TomoTherapy, a commercialized form of IMRT, is the latest is radiation delivery systems. First used in 2003, TomoTherapy treatment is so new, that many oncologists aren’t even trained on it. However, TomoTherapy is gaining speed and is now used in over 100 locations across the United States, Europe, and Asia.

The term TomoTherapy comes from the Greek word “tomos,” which means “section”. Tomography, for example, is medical imaging technology that images “sections” of the body, more commonly referred to as “slices” in the medical community. Thus, TomoTherapy could be referred to as “slice therapy”.

The “slicing” comes from TomoTherapy’s ability to deliver radiation from multiple angles, rather than from several fixed positions, as the delivery system spins around the patient. This allows continuous delivery of radiation to the target, providing a higher dose than what is traditionally possible.

Furthermore, TomoTherapy combines a highly sophisticated form of intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT), treatment planning, and CT image guided patient positioning. Combining these technologies allows radiation oncologists to obtain an up-to-date image of a tumor location, position the patient, direct treatment right before delivery, and make last-minute adjustments if necessary.

Essentially, TomoTherapy allows for more accurate, higher dose delivery of radiation treatment while minimizing healthy-tissue damage as well 6as treatment and recovery times.

TomoTherapy is commonly used to treat cancers of the lungs, head and neck, breast, prostate, and others. If you are looking at treatment options and wish to consider TomoTherapy, you should ask your doctor specifically about it. Because it is so new not all doctors are aware of it and its advantages over conventional treatment for certain types of cancer.

If TomoTherapy is right for you, a radiation oncologist that has been specially trained in TomoTherapy will be required. Because of its limited distribution, few doctors receive TomoTherapy training during their residency. However, because TomoTherapy is a combination of existing technologies, the experience level in TomoTherapy specifically is less important than a doctor’s overall experience in radiation treatment.

About the Author:

Author Bio:- Vantage Oncology is dedicated to this idea of improving care for patients and their families who are affected by cancer. Our commitment to Image Guided Radiation Therapy (IGRT), Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT), radiosurgery and TomoTherapy continues as we search for newer and better ways to treat cancer and improve the lives of cancer survivors.

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The first few days after the diagnosis of your loved one are the most confusing times of all. You are operating on limited information, and you are both in shock. Questions abound. Give yourself some time to adjust. Here are some recommendations compiled by myself, and others that will help you get through the first few days.

Acknowledge the News

Don't try to act as if nothing is happening. This is a crisis and your lives will change. Give yourself some slack. You may consider taking off work for a few days to get your breath back or cancel routine plans.

Communication

You don't have to tell anyone right away. Give yourselves a chance to digest this information without worrying about how to share the information with others or worry about what their reactions may be. There will be plenty of time to deal with this later. If you decide to tell friends and family, remember you are not responsible for taking care of them if they are upset by the news. Consider asking another family member or friend to call people you want to know if you can't or don't want to talk to them right now. If you need to be with family and friends, tell them so, if you need to be alone, be honest about that as well.

Gathering Information

If researching online is stressful or frightening, don't do it at first....or delegate it to someone you trust. You will have plenty of time to learn more later.

Don't Rush Into a Treatment Plan

In most cases, you will have several weeks or even months to make this decision. The only thing you really need to do initially is to make sure you have the next medical appointments set up....your next doctor's visit, and ideally another visit for a second opinion. After these appointments you will have the information you need to make your treatment decisions.

Write down all your questions as you think of them, for your loved one's doctor, insurance company, or employer. By writing these down you can release these from your mind until they are answered, and in the early stages of diagnosis, it's very difficult to keep all of your thoughts straight.

Take Care of Yourself

Emotional stress is extremely exhausting. You will most likely feel very tired for the first few days. Nap, or at least lay down for awhile. Go to a movie or do some sedate activity. Continue to exercise if that's part of your life, if not, just go for a walk. It will clear your head and make you feel better. Eat, even if you aren't hungry. You have a journey ahead of you and you need to stay strong.

These first few days are often the worst as there is very little information to go on and the emotional impact is enormous. It's important to remember that you won't always feel like this.

Jayne Hutchinson was immersed into a new world after her husband was diagnosed with cancer. She found there was little information and support available for spouses and partners. She created the My Loved One Has Cancer web site to fill that gap.This web site features comprehensive resources and tools to make the cancer journey easier for the spouse or partner of a loved one with cancer. http://www.mylovedonehascancer.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jayne_Hutchinson

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When my husband was diagnosed with esophageal cancer, we were shocked, never even having suspected this illness. He had always been relatively healthy, and then one day he couldn't eat anymore.

It all began a few months before the diagnosis. He felt an uneasy heaviness in his chest, but he couldn't quite explain what it was to the doctor. Since my husband was in his late fifties, the doctor sent him for a stress test to check his heart. The tests came back well within the normal range, so the doctor wasn't concerned.

Fast forward three months later, my husband vomited a few times in a week and he lost some weight. Then, suddenly, he couldn't keep food or liquid down. From the first time he vomited until we had our doctor appointment, ten days passed and he lost twelve pounds.

We discovered with esophagus cancer there can be few or hardly any symptoms, and the ones that show up, typically heartburn, are sometimes ignored. He had had some incidences of heartburn throughout the years, but nothing that seemed significant enough to go see a doctor about.

By the time the symptoms created the weight loss, the doctor immediately ordered tests and we found out within two days there was a good possibility it may be cancer. This diagnosis was confirmed upon further testing and we were told they suspected the cancer had spread to the lymph system. There were two tumors on his esophagus and a larger tumor at the junction of the stomach and esophagus.

We were both incredibly shocked and stressed by the diagnosis, especially in lieu of the fact that we had three children, the youngest being eleven. We carefully weighed the options the doctors presented, and there were not many. There were traditional treatments, which both doctors recommended, and then there were alternative modalities which a friend of ours suggested. After meeting with the traditional doctors, we then met with a holistic doctor who outlined non-invasive treatments. My husband felt alternative medicine gave him a chance of having a better quality of life as opposed to doing the chemo and radiation treatments.

When friends and acquaintances found out we were not following the traditional medical route, some of their reactions took me by surprise. Even though medical treatment of any kind is a personal issue, we were openly questioned about our decision to pursue holistic methods. After being repeatedly questioned, I began to get defensive about my husband's treatment any time it was brought up. We had decided what was best for him and I supported his choice 100 percent.

When people voiced their concern over our decision, I felt as if they were saying how dare we not do the best we could for him. I know in hindsight I was being overly sensitive, but I got into a few arguments-feeling as if I had to be on the defense. Due to my high stress level with the illness and being a full time caretaker, I was running on adrenalin all the time.

On one occasion, I even got in a yelling match with a friend of my husband's in our house. The man had had too much to drink and questioned why we had decided not to do the chemo. He tried to convince us to reconsider. I told him it was our choice and we felt we were doing the best we would, but he would not drop the conversation. I told him that it wasn't his business, and then he broke down and began to cry.

Sensing his real concern, all the fight left me as I put my arm around him while he cried. I had not wanted to fight with anyone, my whole concern was for my husband, but then I realized there were others who cared about us also, and who only wanted the best for him. They cared, but it didn't make it any easier dealing with emotions pushed to the limits.

Perhaps it may have been better to simply tell people we were doing the best we could, using traditional and holistic means. Sometimes people just don't understand the strain a family is placed under, while in the throes of a terminal illness.

©2008

Elaine Williams is a writer across various genres. She is a mother and a widow of four years. She can be contacted at onwingspress@yahoo.com - http://www.ajourneywelltaken.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Elaine_Williams

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Every year, the American cancer society releases facts and figures on cancer cases around the world. The figures explore subjects such as rates by region, leading causes of cancer, survival rate for each type and comparison between death rates for developing nations versus developed nations. The information gives us a fascinating look at the details of this deadly disease. In this article, I will explore some of the most interesting facts from the 2007 findings. We will focus mostly on statistics in developed nations, since rates of cancer are unfortunately statistically much higher in developing countries.

Cancer cases and mortality rate for 2007 and beyond
The findings estimate that for 2007 there was a total of 12 million new cancer cases worldwide. Out of these 12 million cases, 7.6 million resulted with the patients losing their lives. This figure amounts to an astonishing 20 000 deaths per day. This figure is expected to more than double by 2050. In 2050, there will be 27 million new cases per year and a total of 17.5 million deaths for the year. The article attributes this increase mostly to the world's aging population.

Cancer Trends
In underdeveloped countries, stomach and cervix cancers are some of the most frequent type of cancers. This is mostly due to chronic infections in these regions. These types of cancers are less common in developed countries where chronic infectious are not an issue. In developed countries, the use of tobacco, unhealthy diets and physical inactivity leads to other type's cancers such as lung & bronchus, breast, and colorectal cancers.

Preventing Cancer
The findings point to the fact that anyone, anywhere and at any time can develop cancer. But it is also estimates that 50% of cancers are avoidable. Some types of cancers can be prevented by eliminating tobacco or alcohol use. Healthy diets and staying in shape is also a great way of reducing the chance of getting cancer. Cancers like colorectal and cervix can be avoided by early detection and removal of pre-cancerous lesions.

Leading cancers for 2007
Worldwide the 3 most common cancers for women were Breast cancer with 1,301,867 new cases, Cervix & Colon cancer with 555,094 cases and Lung & Bronchus with 536,662 cases. For men, the most common cancers were Lung & Bronchus with 1,108,731 new cases, prostate with 782,647 cases and stomach cancer with 691,432 new cases. The article mentions that the risk of being diagnosed increases with age. In developed countries, 78% of new cancer diagnoses occur with individuals who are 55 years old or older.

The most important finding that we can obtain from these statistics, is the fact that worldwide 50% of all cancers are avoidable. With a combination of education and social policies that encourage healthy lifestyles, we could substantially reduce the amount of cases of this horrible disease.

To learn more, visit cancer research.

Paul Javonich maintains a cancer resource site specializing in cancer research. To learn more, visit www.ResearchCancerCenter.com A website that specializes in cancer research.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Paul_Javonich

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A promising new therapy that is being used at an Arkansas medical clinic is showing very good results as an alternative to the normal surgical, chemo, radiation therapy. Still in it's infancy and being applied to cancers that are no more than four inches under the skin surface, it has shown remarkable results for the treating of breast cancer and skin cancer.

Light Induced Enhanced Selective Hyperthermia is the name of the therapy. The procedure is non-invasive although access to an affected site might involve surgical methods if used for internal organs. The procedure involves laser beams which reduce the chance of cancer cells migrating to other parts of the body if you relied on the current method of surgically removing them.

An enhancing agent is directly injected into the malignant growth and instantly spreads throughout the entire mass of the unwanted growth. This enhancing agent increases the cells sensitivity to the laser light used in the treatment, ensuring that all the "bad cells" are treated. The enhancing agent is completely soluble and has been compared to a saline solution as far as side affects. Once the enhancing agent is applied, the laser is then used on just those cells to destroy them with a beam of high temperature.

Several sessions are usually necessary to completely kill all of the cancer cells. These sessions are usually done on a daily routine outpatient visit to the clinic. The number of visits necessary depends on the type of cancer and the size of the growth. The internal breast cancers have shown, after therapy that the cells left inside are dead and it is then up to your body to expel them in it's normal fashion. A follow-up with independent clinical tests every three months is essential to prove that the cancer is indeed gone.

If there is a re-occurrence, the therapy can be applied again with no undue harm to the patient since there is no bleeding, no chemicals are being used to affect the immune system and there is no need for harmful drugs afterwards. Most patients leave the office within an hour or two feeling great! How does that compare to the standard methods of treating breast cancer.

The company that is providing this therapy has a patent for the protocol to insure that the way that it is implemented is followed correctly for best results. I expect that more medical offices will be offering this procedure in the near future, but for now the therapy is available at the Lase Med Inc office in Arkansas.

Jackie Martin has researched alternative/natural medicine for treatment of cancer for the past five years. Her blog: When Cancer Hits Home reports many of her findings as well as her reports of the journeys of family members diagnosed with this disease.
Must have information if you or a loved one is diagnosed with cancer: Cancer - Best Alternatives

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jackie_Martin

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By Shabi Guptha

For unexpected bleeding from any part of the body, in a child/adult, like oozing of blood from the gums, haemorrhagic spots/areas on the skin, or excessive bleeding from the nose, say, after a blow, or profuse bleeding following tooth extraction or minor injury, the possibility of early acute leukaemia must be considered for precise diagnosis. It is important to point out that leukaemias should be given due consideration and all efforts must be made to treat and control the condition.

Chronic leukaemia As compared to acute leukaemia, chronic leukaemia usually manifests itself at a later age, say at the age of 30-50 years, and has a different presentation from acute leukaemia. The disease remains hidden and the patient reports after months/years of the onset of the ailment, and in some cases it may be diagnosed accidentally during a routine medical check-up.

However, the disease can be diagnosed in infancy, and besides a clinical examination/ suspicion by the physician who may happen to examine the case, we need the expertise of a clinical pathologist/laboratory technician competent to spot out such cases from the routine tests like total leucocyte count (TLC), differential leucocyte count (OLC) and, above all, from the examination of the peripheral blood film (PBF), especially for immature cells, etc.

Enlargement of the spleen and/or glands of the body (prominently cervical), tenderness on the sternum, i.e., the bone lying in front of the middle of the chest (so-called sternal tenderness), may be considered some of the relatively / moderately early symptoms/signs. Both in acute and chronic cases of leukaemia, a bone marrow examination and some other special tests are 'a must' to confirm the diagnosis.

Recovery in the case of leukaemia, whether acute or chronic, depends on the age of the patient, and on the type/ variety of the leukaemia diagnosed finally. There should be no unnecessary panic when the possibility of leukaemia is being considered. Many cases go well with their disease for several years before they begin to show. A middle-aged case of chronic leukaemia with some unusual complaints/symptoms detected for the first time by the author has still been continuing rather satisfactorily for the last ten years or so. He has retired from his job after completion of his tenure and has been living a fairly normal life. The idea of writing this is that the leukaemia patient or his family members should never go away with the idea that mortality is the rule in all such cases, as we see in some of the Indian movies.

However, it is very important to mention that a very scientific approach is required for the treatment of such cases. The patient needs the thorough guidance of the physician in respect of diet, exertion, stress, etc. He should undergo periodic check-ups, and blood-tests should be repeated, as advised. Above all, only the prescribed drugs should be taken by such patients. We lost one of our patients who on his own had shifted to other drugs, in spite of the fact that the prognosis of the case was rather good, and this fact was also confirmed by the late Dr. M.M. Wintrobe, a noted haematologist in the USA, who had also authored the book, Clinical Hematology (Lea & Febiger, Philadelphia), and to whom the detailed clinical data of the case were sent for a thorough probe/investigation.

Interestingly, the patient also got carried away when some unauthentic approach for his treatment was suggested to him, but it came to the notice of the author in time, and he, to substantiate his views/line of action, sent the case to the Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, which probably saved the patient from the likely tragedy. The patient referred to above, is at present progressing satisfactorily with his disease by following instructions as well as the treatment religiously.

Finally, it may be stressed that a great realization is required among the masses regarding blood cancers, but somehow, leukaemias are lagging far behind in cancer awareness campaigns / programmes.

Author Sites: Home Remedies, Self Help Tips and Natural Skin Care Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Shabi_Guptha

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