Monthly Archives: December 2018

One in nine American men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer.

12/16/2018

One in nine American men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer. In American men, one of the most common types of cancer is prostate cancer, especially among African-American and older men. Prostate cancer happens when cells in the prostate gland start to grow uncontrollably. The prostate is a gland found only in men, which makes fluid in semen to transport sperm.

In the early stage prostate cancer does not show any symptoms or signs but it does once it advances. It may cause symptoms such as, blood in semen, erectile dysfunction, decreased force in the stream of urine, and discomfort in pelvic area. Although the causes are not yet known, some of the factors are race/ethnicity, age, family history, smoking, and obesity.

Due to not knowing the real causes of prostate cancer, prevention is vital. Prevent by choosing a healthy nutritious diet, maintaining a healthy weight, and exercising. For early detection a blood test can help. If found with prostate cancer some of the treatments you may use are hormone therapy, radiation, chemotherapy, and biological therapy. When dealing with cancer a second opinion is vital to help decide on the right treatments. Visit SecondOpinions.com to receive a Second Opinion that will help you choose the right treatment path for you.

Lung Cancer

12/12/2018

The leading cause of death from cancer in the United State is lung cancer. Lung cancer is a type of cancer that forms in the tissues of the lungs which then start to grow and multiply. Cancer can travel and spread to other parts of the body, if not diagnosed at an early stage. Lung cancer is most common in people who smoke, making tobacco use one of the leading causes.

Lung cancer is not just caused by smoking, but also by secondhand smoke, family history of lung cancer, and exposure to toxins. Some of the symptoms are coughing that doesn’t go away, coughing blood, shortness of breath, chest pain, and bone pain. There are different types of lung cancer but the two main types are small cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer. Small cell is the most common among heavy smokers. As for non-small cell lung cancer, it covers several types of lung cancer, such as adenocarcinoma and large cell carcinoma. The treatments depend on the type of lung cancer the person is diagnosed with but include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and immunotherapy.

Prevention is vital, some of the steps to take are to stop smoking tobacco or to not use tobacco products at all, avoid exposure to secondhand smoke, gases, chemicals, and anything that can harm your lungs. An accurate diagnosis is very important and a second opinion can save your life by helping you find the best treatment. Visit SecondOpinions.com for your peace of mind.

Pancreatic Cancer

12/10/2018

The pancreas is an organ behind the stomach that releases enzymes to help with digestion and produces hormones that help process sugars. When the cells in the pancreas begin to grow uncontrollably it becomes cancer. In 2018 alone, over 55,000 people were diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

It is not clear on what causes pancreatic cancer but some of the risks that increase the chances are pancreatitis, diabetes, a poor diet, smoking, obesity, and family history. Some of the symptoms or signs of pancreatic cancer are diabetes, weight loss, jaundice, pain in the abdomen and back, and blood clots. There are two types of pancreatic cancer, exocrine pancreatic cancer and pancreatic endocrine tumors. The most common type of pancreatic cancer is exocrine. As for the endocrine tumors, they are uncommon, making only about 5%.

The treatments include surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. The best ways to prevent pancreatic cancer are to stop or never smoke, maintain a healthy weight, and eat a healthy diet. If you or someone you know has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, visit SecondOpinions.com to help you find the best treatment to recover your health and live a healthy life.

November is National Epilepsy Awareness Month

12/1/2018

In the United States, about 3.4 million people suffer from epilepsy. Epilepsy occurs as a result of genetic disorder or from a brain injury, such as a stroke or trauma. This neurological disorder has abnormal cell activity in the brain which causes seizures, a period of unusual behavior, sensations, and loss of awareness.

Caused by the abnormal activity of the brain, the seizures vary because the brain controls many parts of the body therefore those parts can be affected. The symptoms vary but include uncontrollable jerking movements of the arms and legs and loss of consciousness or awareness. The seizures depend on the part of the brain that is being affected, therefore there are different types of seizures. Two types of seizures are partial and generalized. Partial seizures happen when only one area of the brain is affected, while generalized seizures happen when both sides of the brain are affected.

To be diagnosed with epilepsy, you must have at least two unprovoked seizures in a period of over 24 hours. Epilepsy is an incurable condition that can only be treated. To control the seizures medications or sometimes surgery can be used, while others require lifelong treatments. Visit SecondOpinions.com to help you find the right treatment for epilepsy.