Cancer Patient

Cause of Death in Cancer Patients

What makes the Cancer so Deathly..??

The primary causes of death in Cancer patients are Infection, Organ failure, Infarction, Hemorrhage, Carcinomatosis. Infection was a Major cause of death and occured in 47 % of patients. Organ failure also was a frequent cause of death. Most of the infections occurring in patients were either septicemia or visceral infections.

Then, Infarction occurred as a terminal event. The most frequent sites of infarction were the lungs and the heart. Hemorrhage or Massive bleeding causes death in patients. Fatal hemorrhage occurred most frequently in the gastrointestinal tract and the brain; the majority in patients with gastrointestinal tumors and melanomas.Other factors which caused fatal bleeding were peptic ulcer, post-surgery, post radiation, and ateriosclerosis.

Carcinomatosis was most frequenty seen in patients with melanoma and breast carcinomas. 

Tumor marker

Tumor Marker for Female Reproduction (Screening)

Cancer Antigen 125 (CA 125)

CA 125 is a standard tumor marker for epithelial ovarian cancer. The reference Levels the most follow is 0-35 ku/L, but almost 99% normal women  after menopause  have the levels <20 kU/L. The levels between 100 kU/L and more can be found in pramenopause woman when come menstruation. More than 90% patients have CA 125 levels  more than 30 u/L when there is an advance cancer. CA 125 is being studied as a screening diagnostic tool because the leves increase when the disease especially attack ovarium. However, the problem is some women with CA 125 levels > 30 U/ml not found Ovarium cancer. The high levels is also found in women with Endometriosis, lung cancer, and individual with history of cancer. Increasing  CA 125 levels is also found in Non-malignant condition such as Liver disease, fibroid, Ovarian cyst, and peritonitis.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma Antigen (SCC)

SCC, first identified in Cervical Cancer. This is a marker of squamous cell carcinoma that can occur in the cervix, head and neck, lung and skin.The levels of SCC can be used to help set the stage of Carcinoma and determine the therapeutic response.




Source: Translated from Text Book "Buku Ajar Ilmu Penyakit Dalam Jilid II forth Edition"

Pancreatic Tumor

Pancreatic Tumor

Pancreatic Tumor could be Benign or Malignant.In Clinical study, about 90% patients with pancreatic tumor are Malignant from pancreatic exocrine tissue, that is ductus pancreatic adenocarsinoma.Pancreatic Cancer is still idiopatic. it means, there are uncertain causes of this disease. There are exogen ,endogen, and genetic factors.

Exogen factor could be smoke habit, high colesterol diet, alcohol. coffee, and carcinogenic substance. The most consistent risk factor is smoking. In smoker, the risk of pancreatic cancer increase1,4 - 2,3 higher then Non-smoker.High Colesterol diet and fat, and Low fiber are proved increasing the risk of pancreatic cancer. Good Diet for better Live :)

Endogen factors could be Age,pancreatic disease ( Cronic Pancreatitis and Diabetes millitus) and genetic mutation.Insidence of Pancreatic Cancer increase in the old age. Patient with Chronic Pancreatitis has risk 9,5 higher to get Pancreatic Cancer.

Nowdays, Pancreatic Cancer is also accociated with Genetic factor. The risk getting Pancreatic cancer increase double in family with pancreatic cancer.

Colorectal Cancer Review is here

Tumor Marker

Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA)

PSA Blood Test

Prostate Spesific Antigen also known as PSA is one of the Tumor Marker especially gathering informations around Prostate's conditions. In Normal condition of adult male, PSA Levels is under 3 ng/ml.  PSA is producted by prostate cells and the Levels above 4 ng/ml  found in prostate disease both in malignant case and benign case such as Prostate hiperplasia. Although a definite Diagnosis of Cancers is a Biopsy, but with monitoring PSA levels, it gives important informations about conditions the patient. PSA is the only Tumor Marker that is recognized as a Screening tool for prostate cancer.

PSA tests consist of  PSA free and PSA act, which is a complex between PSA with alpha-1 antichymotrypsin . PSA act is a ratio between total PSA with PSA free, and used to distinguish between benign case such asProstate hypertrophy, with Prostate cancer. Levels under 4 ng/ml showing no malignancy lesion whereas Levels above 10 ng/ml showing cancer lesion. Levels between 4-10 ng/ml is still dobtful and need more additional checks. Generally, PSA Levels above 4 ng/ml requires prostate biopsy and the Levels >20 ng/ml showed the cancer had spread and usually can not be cured.

There are many Factors that influence PSA Levels, One of them is age. The Older people will tend the higher levels than the younger. As well as the patient with BPH (Benign Prostate Hypertropy), PSA Levels correlated linearly with tumor growth, The bigger the tumor tissue than The higher the PSA  Levels. Hormonal therapy also influence the secretion of PSA, especially the Androgen activity..

In Patient with Prostate Cancer after getting Surgery therapy and Radiotherapy, could found the sign of reccurency if there is still showing increase of PSA Levels. After getting Therapy, the Levels of PSA should be 0 or the Levels should be drecrease than before.

Source: Translated from "Buku Ajar Ilmu Penyakit Dalam Jilid II forth edition page 823".. 

Tumor Marker

Tumor Marker and Clinical Applications | Review

Carcinogenesis is multiple steps process which involves prolonged accumulation of abnormal genes to the incidence of cancer lesion on the body. Initial phase of tumor detection is an important issue for the oncologist because in this phase of therapy is expected to give maximum result. Known as primary cause and the factors that initiate the process of carcinogenesis is a defect in the proto-oncogenes, suppresor genes, and several other essential genes. Defects are not only considered as patogenetic factor but also as a tumor marker because of DNA mutation (genetic defect) is detected on the body's biological fluids -indication of tumor growth-.

Tumor Marker is a molecule or process or a substance that can be measured with an examination (assay) both qualitatively and quantitatively in precancerous condition and cancer. Changes in these levels can be caused by tumors and normal tissue in response to the tumor. Tumor markers can be DNA, mRNA, protein or parts of proteins ( such as te process of proliferation, angiogenesis, apoptosis, and others. Tumor markers can be found in significant amounts in the blood or urine of patients with cancer and can also be found in the blood and urine of patients with no cancer. Beside that Tissue, saliva, body fluids, and the cell itself can be used as a specimen for the tumor marker test.

Tumor markers widely used in clinics, in order to add the necessary information that can assist in clinical decision making of a disease.

Source: Translate from Text Book " Buku Ajar Ilmu Penyakit Dalam Jilid II edisi IV page 820 "

Here, another Review about Symptoms of Cancer

Cancer Symptoms

Cancer symptoms | REVIEW

By Kisenda

Cancer is an abnormal growth of human body cells which cause the disease. It means that the cells are growth uncontroll, incude uncontrolled cell division also these potential cells to attack and break other tissues. It is known as malignancy of cancer tumor.

Cancer symptoms may occur in specific cancers type , like persistent pain in bones, swelling in the breast, swallowing problems, unusual bleeding, continual gruffness, changed bladder habits, and many others.

We must understand that each type of cancer has its own symptoms. For examples when the person suffer breast cancer the main symptoms could be burning or pain, swelling, problems in nipples also reddishness. And if the person suffer bladder or kidney cancer, the main symptoms could be the blood in urine, frequent urination, and pain while urinating.

Here, i will give you another examples about the cancer symptoms in spesific organs.

There are endometrial, uterine, and cervical cancer the sysptoms are same. The major symptoms are unusual discharge, painful and heavy menstrual periods.

There are colon cancer symptoms include stool with blood, constipation, change bowel habits, and unrelenting diarrhea.

There are blood cancer, usually called leukemia, the main symptoms of this cancer are decreasing weight, nose bleeding, recurring infections, and pain in bones also joints.

Lung cancer has the symptoms like heaviness or chest pain, blood in sputums and continual cough.

There are mouth and throat cancer, the symptoms include uncurable ulcer in tongue or throat.

Prostate cancer , the symptoms usually include weaken the urine flow, men feel continuous pain in pelvis and upper thighs.

Stomach cancer, the following symptoms can include pain after eating, continuous fall in body weight also blood white vomiting.

The main causes of cancer can include presence of poisons in food,air and water, lack of fats and digestive enzymes, minerals deficiency, vitamins deficiency especially vitamin B6 and C , too much drugs intake, hormonal disparity, pathogens affecting immune system, etc.

So, keep our body health, because health is a wealth. :-)

Check out my other Review about Cancer Drugs you may interested.