Low Libido During Treatment
We are all aware of the common side effects of cancer treatment like nausea and hair loss, but many patients are surprised to learn that some treatments may affect their sex life. Low libido is common during cancer treatment and can be frustrating for couples who want to maintain intimacy during treatment. Often, the treatment itself crushes libido, but stress can also play a major role in the loss of sexual desire....Read Full Post (Source: About.com Cancer)
Source: About.com Cancer - July 18, 2013 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: news
How is HPV Treated?
The human papillomavirus (HPV) is a common viral infection that affects an estimated 20 million Americans. It can cause genital warts and cervical changes that could lead to cancer in women. We are also learning about HPV's role in throat cancer and many other cancer types, as well. As more information is discovered, many question if the virus can be cured and how is it treated. ...Read Full Post (Source: About.com Cancer)
Source: About.com Cancer - July 18, 2013 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: news
Why Does Chemo Cause Anemia?
As if the stomach upset and hair loss weren't enough, chemotherapy is also known to cause anemia in those being treated for cancer. What many people fail to realize is that chemotherapy is a systemic therapy -- it affects the whole body. Some newer treatments are more targeted, but for the most part, a vast majority of chemotherapy drugs will cause a variety of side effects, anemia included. Learn why chemotherapy may cause anemia... (Source: About.com Cancer)
Source: About.com Cancer - July 10, 2013 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: news
How Acupuncture May Help During Cancer Treatment
Did you know that many doctor recommend having acupuncture as a complementary therapy for people undergoing cancer? While acupuncture does not treat cancer directly, it can aid in relieving the side of treatment. Learn more about acupuncture and how it can help you during treatment. ...Read Full Post (Source: About.com Cancer)
Source: About.com Cancer - July 10, 2013 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: news
What You Need to Know About Marinol
If you are thinking of taking Marinol, an FDA approved synthetic form of medicinal marijuana available by prescription, it's important to know the facts. I always advise patients to do a little research about any prescribed medication -- learn the side effects, the costs, and the benefits of the drug. Marinol is often recommended to cancer patients to ease treatment side effects as a safe alternative to medicinal marijuana. If you are thinking of taking the drug, you can read more about Marinol here....Read Full Post (Source: About.com Cancer)
Source: About.com Cancer - July 10, 2013 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: news
Low Iodine Diet Recipes
Recently during dinner at a local restaurant, I spoke to a friend about the low iodine diet and disclosed that my husband was about to start it. As I have discovered more low iodine recipes, I have become quite excited at helping cook these new recipes and hopefully make the diet a little easier for him. My excitement must have been quite evident because a woman at the next table stopped me before I left and asked if I could tell her more about the diet and share the recipes. Apparently, she thought it was a new fad diet and my recipe descriptions sounded delicious! (If you don't know about the low iodine diet, it is a spe...
Source: About.com Cancer - June 30, 2013 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: news
What is Thyrogen?
If you have undergone treatment for thyroid cancer, you may dread follow-ups to check for recurrence. It's not the scans or even the radioactive iodine therapy (if needed), but the effects of "going hypo". I have heard patients describe being hypothyroid as "pure hell" and feeling like a "long and torturous death". I have witnessed it firsthand in my husband, who has been treated several times for recurrent thyroid cancer. By the 4th week of being hypo, he literally could drive or go to work during the last follow-up process. His reflexes slowed considerably, his vision became blurry, and he couldn't concentrate or remembe...
Source: About.com Cancer - June 30, 2013 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: news
Help! I Have Blood In My Urine! Could It Be Cancer?
Finding blood in places where you don't normally or shouldn't find blood can be a frightening experience. When people discover blood in their urine, their initial reaction often involves panic. After all, it's not exactly natural to have blood in the urine and can be a shocker to see on tissue or in the toilet. After a quick Google search, most people are relieved that the likely culprit is likely an infection, but other look deeper into less likely causes, like cancer....Read Full Post (Source: About.com Cancer)
Source: About.com Cancer - June 30, 2013 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: news
Fighting Cancer Fatigue with Energy Drinks: Why It's a Bad Idea
Venture into any convenience store and you will notice refrigerated cases stocked to the brim with dozens of different types of energy drinks. From AMP to Red Bull, these products promise an increase in energy and concentration, two things that may be tempting for someone experiencing cancer fatigue. Before you reach for a can, read why energy drinks may be a bad idea for people trying to combat cancer fatigue....Read Full Post (Source: About.com Cancer)
Source: About.com Cancer - June 30, 2013 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: news
Sunscreen 101
Did you know that skin cancer is the most diagnosed type of cancer in the United States? It's also one of the most preventable types of cancer! Sunscreen is the key to preventing skin cancer, but people just aren't applying it like they should. Either they make a common mistake when applying it, not applying at all, or not reapplying it. A few minutes of sunscreen application is worth the effort!...Read Full Post (Source: About.com Cancer)
Source: About.com Cancer - June 30, 2013 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: news
Can I Mix My Sunscreen and Moisturizer?
" I wear sunscreen and a moisturizer on my face everyday. Can I just mix them to save a little time? "
I love that this reader is being proactive about using sunscreen on his/her face! Not only will it prevent premature aging (wrinkles, saggy skin), it will help prevent skin cancer. Far too may men and women neglect to use sunscreen daily. Did you know that experts recommend wearing sunscreen even on the most cloudy of days? The sun's UV rays are so strong that they can easily penetrate the clouds....Read Full Post (Source: About.com Cancer)
Source: About.com Cancer - June 30, 2013 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: news
New Study Shows Talcum Powder Increases Risk of Ovarian Cancer
A new study shows that talcum powder may increase the risk of ovarian cancer in women. Researchers from Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston analyzed the data from several previous studies and determined that using talcum powder increases the risk of ovarian by 24 percent. The notion that talcum powder use may be related to ovarian cancer is not new; researchers have been studying the possible association for years, but results have not been consistent. Among the various studies, data has shown a distinct correlation, while others have not.
...Read Full Post (Source: About.com Cancer)
Source: About.com Cancer - June 19, 2013 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: news
Reap the Benefits of Exercise During Chemotherapy
If you are about to undergo chemotherapy or in the middle of a regimen, exercise may be the last thing on your "to-do" list. Your mode of thinking may be that if you are too tired to even go grocery shopping, how in the world can you go walk a mile or take a yoga class? What is great about exercise is that it can help fight fatigue! Research has repeatedly shown that exercise combats fatigue, depression, insomnia, and also improves self-esteem and confidence in people undergoing chemotherapy. Some studies have shown that people who exercise during treatment experience fewer side effects than those who don't exercise....Rea...
Source: About.com Cancer - June 19, 2013 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: news
What You Need to Know About Neutropenia
If you have cancer and are being treated with chemotherapy or radiation therapy, having a healthy white cell count is essential for not only your healthy, but also to continue treatment. Neutropenia, a condition that occurs when levels of a specialized type of white blood cell decrease in the body. These white blood cells help fight off infection in the body. When levels are low, the body has a tougher time successfully fending off foreign invaders, like bacteria. Your risk of infection is much higher when WBCs drop....Read Full Post (Source: About.com Cancer)
Source: About.com Cancer - May 31, 2013 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: news
Brain Tumor Symptoms
When you have chronic headaches, it's natural to think of the worst. A brain tumor is often the first possible cause that enters a person's mind, but they are usually wrong in most cases. Contrary to popular belief, headaches usually aren't an initial symptom of a brain tumor, although people with brain tumors do suffer from headaches as their condition progresses. What are the symptoms that raise red flags for doctors? Read more about brain tumor symptoms to find out...Read Full Post (Source: About.com Cancer)
Source: About.com Cancer - May 31, 2013 Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: news
