Cancer Research Lab

Squamous cell cancer represents the leading number of lung cancers (approximately 40%-45%).

Small cell cancers account for 15%-20% of all lung cancer cases. This is because it spreads rapidly from its characteristically central location.

Large cell undifferentiated cancer is discovered in about 5%-10% of lung cancer cases.
Adenocarcinoma usually flares up in outlying areas of the lung and accounts for 25%-30% of all lung cancer cases. This type of cancer can occur in non-smokers.

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Our body is made up of millions of cells and these cells have different shape, structure and function depending on the organs. A cell is the functional unit of the body. These cells combine and form tissues and tissues combine and form organs.

The cells have a life span after which they die and new cells are born and replace the dead cells and thus maintaining the bodily functions in a coordinated manner.

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We know you really don’t want to be here, reading about breast cancer recurrence or metastasis. If you’ve had breast cancer, the possibility of recurrence and spread (metastasis) of breast cancer stays with you. You may be here because you fear this possibility. Or you may be here because it’s already happened.

Keep in mind that a recurrence of breast cancer or metastatic (advanced) disease is NOT hopeless. Many women continue to live long, productive lives with breast cancer in this stage. It is also likely that your experience with treatment this time will be somewhat different from last time. There are so many options for your care and so many ways to chart your progress as you move through diagnosis, treatment, and beyond.

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By Dalene Entenmann

According to a study published in the International Journal of Cancer, a significant link between a diet high in bread and kidney cancer has been found. A diet high in pasta and rice might also contribute to an increase in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) a common form of kidney cancer.

2301 Italians particpated in the study conducted by researchers from the Institute of Pharmacological Research Mario Negri in Milan.

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Scientists at the University of Liverpool have found how two molecules fight in the blood to control the spread of cancer cells.

Researchers discovered that a large protein, which forms a protective shield around cancer cells and prevents them from causing secondary tumours, is attacked by a small protein that exists in the blood.

In diseases such as breast, lung and colorectal cancer, infected cells lose growth control and eventually form tumours at these sites. If caught early these tumours can be effectively removed surgically. However, when the cancer cells have invaded the blood, the effectiveness of surgery is reduced.

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By Kristina Collins

Tomato and broccoli are known for their cancer fighting qualities. In a study published in the January 15th issue of Cancer Research, it showed that the tomato/broccoli combination outperformed all other diets in shrinking prostate tumors in animals.

The research suggested that older men with slow-growing prostate cancer who have chosen the watchful waiting over chemotherapy and radiation should seriously consider altering their diets to include more tomatoes and broccoli.

To get the desired effects a 55 year old man concerned about prostate health should consume daily:

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Since last year, it has become possible to vaccinate against the human papillomavirus (HPV) that causes most cases of cervical cancer, but countries face tough decisions before making the vaccine widely available.
The excitement surrounding the HPV vaccine is not surprising given that half a million women a year develop cervical cancer and half of those die as a result.

But the HPV vaccine is no magic bullet: it has the potential to substantially reduce the prevalence of cervical cancer, but not to eradicate it. Now that an HPV vaccine is already on the market, while a second is expected to receive regulatory approval soon, health professionals and health-care policymakers face tough decisions.

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All women are at risk for getting breast cancer. As you get older, your risk increases. Assuming you live to age 90, your risk of getting breast cancer over your lifetime is about 14%. That might sound scary, because it means that an average of about one out of every seven women will get breast cancer over a 90-year life span.

You can also look at it another way: A 14% risk means there’s an 86% chance that you WON’T get breast cancer.

How Much Do Risk Factors and Preventive Factors Change Your Risk?

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Remember – statistics are averages based on large numbers of patients. They cannot predict exactly what will happen to you. No two patients are exactly alike and response to treatment also varies from one person to another.

You should feel free to ask your doctor about your prognosis, but not even your doctor can tell you for sure what will happen. You may hear your doctor use the term ‘5 year survival’. It does not mean you will only live 5 years! It relates to the proportion of people in research studies who were still alive 5 years after diagnosis. Doctors follow what happens to people for 5 years after treatment in any research study. This is because, for many types of cancer, if it has not come back within 5 years, it is not likely to come back at all. Unfortunately, lung cancer can sometimes come back more than 5 years after it has been treated. But the figures are still based on the 5 year follow up.

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Remember – ‘5 year survival’ and ‘10 year survival’ are terms doctors use. This doesn’t mean you will only live 5 or 10 years. 10 year survival relates to the proportion of people in research studies who were still alive 10 years after diagnosis. Doctors follow what happens to people for 10 years or more after treatment in breast cancer research studies. This is because there is only a small chance that a cancer will come back more than 10 years after treatment. They do not like to say these people are cured because there is that small chance. So they use the term ‘10 year survival’ instead.

Statistics can be very difficult to get. We’ve tried to show them so that they are easy to follow. But unfortunately, some are 5 year survival figures and some are 10 year survival figures. We’ve said which is which, so please do check which you are looking at.

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