one session. High-energy rays are aimed at the tumor from many angles. A high dose of radiation r...
There are primary and secondary brain tumors. Tumors that begin in brain tissue are known as primary tumors. Secondary tumors are when cancer spreads from another site to the brain, which is called metastasis. Brain tumors are classified by the type of tis...
The symptoms depend on the size of the tumor and the location. Symptoms are caused by damage to vital tissue and by pressure from the tumor or swelling, which may happen if the tumor blocks the flow of cerebrospinal fluid. Headaches that tend to be worse i...
Benign brain tumors do not contain cancer cells, but they can press on sensitive areas in the brain and cause symptoms. They are usually a collection of extra cells that cause a mass of tissue called a "tumor." They typically have clear borders and do not ...
To diagnose bone cancer, the doctor asks about the patient’s personal and family medical history and does a complete medical exam. The doctor may suggest a blood test, since some bone tumors can be associated with increased levels of certain proteins in th...
The symptoms of bone cancer vary from person to person, depending on the location and size of the cancer. Pain is the most common symptom. Tumors that occur in or near joints may cause swelling or tenderness in the affected area. Bone cancer can also inter...
Primary bone cancer refers to cancers that start in the bone. Secondary bone cancer is cancer that spreads to the bone from another part of the body. Primary bone cancer is rare, with approximately 2,400 new cases diagnosed each year in the United States....
Cancer that starts in the bone (primary bone cancer) is relatively rare, with about 2,500 cases diagnosed in the United States each year. The most common types of bone cancer occur more frequently in children and young adults, while other bone cancer is pr...
Check the other breast. Some lumpiness is normal. However, if the lump is new or unusual, it warrants examination by a physician. A lump found during a breast self-exam, a clinical breast exam or a mammogram does not necessarily mean that a woman has breas...
There are no acne treatments specifically for use on dark skin. Acne treatments are generally as safe and effective on dark skin as on light skin. Some treatments for acne scars may cause temporary lightening of dark skin. Acne is a common skin disease tha...
The time for improvement depends upon the product being used, but in almost all cases it is more a matter of weeks or months instead of days. Most dermatologists would recommend the use of a medication or combination of medications daily for 4 to 8 weeks b...
Scarring is best prevented by getting rid of the acne. Dermatologists can use various methods to improve the scarring caused by acne. The treatment must always be individualized for the specific patient. Chemical peels may be used in some patients, while d...
62 
