Cancer and Stress: How to Manage them

Great advances have been made in the treatment of cancers over
the years so that many cancers are treatable nowadays. But
Having it is a stigma for many people. The fear of getting
cancer often causes stress.

A major concern of cancer patients is treatment's side effects.
The side effects from chemotherapy or radiotherapy renders
some patients unable to work, causing additional stress for
them if their income is affected. Futhermore, some treatments
are expensive.

Cancer-related stress can induce psychological and behavioural
changes such as loss of confidence and social withdrawal which
, in turn, may affect the patient's relationship with his
or her family and friends.

Proper stress managementis therefore important during treatment,
as well as during recovery period. Stress may also affect the
immune system by turning abnormal cells into cancerous ones.
Inability to deal with the disease-related stress can also
affect patient's treatment.

Worryin about the relapses is stressful. Studies show the
recurrence rate of patients suffering from stress is higher than
that of patients who can deal with their stress.

Patients, their carers and health-care professionals should
work together to combat cancer-related stress. Patients should
tell their doctors about their concerns, learn more about the
disease and its treatment by asking questions. Talking to
family members or friends is also good way to relieve
stress. Carers should give moral support to patients and should
encourage them to take part in healthy social activities.
Support from self-help groups also helps.

Encouraging improvements in Treating Lung Cancer

Lung cancer is the biggest killer
in Hong Kong. More than 80 percent of
cases are caused by what is known as
non-small cell carcinoma (NSCLC). But
encouraging advances have been made in
recent years in the treatment of NSCLC.

The current standard way of dealing
with early-stage NSCLC is to resects completely
the part of the organ affected by it. However,
the 5 year survival rate is still less than
satisfactory.

In the past decade, cisplatin-based
chemotherapy had been used on patients
following resection. Their survival rate
is more favorable, and the side effects
from this king of chemotherapy were more
tolerable.

Adjuvant chemotherapy, or additional
chemotherapy, can be considered as part of
standard treatment for younger patients in
early disease stage who have responded well
to resection.

The standard first-line treatment for recurring
or advanced lung cancer is a treatment that uses
a combination of chemotherapy and radiotherapy
for patients in relatively better conditions,
using a combination of platinum and a newer
chemotherapy agent (e.g paclitaxel, docetaxel
or gemcitabine) can further improve their
survival rate.

The treatment of the future for lung cancer
will probably involve the development of novel
molecularly targeted therapies and their
application together with chemotherapy.

Using Bevacizumab, a drug which targets
the angiogenesis in tumors, in conjunction
with chemotherapy have shown very good results,
but this treatment also increases the risk of
haemoptysis, the coughing of blood, which is
life-threatening.

Encouraging improvements have been made
in treating lung cancer in recent years. providing
more options for patients to deal with the
deadly disease, This augurs well for lung
cancer victims who may see some notable
breakthroughs in the near future.

Extract form the health feature by
University of Hong Kong

Lung Disease with No Cure

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a common and incurable lung disease that can kill. Because there are no specific symptoms at the early stages of the disease, the victim is often under diagnosed.

COPD symptoms include coughing, discharge of sputum, and shortness of breath (especially during exercise). The sufferer’s lung function deteriorates over time and he or she will find breathing increasingly difficult.

Smoking is a major cause of COPD. The best way to prevent it is not to smoke. Exposure to passive smoking is also a contributing factor. Quitting smoking can slow down the disease’s progression. Other causes of COPD include exposure to occupational dusts, chemicals, and dirty air.

Spirometry (a method of gauging lung function) is used to diagnose COPD. Treatment strategy should be used according to the patient’s needs, based on the symptoms he or she is experiencing and on the findings of the test.

Objectives of the treatment are to reduce the effect of the symptoms, slow the spread of the disease, improve exercise tolerance and quality of life to an extent.

The most common medications for COPD are inhalational bronchodilators and glucocorticosteriods. Influenza vaccine and pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine can also help reduce the risk of complications occurring. In addition to medication, longterm oxygen therapy can further reduce the discomfort suffered by patients with chronic respiratory disorder.

COPD patients should follow rehabilitation programmes, drawn up and supervised by healthcare professionals to help them go about their daily lives more comfortably.