Radiation therapy mainly causes fatigue, especially in the later weeks of treatment. Though resting is important, doctors usually advise patients to stay as active as possible. Skin in the treated area may become red, dry, tender and itchy, and there may b...
Hodgkin's disease is a type of lymphoma. Lymphomas are cancers that develop in the lymphatic system, part of the body's immune system. The job of the lymphatic system is to help fight diseases and infection. The lymphatic system includes a network of thin ...
People are not always aware of their GH deficiency, and the condition is under diagnosed. Some of the symptoms that may indicate a GH deficiency are: An unusual proportion of fat to lean muscle mass; GH deficient sufferers will have unusually high fat to m...
The methods used to treat endocrine cancer are very powerful. That's why treatment often causes side effects. Fortunately, most side effects are temporary. The side effects of chemotherapy depend on the drugs given and the individual response of the patien...
Here are some questions you may want to ask your doctor: How can this disease be treated? What are my treatment choices? How successful is the treatment likely to be? Would a clinical trial be appropriate for me? What are the expected benefits of treatment...
Because of advances in diagnosis and treatment of endocrine cancer, a longer and better life is possible for patients today. Treatment planning takes into account the size and location of the tumor, whether it is likely to grow slowly or rapidly, and the g...
The doctor will ask about your medical history and will do a careful physical exam. You most likely will be asked to give blood for hormone measurements, and you may also be asked to have an ultrasound, CT scan or MRI to enable the doctor to determine wher...
Surgery is sometimes a treatment options for spine tumors. The type of surgery that your doctor recommends will depend on the type of tumor, the location, and the symptoms you are experiencing. If you have weakness, numbness of paralysis of arms and legs, ...
Stereotactic radiosurgery is a radiation therapy technique for treating brain tumors without surgery. A rigid head frame is used to help aim high-dose radiation beams directly at the tumors and not at normal brain tissue. One stereotactic radiosurgery tech...
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...
56 