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TUMOR RECURRENCE AND TAMOXIFEN RESISTANCE: WHERE DOES BREAST CANCER SPREAD?

admin — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 15:27:10 +0000

When breast cancer does recur outside the breast, it usually does so in rather specific areas. One of the most common locations is in the bone. Although the bones of the ribs, spine, pelvis, and upper arms and legs are most commonly involved, breast cancer can metastasize to virtually any skeletal area. This process may be heralded by local bone pain or ultimately bone fracture, but painless bone metastases are common as well.The spread of breast cancer to the lymph nodes is also quite prevalent. The lymph nodes adjacent to the breast and under the arm, called “axillary nodes,” are the most frequently affected areas. Breast cancer may also spread to the liver and lungs or throughout the skin and into the brain.IS TUMOR RECURRENCE OUTSIDE THE BREAST TREATABLE?Breast cancer that occurs outside the breast is treatable, but is generally much harder to cure than local recurrence. Physicians try to design treatments that will provide the patient with the best possible chance of curing the disease while avoiding additional risk in terms of life-threatening side effects. Therapy given to control tumor symptoms when there is little hope of cure is called palliative.*37\320\2*

EFFECTS OF CANCER ON NUTRITIONAL STATUS

admin — Mon, 14 Mar 2011 09:36:43 +0000

Weight loss, weakness, and loss of appetite are important findings as the cancer progresses. The tumor uses nutrients from the diet for its growth so that the normal cells do not receive their full quota. If the diet itself is inadequate, the normal cells will be further depleted to nourish the tumor cells.
Vomiting and diarrhea are frequently present in patients with cancer. The loss of appetite, nausea, and vomiting reduce the food intake. Malnutrition is further aggravated by diarrhea which leads to reduced absorption of nutrients, and increased fluid and electrolyte loss.
The location of the tumor has specific effects on nutrition and metabolism. For example, pancreatic tumor interferes with fat digestion and absorption; thyroid tumor affects the calcium levels in the blood; tumors of the esophagus or small intestine may lead to obstruction; and tumors of the liver or kidney to failure of these organs.
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BREAST CANCER OPERATIONS: PRIVATE CARE

admin — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 05:34:39 +0000

There are various reasons why people choose to have their operations done privately. They may have private health insurance, or be covered by a private health scheme run by the company for which they work, or they may be able to pay for private care themselves. Whatever your situation, you will not find that the standard of medical care you receive in a private hospital is any different from that available on the National Health Service (NHS). However, you may prefer the privacy of a private hospital; or you may find the much-reduced waiting time to see a consultant, and the opportunity to enter hospital for your operation at the time of your choice are more convenient for you. If you have an operation in an NHS hospital, you may rarely see the consultant, being examined and treated by different doctors in the consultant’s firm. At a private hospital, you will receive personal care from the consultant throughout your stay. The facilities at a private hospital are likely to be more like those of a good hotel, and will certainly include a private bathroom.

Private health insurance

If the company you work for has a private health insurance scheme, your Company Secretary will be able to give you details, and should be able to tell you if the company insurance covers you for consultation with the surgeon and for your breast operation.

If you have your own private health insurance, the insurance company will be able to tell you exactly what is covered by your particular policy, if this is not clear from the literature you already have.

There are different levels of health insurance, and you need to read your policy carefully to make sure you know what costs are covered. Most private hospitals have an administration officer who will check your policy for you if you are in any doubt. The staff at the hospital is likely to be very helpful and will try to sort out any problems and queries you have. But do read your policy carefully, and any information sent to you by the hospital, as unexpected charges, such as consultants’ fees that you thought were covered by your insurance policy, could add up to quite a lot of money.

You may need to ask the insurance company to let you know -in writing – whether your policy covers the cost of a prosthesis and its fitting if you are going to want one after your operation. This cost is not always covered and, if not, it may be worth finding out if you will be eligible for an NHS prosthesis.

With some types of private health insurance, you will need to ask your GP to fill in a form stating that your operation is necessary and cannot be done in an NHS hospital within a certain time period due to long waiting lists. You will have to pay your GP for this service, which will cost a few pounds. This money is not redeemable from your insurers.

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