Archive for November 2010

Living With Pain? American Pain Foundation Offers Help

Erica Goodstone, Ph.D. asked:




Are you currently suffering from some type of chronic pain? Well, you are not alone.
It is estimated that:

o 50 million Americans live with chronic pain each year (American Pain Foundation)
o 33 million Americans have at least 1 of 100 forms of arthritis and nearly 90% of people over 40 have beginning signs of arthritis (Journal of Rheumatology, 16)
o 1 out of 3 Americans each month lose more than 20 hours of sleep due to pain (American Alliance of Cancer Pain Initiatives)
o Pain is the second leading medical cause of work absenteeism (American Pain Society)
o 60% of men and women experience pain every day (American Alliance of Cancer Pain Initiatives)
o 50% of elderly living in the community experience pain while 71%-83% of institutionalized elderly suffer from some form of pain. (Pain, 1997)
o Women are less likely to receive treatment for pain than men (Law/Medical Ethics, 2001)

Chronic pain is a subjective experience, affecting each person in a unique way. There are as many different causes as there are types of pain. Also, each person responds to pain differently. Some have a higher physiological threshold for tolerating pain. Some have a naturally more relaxed body or a way of breathing deeply that may dampen some of the painful sensations. Personal attitudes, beliefs, behaviors, and the attitudes and responses of healthcare providers and loved ones can either help to alleviate or actually exacerbate the actual pain.

In the 1980′s, The American Academy of Pain Management (AAPM) was formed to facilitate dialogue among physicians, counselors, educators, administrators and patients. That organization, still very active today, represents a powerful professional resource, providing cutting edge research on the most effective methods for treating and alleviating pain. But this organization focuses mainly on professionals and clinicians.

The American Pain Foundation (APF), established in 1997, now has a membership of over 80,000 people living with pain, their caregivers, and healthcare personnel. This foundation was established to improve the quality of life for patients suffering from pain, sometimes daily, and to advocate for public awareness, information, education and research into this elusive medical condition that affects so many of us.

In 2004, the APF created a Military/Veterans Pain Initiative to help veterans, those active in the military, and their families to cope with the pain that many of them live with daily. This initiative provides educational materials and peer to peer support to reduce the sense of isolation and to improve the quality of their lives.

The APF offers a toll free, pain information center hotline and personalized email responses from staff. The free online support community, PainAid, gives current information for patients to determine the best pain care and connect with others struggling with their own pain. The APF site also offers a Pain Resource Locator, a database of local resources and organizations as well current pain-related clinical research trials.

If you are suffering from pain, regardless of the cause or the severity, you do not have to suffer in fear and isolation. This organization has been created to help you, or someone you know who is suffering from chronic pain, to find the best way to cope with the pain, alleviate the pain, and get back to living an enjoyable life.

Butalbital Live

What is Distal Esophageal Cancer?

David Hensley asked:




Esophageal adenocarcinoma is one of the common types of cancers that is developed in the lower part or distal of the esophagus that it is also known as distal esophageal cancer or carcinoma. Normally the cancer starts in the glands which are situated along the esophagus junction and stomach and this kind of cancer is found to be very common in men than when compared to in women. Most often distal esophageal cancer is observed in elderly people in the age range of sixty and seventy.

Various factors are involved in the increased risk for developing esophageal adenocarcinoma or what is called as distal esophageal cancer. Important factors responsible for this condition include drinking beverages of alcoholic nature, smoking and consumption of toxic materials like alkalis or acids. Out of all GERD or gastroesophageal reflux disease is said to complicate this form into barrett’s esophagus. Barrett’s esophagus is developed when stomach acids move back inside the esophagus creating irritation of the cell linings. When the condition is found, the cell linings of the esophagus has already damaged due to frequent irritation and would look very much similar to the cell lining seen in the stomach and with barrett’s esophagus the portion of esophagus can get ulcerated or bleed which progresses to distal esophageal cancer.

Patients with esophageal adenocarcinoma might feel hard to drink liquids and swallow foods as the esophagus is narrowed. The symptoms that show the incidence of the disease includes pain during swallowing, food regurgitation, voice becomes hoarse and in some can also exhibit through blood in stools and blood in vomit. Patients are tested often to evaluate the progression of the disease using barium swallow, tomography scan and endoscopic ultrasound. A procedure called esopagogastroduodenoscopy is also done by interesting a camera with light using a thin tube. It is done for seeing the condition of the esophagus and also for collecting samples of tissues for cancer staging.

Treatment of distal esophageal cancer depends on the cancer stage. When the cancerous cells have not spread to the near body parts it is ideally treated using surgery for removing a section of esophagus affected by cancer. Radiation and chemo therapy are found to be beneficial in patients who have already undergone surgery. Since most of the persons affected by this condition are diagnosed at a later stage it becomes difficult to provide an accurate prognosis and the treatment is mainly focused for comforting the patients and relieving them from pain rather than for curing them.

Natural Remedies:

There are certain natural remedies that offer a promising cure for esophageal cancer. Along with the natural remedies and a well-researched different diet pattern, a few simple adjustments to your lifestyle can make a huge difference to your efforts for prolonging the life for several years.

Fioricet

Introspecting Liver Cancer

Toby Criddern asked:




Just like every other organ in the body, the liver keeps a person healthy by its functions. Harmful material are removed from the blood, as it is filtered by this large vital detoxifying organ. It produces the different proteins needed by the body including enzymes, hormones, antibodies and other substances. Digestion of fat is facilitated with the bile that the liver also produces. It is the primary powerhouse source of energy. Liver cancer, also called hepatic tumours, can arise from the liver itself. Also, a primary tumour may have spread it to the liver.

The football-sized organ sits at the upper right hand side part of the abdomen, beneath the diaphragm and above the stomach. Protected by the lower ribs, it sits the right side lobe and the smaller left lobe.

Survival rates do not give definite indications of what will happen to patients. However, they may predict their chances if a type of treatment plan are opted for. A liver transplant and surgery to remove the cancer from the liver are the two main treatment options. Liver cancer can be fatal for some patients within the year of diagnosis. Until it has become a serious medical condition, the symptoms do not appear.

Hepatocellular, one of the two major types, usually develop in people with chronic cirrhosis. These growth on or in the liver can be benign or malignant. Specialists often suggest a liver transplant. Classified as primary liver cancer, it is uncommon. It starts in the cells, bile ducts, blood vessels or connective tissues of the liver.

Discovered on medical imaging, the cancer most likely developed because of previous liver disease. Also, chronic infection with the hepatitis virus is the other leading cause of liver cancer. A vaccine against hepatitis C infection is not known to be available yet. However, it could be avoided by preventing contamination. Drinking alcohol is also known to be a cause of hepatocellular cancer.

Metastatic cancer is not labelled as liver cancer, but as metastatic cancer of whatever organ they originated from. It is classified as secondary liver cancer, which has resulted from the spread of cancer from other areas of the body to the liver.

Specialists have identified some treatments to help control cancer. These are percutaneous ethanol injection, radiofrequency ablation, chemoembolisation, and cryosurgery or cryotherapy.

Selective Internal Radiation Therapy is performed by interventional radiology physicians to treat patients with inoperable liver cancer.

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