Chemotherapy As A Cure For Liver Cancer Treatment

Liver cancer begins within the cells of your liver. Several types of cancer can form in the liver. One of the most common types is hepatocellular carcinoma, which begins in the main type of liver cell (hepatocyte). Other types, such as intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma and hepatoblastoma, are less common.

Cancer that spreads to the liver is more common than cancer that originates inside the liver cells. Cancer that begins in another part of the body such as the colon, lung or breast and then spreads to the liver is called metastatic liver cancer. This type of cancer is named after the organ from which it starts to spread such as metastatic colon cancer to describe cancer that begins in the colon and spreads to the liver.

Symptoms:

The symptoms may not occur at an early stage but when they appear they may include,

• Losing weight without trying
• Loss of appetite
• Upper abdominal pain
• Nausea and vomiting
• General weakness and fatigue
• Abdominal swelling
• Jaundice
• White, chalky stools

Liver Cancer Treatment By Chemotherapy:

Liver cancer can be successfully treated with chemotherapy or a combination of treatments. Chemotherapy is a drug treatment that uses powerful chemicals to kill fast-growing cells in your body, usually cancer cells. It works by preventing the cancer cells from growing, dividing, and creating more cells. Many different chemotherapy drugs are available. To treat a wide variety of liver cancer chemotherapy drugs are used alone or in combination. It can be used after other treatments such as surgery to kill remaining cancer cells which are called adjuvant therapy. It can also be used before surgery or radiation therapy for reducing the size of the tumor, this is called neoadjuvant therapy. Chemotherapy is used to relieve signs and symptoms of cancer by killing some of the cancer cells which is called palliative chemotherapy.

Other Commonly Used Liver cancer treatments in India:

The treatment of liver cancer depends on the tumor size, location, stage of cancer and presence of cirrhosis. Treatment methods may depend from patient to patient depending on their condition. Some treatment options include:

• Surgery: It involves removal of the tumor by surgical method

• Liver transplant: This is the best treatment option for treating liver cancer if the replacement is available.

• Chemotherapy: In this method, the drug is given in the form of pills or intravenously to kill cancer cells.

• Radiotherapy: This method uses high energy x-rays on parts of higher risk.

What Is Liver Cancer Treatment Cost in India?

The liver cancer treatment cost in India may differ from hospital to hospital depending on the treatment method. This cost includes different factors which include a blood test, CT scan, type of treatment, patients’ health condition, doctor fees, hospital fees and others. Non-surgical treatment methods in India are more cost-effective than surgical methods. The liver cancer cost in India may differ from 150000 to 400000.

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Oral/Mouth Cancer Spread – and The Advanced Stages

Oral cancer or mouth cancer is a common neoplasm diagnosed globally with incidence and mortality – that have also increased over the past decades. Oral cancer is characterized by poor prognosis and a low survival rate. This poor outcome is predicted, despite sophisticated surgical and radiotherapeutic modalities.  

The advanced stages of oral cancer or Metastasis of mouth cancer is a complex process. It means that the cancer cells have spread to other parts of body. It is involving the mechanism defined as detachment of cells from tumor tissue, regulation of cell motility and invasion, proliferation and evasion through the lymphatic system or blood vessels.  

The current knowledge in metastasis from oral cancer or mouth cancer spread and regarding facts, such as incidence; stage, histopathology and grade of primary tumor; clinical manifestations; diagnosis; and treatment- needs to be considered for determining treatment regimen. Certainly, this is achieved by understanding of oral cancer pathogenesis. 

After understanding the underlying pathogenesis and staging the cancer spread- allows the treating team to make an educated treatment decision.  

The mouth cancer best treatment strategy is designed with predicted good outcome that begins with knowing the stage, or progression, of the disease.  

Our best oncologists in Cancer Rounds use a variety of diagnostic work up SOPs to evaluate oral cancer and develop an individualized treatment plan in a multidisciplinary way.  

If you have been recently diagnosed, the team ill request for review of your pathology to confirm you have received the correct diagnosis and staging information. This allows you to meet the effective treatment plan and this is tailored to you and your needs which is individual for each case. If the patient reports with recurrence, oncologists will perform comprehensive testing to recommend a treatment approach that is personalized to the cancer type and stage. 

Stage oral cancer using the American Joint Committee on Cancer’s TNM system, a commonly accepted method - 

T (tumor): This describes the size of the original tumor. 

N (node): This indicates whether the cancer is in the lymph nodes. 

M (metastasis): This refers to whether the cancer has spread to other parts of the body. 

A number (0-4) or the letter X is assigned to each factor. A higher number indicates increasing severity. For instance, a T1 score indicates a smaller tumor than a T2 score. The letter X means the information could not be assessed. 

Once the T, N and M scores have been assigned, an overall stage is determined.

TX: Primary tumor cannot be assessed; information not known. 

TO: No evidence of a primary tumor has been found. 

Tis: Carcinoma in situ has been diagnosed, meaning the disease is still localized, or contained within the top layers of cells lining the oral cavity. Cancer cells have not invaded the deeper layers of oral tissue. 

T1: Tumor is 2 cm across or smaller. 

T2: Tumor is larger than 2 cm across, but smaller than 4 cm. 

T3: Tumor is larger than 4 cm across. 

T4 is divided into two subgroups: 

T4a: The tumor is growing into nearby structures. At this stage, the oral cancer is called a moderately advanced local disease. The areas to which cells have spread vary according to the type of oral cancer.  

For oral cavity cancers, the tumor is growing into nearby structures, such as the bones of the jaw or face, deep muscle of the tongue, skin of the face, or maxillary sinus. 

For lip cancers, the tumor is growing into nearby bone, the inferior alveolar nerve (the nerve to the jawbone), the floor of the mouth, or the skin of the chin or nose. 

T4b: The tumor has grown through nearby structures and into deeper areas or tissues. At this stage, the cancer is called very advanced local disease, and may include any of the following conditions: 

The tumor is growing into other bones, such as the pterygoid plates (in the skull) and/or the skull base. This type of spreading may occur with any oral cancer. 

The tumor surrounds the internal carotid artery. This type of spreading may occur with any oral cancer. 

For lip and oral cavity cancers: the tumor is growing into an area called the masticator space. 

NX: Nearby lymph nodes cannot be assessed; information not known. 

N0: The oral cancer has not spread to nearby lymph nodes. 

N1: The cancer has spread to one lymph node on the same side of the head or neck as the primary tumor. This lymph node is smaller than 3 cm across. 

N2: This category is divided into these subgroups: 

N2a: The oral cancer has spread to one lymph node on the same side as the primary tumor, and the lymph node measures 3-6 cm across. 

N2b: The cancer has spread to two or more lymph nodes on the same side as the primary tumor. No lymph nodes are larger than 6 cm across. 

N2c: The oral cancer has spread to one or more lymph nodes on both sides of the neck or on the side opposite the primary tumor. No lymph nodes are larger than 6 cm across. 

N3: The cancer has spread to a lymph node that measures more than 6 cm across. 

M0: No distant spread has been detected. 

M1: The oral cancer has spread to distant sites outside the head and neck region (for example, the lungs, liver or bones).

Stages of mouth cancer: 

Stage 0: A stage 0 oral cancer tumor means the cancer is only growing in the epithelium. No cancer cells are present in deeper layers of tissue, nearby structures, lymph nodes or distant sites (carcinoma in situ). 

Stage 1 oral cancer: A stage 1 oral cancer tumor means the primary tumor is 2 cm across or smaller, and no cancer cells are present in nearby structures, lymph nodes or distant sites. 

Stage 2 oral cancer: A stage 2 oral tumor measures 2 cm to 4 cm across, and no cancer cells are present in nearby structures, lymph nodes or distant sites. 

Stage 3 oral cancer: A stage 3 oral tumor means one of the following: 

Tumor is larger than 4 cm across, and no cancer cells are present in nearby structures, lymph nodes or distant sites. 

The oral tumor is any size but has not grown into nearby structures or distant sites.  

 Cancer cells are present in one lymph node, which is located on the same side of the head or neck as the primary tumor and is smaller than 3 cm across. 

Stage 4 oral cancer: There are three categories in this stage: 

stage 4A oral cancer, one of the following applies: 

T4a, with or without lymph node involvement. Cancer has not spread to distant sites. 

N2, with any size tumor: The tumor is any size and may or may not have invaded nearby structures, it has not spread to distant sites, and  

Cancer cells are present in one lymph node, are located on the same side of the head or neck as the primary tumor, and measure 3-6 cm across (N2a). 

Cancer cells are present in one lymph node on the opposite side of the head or neck, and measure less than 6 cm across (N2b). 

Cancer cells are present in two or more lymph nodes, are smaller than 6 cm across, and are located on either side of the head or neck (N2c).

Stage 4B oral cancer, one of the following applies: 

T4b, any N, M0: tumor has invaded deeper areas and/or tissues, that may or may not have spread to lymph nodes and has not spread to distant sites. 

Any T, N3, M0: The tumor is any size and may or may not have grown into other structures. It has spread to one or more lymph nodes larger than 6 cm across, but has not spread to distant sites. 

Stage 4C oral cancer, with any T, and any N, M1: cancer cells spread/ metastasis with a tumor of any size or lymph node involvement. Cancer cells have spread to distant sites, most common to the lungs.

Top 10 Frequently Asked Questions On Brain Tumors

Seizures, sleepiness, confusion, and behavioral changes are just some of the symptoms of brain cancer. Brain tumours aren't always cancerous, and benign tumors(that do not spread) can cause similar symptoms. Do you want to know more about brain tumors? Here are the top 10 frequently asked questions that will help you add to your knowledge.  

1. What is a brain tumor?  

The growth of abnormal cells in the brain tissues is known as a brain tumor. Brain tumors can be benign (noncancerous) or malignant (cancerous) (cancerous). Both types can irritate nerves and push into vital functional areas (the area where the tumour is involved) that can affect speech, movement, and sensations.  

2. Are brain cancer and brain tumors the same?

All brain cancers are tumors, but not all brain tumors are cancerous. Benign brain tumors are noncancerous brain cancers. Benign brain tumors grow slowly, have well-defined borders, and rarely spread. Whereas, a malignant tumor is cancerous and can spread to different areas in the body. 

3. Which is the most common type of brain tumor?

Meningioma. The most common primary brain tumor, accounting for more than 30% of all brain tumors, is meningioma. The meninges, the outer three layers of tissue that cover and protect the brain just beneath the skull, are where meningiomas begin. Meningiomas are diagnosed more frequently in women than in men.

4. How long does a brain tumor take to grow?

Many brain tumors, especially benign brain tumors, grow slowly. Rather than being surgically removed, some benign tumors can be safely monitored by a medical team for months or even years. However, many malignant tumors are more aggressive and fast-growing, necessitating prompt treatment.

5. What is the survival rate after brain cancer?  

This is a difficult question to answer. According to research,  the rate of malignant brain tumors varies depending on the type of tumor. However, because there are so many other factors at play, no one can give an accurate answer for an individual. Keeping a positive mindset is the key to a successful treatment. Engage in a cancer help group or talking to cancer survivors can help keep up positivity during the treatment.

6. Are brain cancer and brain tumors the same?

Yes! Brain cancer and brain tumors are used interchangeably. Note that all tumors are cancers, but not cancers are tumors (malignant). 

7. Can brain cancer spread?  

Yes, malignant types of cancers can spread to the spine. Benign cancers do not spread.

8. How often do brain tumor headaches occur?   

Some people with brain tumors never get headaches, while others get headaches on a regular basis. Once a brain tumor diagnosis is confirmed, steroids may be used to help provide relief. However, even if the headaches go away, they may return in the future. Such reappearances may indicate tumor changes, an increase in tumor-related brain swelling, or the tumor's return after treatment.

9. How is a brain tumor diagnosed?  

Brain tumor diagnosis can involve: 

• A thorough examination of symptoms  
• A complete physical, neurological, and vision examination is performed. 
• Imaging (typically a CT scan followed by an MRI) 
• Microscopic examination of tumor cells obtained from a tumor tissue sample obtained during a biopsy or other surgical procedure. 
• Molecular testing for genetic mutations and other tumor-specific characteristics (brain tumor typing)    

10.  How is brain tumor treatment done? 

When a brain tumor is diagnosed, the first course of action is usually surgery to remove the tumor. However, because of their location in the brain, some tumors cannot be surgically removed. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy may be used to kill and shrink the tumor in these cases. Following surgery, you may receive chemotherapy or radiation to kill any remaining cancer cells.  

For more information about the treatment of brain tumors or any queries, visit our website www.cancerrounds.com