A major problem with diagnosing lung cancer correctly is that its symptoms can often be mistaken for those of another condition. Signs of cough, back pain, and weight loss are common enough that they aren’t given a second thought to and most people dismiss them. Due to this, the disease has increased chances of progressing to more severe stages before being diagnosed. As cancer grows, the symptoms become more obvious and persistent. If a person has the following symptoms for a prolonged period of time, and no treatment has provided relief, it is essential to consult a doctor immediately. Persistent or bloody cough Wheezing Pain and difficulty while breathing and swallowing Chest pain Back pain Loss of hair, appetite and unexplained weight loss Noisy breathing Exhaustion Nausea Traces of blood in saliva and mucus Fever and headache Diagnosis There are a number of ways in which lung cancer can be diagnosed, depending from case to case. The tests mentioned below are carried out if the patient or their physician suspects the possibility of lung cancer. Imaging tests: Pictures obtained through a CT scan, PET scan and a bone scan can help doctors assess if there are cancer cells, its exact location, and the size of the tumor.

It can be easy to quickly lose hope when your loved one is going through depression and the treatment is not effective. But you need to keep in mind that all is not lost, as there are several depression treatment centers that can help your loved one get out of depression. You will, however, need to take the time and do your homework in order to find the best possible program that will suit the needs of your loved one. This will definitely allow your family member to begin his/her journey toward recovery. Choosing the right depression treatment center to treat your loved one will help them to progress on a path towards restoration and hope. It is imperative that you do your research well and look up therapists, as the person suffering from depression will not be able to do so. But sometimes when a family member has exhausted all outpatient options, your hope tends to waver. Failure to recover within the outpatient treatment environment is not the end of the road. It just implies that your loved one might need more intensive treatment. Hence, it is important that you find the right depression treatment center that will be able to help your loved one and address his/her unique needs.

Stage IV of breast cancer, or the advanced form of breast cancer, is commonly referred to as metastatic breast cancer. Although not a specific type of cancer, it denotes the severity and stage of the progression of the disease. At this stage, the cancer has spread beyond the breast and has affected the lymph nodes associated with other organs in the body, such as the bones, liver, lungs, and even the brain. Although the cancer spreads to the other regions or organs within the body, it is still viewed as breast cancer and treated with specific metastatic breast cancer treatment options. For example, breast cancer that has spread to the bones is not counted as an additional bone cancer but rather treated as metastatic breast cancer of the bones. This is because the origin of the cancer is known. The occurrence of metastatic breast cancer In some cases, the very stage at which breast cancer is first diagnosed is the metastatic stage. This is what is referred to as de novo metastatic breast cancer. Usually, this form of cancer arises quite a few years after the individual has completed breast cancer treatment (the early or locally advanced stages). Metastatic breast cancer is at times a distant recurrence.

Staging in cancer is the process which indicates the extent of damage done by the cancerous cells. It helps the doctors to understand how early or advanced the cancer is. Once diagnosed, the staging of cancer helps doctors to plan the treatment as well as track the patient’s progress during and after the procedures. Staging also helps doctors and scientists to work out survival rates. It includes the tumor’s size, whether cancer has metastasized, and the organs it has spread to. Staging for lung cancer is different and distinct for the two types of cancer; small cell lung cancer and non-small cell lung cancer. Small cell lung cancer and staging (SCLC) Small cell and non-small cell lung cancers are the two major types of lung cancer. SCLC incidents are about 15% of the total number of lung cancer cases. It starts in the bronchi but can also occur in the periphery of the lungs. If left untreated, it can spread at a rapid rate. Smokers are at high risk for SCLC. There is currently no tool or test that helps in the early screening of SCLC. Apart from imaging tests, it is diagnosed and staged using sputum cytology, bronchoscopy, ultrasound, needle biopsy, and thoracentesis.

Asthma is one of the world’s most common lung diseases and affects about one 1 in every 13 people in our country. It is estimated that more than 25 million people are affected by this disease. It can affect anyone without any discrimination of age or gender. In asthma, airways to the lungs get inflamed and thickened. These airways are consequently obstructed by mucous and fluid, resulting in spasms in the bronchial tubes. Breathing becomes difficult. People who are extremely sensitive and have allergies invariably have asthma. The severity of asthma varies from one person to another. Treatment depends on the type of asthma they are affected by. Eosinophils are white blood cells in the blood that fight diseases. They are part of the immune system that helps fight infections However, if there is an increased presence of eosinophils in the blood, it results in inflammation of the airways. This will affect the sinus passages, nasal passages, and the lower airways. Patients are likely to have frequent attacks of sinus-related diseases. Higher the number of eosinophils in the blood, the person is likely to have frequent and severe asthma attacks. Eosinophilic asthma is one type of asthma that affects people when they are adults but it can also occur in children.

Multiple myeloma is a condition wherein plasma cells, which are a type of white blood cells in the bone marrow, become cancerous and start multiplying. This condition can damage the bones, immune system, and kidneys and the treatment for myeloma depends on the stage of cancer. Options include medication, corticosteroids, chemotherapy, and radiation; a stem-cell transplant may also be done. Cost of treatment There have been major advances in the last 15 years in the diagnosis and treatment of multiple myeloma. Overall, survival has remarkably improved during this period due to the research and introduction of new medications. But the costs of treating myeloma are very high, more than other oncology treatments. The cost is amplified in three ways: first, treatment requires a combination of multiple medications; second, treatment is usually done in the form of continuous or maintenance therapy, due to which costs are not temporary but continual; third, as survival through multiple myeloma has remarkably improved, the cumulative cost of care over the lifetime of a patient is very high. The costs for treatment for multiple myeloma can include approximately $150,000 per annum for medication and treatment, and around $100,000 per annum for maintenance and care after initial treatment.

Biosimilars are a copy of the original biologic medical product used in the treatment of a particular disease. These are also known as follow-on or subsequent entry biologics. Biosimilars are officially approved versions of the original “innovator” medicines and are manufactured by a different pharmaceutical company. However, biosimilars can be manufactured only after the patent of the original biologic expires. Biosimilars are not identical but can be compared to the original “innovators” in terms of quality, efficacy, and safety. Research on biosimilars for the treatment of multiple myeloma The role of biopharmaceuticals in the treatment of underlying multiple myeloma as well as managing the side effects of its treatment is fast growing. Given that cancer care is expensive and causes an imbalance in one’s health care provision and associated budget, a lot of research is underway to find cost-effective biosimilars. A prominent example is Filgrastim; it is a cost-effective solution for the treatment and supportive care in the case of multiple myeloma. Regulations with regard to biosimilars Biosimilars cannot be identical to the “innovator” products as the manufacturers of biosimilars cannot have access to the formula of the original products. Biologics are manufactured using ingredients that may not be identical to the original biologics.

Cancer that begins to develop in the lymphatic system through the lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell, is known as lymphoma. These cells are an important part of the immune system and work to protect the body against different diseases. As this cancer is present in the lymphocytes, it increases the risk of metastasizing and spreads to the different body parts through the bloodstream. Lymphoma is of two types: Non-Hodgkin lymphoma and Hodgins lymphoma. Each carries its own set of risk factors. There are several factors that can contribute to increasing the risk of developing this form of cancer. According to research, some of the most common factors that increase an individual’s chance of getting this condition include: Age All are at risk of getting this disease, irrespective of their age. However, individuals who are above the age of 60 years face a greater risk. Sometimes, there could be a few exceptions like children and younger adults between the age of 20 and 30 years. Sex There are some types of non-Hodgkin lymphoma that are common among women, whereas there are some that more likely to affect men. Hodgkin lymphoma, on the other hand, is recorded to widely affect a larger number of men.

Crohn’s disease is a chronic inflammatory disease that causes inflammation of the digestive tract, also known as the gastrointestinal tract (GI). The disease can affect any part of the tract from the mouth to the anus, but it most commonly affects the small intestine. It also affects the eyes, skin, and joints in some cases. Symptoms Crohn’s disease often causes diarrhea, abdominal pain, and cramps as the most common symptoms. People suffering from the disease also experience fever, fatigue, bloody stools, mouth sores, loss of appetite, and weight loss. Some other symptoms of the disease are inflammation of the skin, joints, eyes, liver, or bile duct. In children, the disease can lead to delayed growth or sexual development. Causes The exact cause of Crohn’s disease is unknown, but there can be several causes that aggravate the condition. Immunity and heredity issues can be two major factors that can lead to the development of the disease. A bacterium can trigger the disease where the immune system fights off the invading microorganism but an abnormal immune response results in an attack on the digestive tract cells as well. A family history of the disease can lead to an increased risk of an individual developing the disease.

Lung cancer is one of the leading causes of deaths that occur due to cancer. It is estimated that lung cancer causes more deaths than breast, ovarian, and prostate cancers combined. Based on the statistical data by the American Cancer Society, there are about 220,000 new cases of lung cancer every year. Several types of treatments are being developed and researched on to stop or at least slow down the disease progression in lung cancer patients. Apart from this, several oncologists and nutritionists also suggest that maintaining a proper diet can help in fighting the symptoms of lung cancer. There are some foods that can keep lung cancer symptoms at bay and can also be used as home remedies along with mainstream treatments. Some of the foods that can aid a lung cancer patient are mentioned below: Green tea According to several oncologists, green tea not only helps in preventing lung cancer but can also benefit to those who are living with the disease. Green tea contains theaflavin and epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) which can potentiate the effect of chemotherapy medications. It is important to know that bottled green tea may have very little or no EGCG as the compound doesn’t last long when bottled.