The Cancer thread: Cancer, early warning signs, and detection

[DarkSkies]

Hey guys and gals. I've made it my mission to learn more about cancer.

The recent sadness that Pebbles and I have been through makes me think that there are a lot of people out there who do not have all the facts on cancer, so I'm asking anyone out there who can help us, to post up in this thread with any links, articles, personal anecdotes, anything they feel will benefit someone else down the road.

Cancers like pancreatic cancer, spine cancer, and in some cases bone cancer, are probably to a large extent not curable. From what I've seen in life, anyone getting these types most often dies, albeit at different times.

And I don't mean to insult anyone who has or knows someone who gets any of the above cancers, my heart goes out to you people.

The main point I'm trying to make here is that not all cancer is curable, no matter how much we hope and pray. Prayer will not cure pancreatic cancer, if that person was meant to survive, they will. The best thing I have learned is that it's never too early to prepare for the possibility of death if you have a cancer diagnosis.

Death is the final destination for us all..... but on the way there, there is nothing wrong with taking charge and celebrating our life, mending the broken fences of failed relationships and hurt feelings, and in general making peace with those we are close to.

As mentioned. I'll try to focus on the allegedly treatable cancers, prostate cancer, lung cancer, breast cancer, etc. Also the best suggestions for early detection.

I can't do this by myself, people, I need your help.

Each and every person in this world has in some way been touched by cancer, and I'm sure some of you have some painful stories to tell.

So I'm asking for your help and participation in this thread. If it's personal to you, and you absolutely cannot share it with the public, so be it.

But if you feel for one second that what you have to say could help someone else down the road, please share with us.

What knowledge or advice any one of you might have, and not feel is important, could help save a life down the road someday.

Just remember there are no right or wrong answers or opinions in this thread. All input is welcome as long as it is given respectfully in the spirit of helping others.

And I don't have to remind any fishermen out there that we have lost quite a few of our fishing brothers to cancer, one of the most recent being Gary Hull, the well-known maker of Gary2 plugs, who succumbed to complications from prostrate cancer last year. RIP, Gary.

Although I only got to talk to him a few times, I admired and respected him. I remember exactly where I was the night I heard he died, and where I was fishin.

He left us way too early. Who knows if his disease could have been arrested from early detection, but early detection is the best way we have now of saving someone's life.

So apologies if this is a little long winded, or if you feel it doesn't belong in the main forum, it is what it is, as JimmyZ says.

Please help us if you can by contributing to this thread, opinions, comments, or any articles you find out there, as long as you post the link for the article as well. Thanks.

[surferman]

I have heard that they can tranplant the pancreas for people with diabetis who have under gone kindey transplants. If this is the case can't the pancreas be transplanted for people with cancer?

[DarkSkies]

Surferman, that makes sense to me, but I have not heard of too many pancreas transplants. In an older person I could understand them not wanting to take a risk.

My Mom had a friend who died a few years ago of pancreatic cancer. The lady was in her 50's and otherwise healthy. Her case seeemed ideal for a pancreas transplant. Instead she just died a slow death. Anyone in the medical profession who may have any more info about this, feel free to jump in.



We also have a thread here titled "Quit smoking and win a plug!"
http://stripersandanglers.com/Forum/...and-win-a-plug!!!
Might be a litle extra incentive for anyone who was thinking about quitting.,,

[DarkSkies]

This was released today by Johns Hophins. A DNA test would be a great step in the right direction.


http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releas...-ndt081709.php

Public release date: 17-Aug-2009
Contact: Phil Sneiderman
prs@jhu.edu
443-287-9960
New DNA test uses nanotechnology to find early signs of cancer





IMAGE: Jeff Wang, an associate professor of mechanical engineering, and biomedical engineering doctoral student Vasudev Bailey examine samples of modified DNA during a new test designed to detect early genetic clues...
Click here for more information.


Using tiny crystals called quantum dots, Johns Hopkins researchers have developed a highly sensitive test to look for DNA attachments that often are early warning signs of cancer.

This test, which detects both the presence and the quantity of certain DNA changes, could alert people who are at risk of developing the disease and could tell doctors how well a particular cancer treatment is working.

The new test was reported in a paper called "MS-qFRET: a quantum dot-based method for analysis of DNA methylation," published in the August issue of the journal Genome Research. The work also was presented at a conference of the American Association of Cancer Research.

"If it leads to early detection of cancer, this test could have huge clinical implications," said Jeff Tza-Huei Wang, an associate professor of mechanical engineering whose lab team played a leading role in developing the technique. "Doctors usually have the greatest success in fighting cancer if they can treat it in its early stage."

Wang and his students developed the test over the past three years with colleagues at the Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center. Stephen B. Baylin, deputy director of the center and a co-author of the Genome Research study, said the test represents "a very promising platform" to help doctors detect cancer at an early stage and to predict which patients are most likely to benefit from a particular therapy.

The recent study, which included the detection of DNA markers in sputum from lung cancer patients, was designed to show that the technology was sound. Compared to current methods, the test appeared to be more sensitive and delivered results more quickly, the researchers said. "The technique looks terrific, but it still needs to be tested in many real-world scenarios," Baylin said. "Some of these studies are already under way here. If we continue to see exciting progress, this testing method could easily be in wide use within the next five years."

The target of this test is a biochemical change called DNA methylation, which occurs when a chemical group called methyl attaches itself to cytosine, one of the four nucleotides or base building blocks of DNA. When methylation occurs at critical gene locations, it can halt the release of proteins that suppress tumors. When this occurs, it is easier for cancer cells to form and multiply. As a result, a person whose DNA has this abnormal gene DNA methylation may have a higher risk of developing cancer. Furthermore, these methylation changes appear to be an early event that precedes the appearance of genetic mutations, another precursor to cancer.

[DarkSkies]

IMAGE: In this illustration, quantum dots are depicted as gold spheres that attract DNA strands linked to cancer risks. When the quantum dots are exposed to certain types of light, they...
Click here for more information.


To detect this DNA methylation, the Johns Hopkins team found a way to single out the troublesome DNA strands that have a methyl group attached to them. Through a chemical process called bisulfite conversion, all segments that lack a methyl group are transformed into another nucleotide.

Then, another lab process is used to make additional copies of the remaining target DNA strands that are linked to cancer. During this process, two molecules are attached to opposite ends of each DNA strand. One of these molecules is a protein called biotin. The other is a fluorescent dye. These partner molecules are attached to help researchers detect and count the DNA strands that are associated with cancer.

To do this, these customized DNA strands are mixed with quantum dots, which are crystals of semiconductor material whose sizes are in the range of only few nanometers across. (A nanometer is one-billionth of a meter, far too small to see with the naked eye.).These dots are usually employed in electronic circuitry, but they have recently proved to be helpful in biological applications as well. Quantum dots are useful because they possess an important property: They easily transfer energy. When light shines on a quantum dot, the dot quickly passes this energy along to a nearby molecule, which can use the energy to emit a fluorescent glow. This behavior makes the cancer-related DNA strands light up and identify themselves.

In the Johns Hopkins cancer test, the quantum dots have been coated with a chemical that is attracted to biotin–one of the two molecules that were attached to the DNA strands. As a result, up to 60 of the targeted DNA strands can stick themselves to a single quantum dot, like arms extending from an octopus. Then, an ultraviolet light or a blue laser is aimed at the sample. The quantum dots grab this energy and immediately transfer it to the fluorescent dyes that were attached earlier to the targeted DNA strands. These dye molecules use the energy to light up.
These signals, also called fluorescence, can be detected by a machine called a spectrophotometer.

By analyzing these signals, the researchers can discover not only whether the sample contains the cancer-linked DNA but how much of the DNA methylation is present. Larger amounts can be associated with a higher cancer risk.

"This kind of information could allow a patient with positive methylation to undergo more frequent cancer screening tests. This method could replace the traditionally more invasive ways for obtaining patient samples with a simple blood test," said Vasudev J. Bailey, a biomedical engineering doctoral student from Bangalore, India, who was one of the two lead authors on the Genome Research paper. "It's also important because these test results could possibly help a doctor determine whether a particular cancer treatment is working. It could pave the way for personalized chemotherapy."

In addition, because different types of cancer exhibit distinctive genetic markers, the researchers say the test should be able to identify which specific cancer a patient may be at risk of developing. Markers for lung cancer, for example, are different from markers for leukemia.

The other lead author of the Genome Research paper was Hariharan Easwaran, a cancer biology research fellow in the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. Along with Wang and Baylin, the other co-authors were Yi Zhang, a biomedical engineering doctoral student at Johns Hopkins; Elizabeth Griffiths, an oncology clinical fellow in the School of Medicine; Steven A. Belinsky, of the Lovelace Respiratory Research Institute in Albuquerque, N.M.; James G. Herman, a professor of cancer biology in the School of Medicine; and Hetty E. Carraway, an assistant professor of oncology in the School of Medicine.

Johns Hopkins Technology Transfer staff members have applied for international patent protection covering the testing technique and are in talks with a biotechnology company that has expressed interest in licensing the application.

The research was supported by grants from the National Cancer Institute, the National Science Foundation, the Hodson Foundation and the Flight Attendant Medical Research Institute

[Pebbles]

Too difficult for me to talk about right now.

However, I want to add for the time being that people don't want to hear that they can not be cured.

I hope all who post will be careful of being negative. When you are going through this you need to concentrate on living. Negative vibes just make it worse.

[Shaky]

Hey guys and gals. I've made it my mission to learn more about cancer.

The recent sadness that Pebbles and I have been through makes me think that there are a lot of people out there who do not have all the facts on cancer, so I'm asking anyone out there who can help us, to post up in this thread with any links, articles, personal anecdotes, anything they feel will benefit someone else down the road.

A little knowledge can be a good thing. Too much can turn you into a hypochondriac. It also depends on where you get your facts. Here's a real kick in the *** study, not cancer, but important nonetheless. Too easy to get info on the internet very hard to separate fact from fiction. http://www.americanthinker.com/blog/...d_uncover.html

I have a cousin, who's like my older sister and a few years back was diagnosed with breast cancer. When it comes to politics and health care we are worlds apart. She's really got it in for US healthcare and the large pharmaceutical companies. Kind of ironic that in the end she chose the traditional western medicine approach as opposed to alternative treatments. Funny how that works out. I can't begin to tell you how much alternative stuff I was sent when i got my diagnosis. However when your life depends on your choice of treatment it's a whole different ball game.



Cancers like pancreatic cancer, spine cancer, and in some cases bone cancer, are probably to a large extent not curable. From what I've seen in life, anyone getting these types most often dies, albeit at different times.

And I don't mean to insult anyone who has or knows someone who gets any of the above cancers, my heart goes out to you people.

The main point I'm trying to make here is that not all cancer is curable, no matter how much we hope and pray.Prayer will not cure pancreatic cancer, if that person was meant to survive, they will. The best thing I have learned is that it's never too early to prepare for the possibility of death if you have a cancer diagnosis.

I dealt with two surgeons. The one who diagnosed me and set me up with the mad scientists and the one who performed my surgery. The first was a dull, serious demeanored gent who laid it out for me and frankly didn't sound very optimistic. The second told me after the exam, you're not going to die, if you had to get it, this is the most curable cancer. i said "what about the bag" and he said I won't know for sure until we open you up.

The first doctor talked to me as if the glass was half empty, the second as if it was half full. The second sounded a little more positive and that gave me Hope I guess hope is where that positive attitude that everyone talks about comes from.

I can't speak for everyone, but once you've been diagnosed, all the ads for new hospitals, new treatments, new doctors, new tests, all the celebrity patients that come out about their illnesses, news about their deaths, or talk shows where they talk about their mom or dad dying and you must go out and get your exams, all of that, that used to sound like so much buzzing or background noise, an interruption to your music or ballgame, now has you on some sort of sensory overload, where you just sigh and say to yourself, "my god this s*** is everywhere. It's like there is no balance, no happy medium. It's hard to stay upbeat listening to all that stuff, seriously!

As far as prayer, if it makes one feel better, if they find comfort in it, great. If someone takes the time to pray for me, I thank them. If nothing else it makes them feel better.
Death is the final destination for us all..... but on the way there, there is nothing wrong with taking charge and celebrating our life, mending the broken fences of failed relationships and hurt feelings, and in general making peace with those we are close to.

As mentioned. I'll try to focus on the allegedly treatable cancers, prostate cancer, lung cancer, breast cancer, etc. Also the best suggestions for early detection.

I can't do this by myself, people, I need your help.

Each and every person in this world has in some way been touched by cancer, and I'm sure some of you have some painful stories to tell.

So I'm asking for your help and participation in this thread. If it's personal to you, and you absolutely cannot share it with the public, so be it.

But if you feel for one second that what you have to say could help someone else down the road, please share with us.

I'd say the one thing I could offer people who may have to deal with colorectal cancer is Hope. It'll be seven years in March. As far as dealing with it, humor worked for me and much of it was far from PC. That's just my personality. Didn't want any sympathy and I don't give it. Whenever I heard the words "sorry to hear that" i'd usually reply "why". Really ****s people up when you say that I always tell people to laugh. When you laugh you feel better than when you cry and that's what it's all about.

I have mixed feelings about things like support groups. Never went to one. Some like them, others don't want to go near them after sitting in a few times.

For the friends and relatives. Some people seem to thrive on pity and sympathy, I'm not one of them. I've reached the stage in my life, that if i really need help I'll ask for it. While I appreciated the offers for help, quit nagging me.

I think most people who have lead a healthy, active, independent life, do not want to be constantly fussed over, pampered, or reminded that they're sick. That may be one of the reasons why people keep quiet about it. After awhile you get tired of people asking you "how are you feeling" being how they may never have asked before. If you normally greeted me with a "wassup" no need to change now.

I have one friend who i see a few times a year during the fall run. Ever since the operation he always asks me how i feel. I know what he means, but i make him squirm, tell him about my arthritis, or herniated discs, or pinched nerves or whatever else comes to mind. The man refuses to say Cancer. I'll string him along for awhile and then let him off the hook after he gives me a few "you knows"

What knowledge or advice any one of you might have, and not feel is important, could help save a life down the road someday.

Just remember there are no right or wrong answers or opinions in this thread. All input is welcome as long as it is given respectfully in the spirit of helping others.

And I don't have to remind any fishermen out there that we have lost quite a few of our fishing brothers to cancer, one of the most recent being Gary Hull, the well-known maker of Gary2 plugs, who succumbed to complications from prostrate cancer last year. RIP, Gary.

Although I only got to talk to him a few times, I admired and respected him. I remember exactly where I was the night I heard he died, and where I was fishin.

He left us way too early. Who knows if his disease could have been arrested from early detection, but early detection is the best way we have now of saving someone's life.

So apologies if this is a little long winded, or if you feel it doesn't belong in the main forum, it is what it is, as JimmyZ says.

Please help us if you can by contributing to this thread, opinions, comments, or any articles you find out there, as long as you post the link for the article as well. Thanks.

cheers

steve

[dogfish]

"I have one friend who i see a few times a year during the fall run. Ever since the operation he always asks me how i feel. I know what he means, but i make him squirm, tell him about my arthritis, or herniated discs, or pinched nerves or whatever else comes to mind. The man refuses to say Cancer. I'll string him along for awhile and then let him off the hook after he gives me a few "you knows"



Maybe if you tell him about anal bleeding and bleeding from orifices he will ask less questions.
Sounds like you have been there and done that shaky. Good on ya for making it.

[DarkSkies]

I know you went through a lot. You would make a good national spokesman for the Cancer Society. You shoot from the hip and pull no punches. Thanks for sharing that, Steve.

[Doublerunner]

*** I didn't even know what to say. A very close friend just called to tell me he may have cancer. Will find out more next week. I don't know what to do besides pray and hope

[clamchucker]

I don't know what to do besides pray and hope

Sorry to hear that. You can keep in contact with him and try to cheer him up when he is down. You can't change whether he will live or die, only God has a say in that. You can continue to be a good friend to him. Don't avoid him and take the time to listen to him. Good luck.