The concept of cancer insurance is rather simple. It is when benefits, regardless of other insurances a person can have, are directly paid to the person, so that the person involved can use these benefits provided by the cancer insurance to help pay off the extra costs in their cancer treatment. However, to get cancer insurance, in most cases, there need to be medical proof that a person is diagnosed with cancer.

Cancer has become the leading cause of the increasing death rates among people of all ages. The risk of being a cancer patient increases with age, according to the statistics of American Cancer Society.

Treating cancer requires a large amount of financial support, as the medicines required, various radio, chemo therapies and surgeries are rather costly. The overall costs of cancer in United States in the year 2007 was estimated by the national institute of health- to be approximately $219.2 billion (of which, $89 billion was for medical costs).

Therefore, though a person might have a normal health insurance that could cover the expenses of day to day medical requirements and in case of accidents; it is doubtful whether those insurances can cover the high costs of cancer treatments. Hence, it is important for a cancer patient to consider cancer insurance.

However, other than one specific cancer insurance, there are various other ways in which cancer patients can insurance themselves, such as private health insurances and government-funded insurance plans (such as in the US- Medicare and Medicaid).
Also, for cancer patients there are other financial resources available through government programs, disability benefits, aid from voluntary organizations, and living benefits from life insurance policies.

There are certain points to consider before purchasing cancer insurance. First you need to find out what coverage are available under your present health care policy – in the case that you are diagnosed with cancer. If you are on Medicaid or some other government funded insurance plan, reconsider whether you actually need cancer insurance.

If you are sure that cancer insurance is for you, then you should think about the best cancer policy that meets your needs at the most affordable price, but you should make sure to read and understand the cancer policies first (specially the limitations).

Find out what is covered and not covered by the cancer policy; find out whether there is any coverage for other diseases that might occur due to the cancer or its treatment and whether the benefits provided by your other health insurance policies will be affected.
Choosing a cancer insurance that is best suited, if done wisely, would be the best way of ensuring financial support for a cancer patient.

Popularity: 18% [?]

Being diagnosed with cancer is one of the scariest things that can happen to a person. It’s easy to lose all hope and just give up then and there, but it is important to keep in mind that the number of cancer survivors has increased over the last few years, and with proper treatment, it is possible to be one of them.

There are several types of cancer, and even in a smaller subset such as skin cancer there’s more than one type.

Skin cancer can be either a carcinoma or a melanoma. As the name suggests, the melanoma is a form of skin cancer that begins in the melanocytes. It is more likely than the carcinomas to spread to other parts of the body, but fortunately is the rarest form of skin cancer. The most common forms of skin cancer are basal and squamous cell carcinomas.

So what are basal and squamous cells and melanocytes? The epidermis (top layer of the skin) is made up of three types of cells:
Squamous cells – These are thin, flat cells that make up the topmost layer.
Basal cells – Found under the squamous cells, these are round.
Melanocytes – These produce melanin, the pigment that colours skin.

Factors that increase the risk of skin cancer include having fair skin, chronic inflammations or ulcers, scars or burns, having had radiation therapy and being exposed to a lot of either artificial (as in tanning booths) or natural UV rays. Keep in mind, that just because one of the risk factors applies to you, it doesn’t mean that you will definitely get skin cancer. Unfortunately, the reverse is also true and people who don’t show any of the risk factors may also get skin cancer.

One of the best ways of preventing skin cancer is by minimizing damage to the skin through overexposure to sunlight, so wearing sunscreen is recommended. Also, the quicker a cancer is caught and treated, the higher the chances of success. Skin cancer looks different depending on which type it is, so if anything suspicious is spotted, it’s a good idea to see a physician and get a professional opinion.

If diagnosed with skin cancer, there are several organisations out there that provide support and information. A good source of information is the National Cancer Institute, which has a comprehensive and clear website, and experts available to assist by telephone, email, post or chat.

Popularity: 29% [?]

Cancer is a condition that begins in cells and affects the functioning of the whole body, overtime. The basic nature of a cancer owes to abnormal duplication of cells which happens uncontrollably. The end result is formation of a mass of excess cells called tumors. While tumors can be of two types, only malignant ones are cancerous. The other type is called benign meaning non cancerous.

The malignant cancer cells usually divide rapidly invading other nearby tissue and organs which jeopardizes the normal functioning of the body. The cancerous cells also can get in to the bloodstream or the lymphatic system to form new tumors elsewhere.

Classification of cancer is usually done according to the place in which it starts. Therefore cancer types vary accordingly as lung cancer, bone cancer, breast cancer and so on. If a lung cancer spreads to the brain, it is still called a metastatic lung cancer because it is caused by cancerous cells that came from the lungs.

The four most common cancer types are breast cancer, colon cancer, lung cancer and prostate cancer. Breast cancers are usually diagnosed through annual mammograms or through identified lumps in the breasts or through discharges from the nipples. While treatment for breast cancer does not always end up in surgery, in extreme cases patients are advised against settling for other options such as chemotherapy, radiation therapy and hormonal therapy.

Colon cancers on the other hand are usually accompanied by symptoms such as weight loss, bowel habit changes, discomfort and pain in abdomen, as well as, fatigue. While the causes of colon cancers are not clear cut, it is known that genetic mutations that are passed down generations can act a risk factor.

Similarly, risk factors for lung cancer too can run in genes. However the deadliest cause of lung cancer for most sufferers is tobacco smoking, marijuana, exposure to radon and recurring inflammation of the lungs due to conditions such as pneumonia and tuberculosis. The common treatments for lung cancer are none other than chemotherapy, radiation therapy and sometimes surgery.

When it comes to prostate cancer, the treatment options vary according to the stage of the illness. For stage I prostate cancer, internal/external radiation as well as radical prostatectomy may be the ideal. For stage II, radiation therapies and hormonal therapies may work out. For stage III and IV, patients may want to move in to clinical trials of chemotherapy or continue radiation therapy along with hormone therapy. While risk factors for prostate cancer cannot be pinned down easily, many scientists agree that it may owe to dietary habits, family history, age and even one’s race.

Popularity: 21% [?]

Cancer statistics is the term given to collecting, organizing and interpreting numerical data such that information can be gathered as an inference by analyzing a sample and relating this to the population.

Cancer statistics are useful when predicting a cancer patient’s prognosis. Prognosis is something that is discussed between cancer patients and their doctors which will give the patient an idea of the most probable outcome of their cancer condition (whether they might fully recover or whether they might have the cancer returning).

There are several important factors that could affect a patients’ prognosis, such as: type of the cancer, location of the cancer, the extent to which the cancer has spread, the abnormality of the cancer cells and growth rate of the cancer.

Other external factors that can also affect the prognosis of the patient are the patient’s age, normal health condition and how the patient responds to the treatment given.
When the doctor discusses a patient’s prognosis, they carefully consider the cancer statistics available to them thanks to the researchers who’ve collected information over years on various cancer patients. The doctors carefully analyze the cancer statistics, and uses cancer statistics that are of a group of people most similar to the patient – especially regarding the factors that affect the prognosis.

For instance, if the patient is a male of the age 34, who used to be a heavy smoker, the doctor will take into consideration- the cancer statistics that are available of cancer patients of age group between – perhaps 30- 40, who are males and who were smokers, to base this particular patient’s prognosis.

The commonly used cancer statistics include: survival rate (this is the percentage of cancer patients with a certain type of cancer that had spread to a certain extent, who have survived for a certain period of time after they were diagnosed as cancer patients), the five year survival rate (this is the percentage of people who after five years from their initial diagnosis are still alive whether they have no symptoms of cancer, have few symptoms of cancer or are free of cancer completely or having treatment) and Recurrence-free survival rate (this shows how long a person who once had cancer will survive, free of the disease, rather than until death).

The National Cancer Institute produces a report called the SEER cancer statistics review that is consistent with the latest cancer incidents and is available to the American public. The latest edition of this cancer statistics review includes statistics from 1975 to year 2005- the latest year to which these statistics are currently available.
Other countries such as the United Kingdom also publish their own Cancer statistics reports, usually free for the public.

Cancer statistics are also useful for University students studying, for example Oncology and other research groups; hence it is extremely gratifying that cancer statistics reports such as those mentioned above are available for the public for free; as they improve public awareness of the dreaded disease- cancer.

Popularity: 18% [?]

While cancer facts are easily obtainable on the internet and from your doctor, if you or someone you care about is diagnosed with cancer, panic sets in. The good news is that cancer is no longer a death sentence. Treatments for the disease are improving with time and research, and one day the expression ‘finding a cure for cancer’ may cease to be synonymous with doing something almost impossible.

So what is cancer? One of the best known cancer facts is that it has something to do with tumours and the word tumour is often used interchangeably with cancer. However, it is possibly for a tumour to be benign and therefore pose no threat to the individual concerned. (A benign tumour is one which does not invade other cells or parts of the body.) A malignant tumour, on the other hand shows uncontrolled growth, invades and possibly destroys nearby tissues and may show metastasis as well (i.e. spreading to another part of the body).

Amongst the little known cancer facts is the fact that cancer may not even be painful, depending on its location. Another of the cancer facts that could surprise you is that it can even be caused by some types of poisonous mushrooms and a toxin that can grow on peanut plants. (Don’t let that put you off peanuts, though, peanuts are harmless.)

Other encouraging cancer facts include the fact that the number of deaths to cancer is actually down from previous years. This could be because people today are more health conscious and are cutting down on unhealthy activities like smoking. They are also careful about overexposure to UV rays which can cause cancer. More good news in cancer facts is that there’s more and more awareness of the disease and organisations worldwide are teaming up to fight cancer.

While cancer is a notoriously difficult disease to treat, with patients sometimes needing three or more doctors (specialists in different areas), who may not always agree with each other, patients should not give up. Positive thinking and will power evidently work as well with cancer as they do with other illnesses, with patients making apparently miraculous recoveries because of their will to survive.

Statistical cancer facts may not be available to prove this, but faith in their religion can help a patient through the tough times that come with having cancer. Most importantly, never ever lose hope.

Popularity: 18% [?]

Cancer is the growth of too many cells in a certain part of the body, and depending on which part of the body it occurs, it is given different names. The colon, better known as the large intestine, is a part of the body that assists in digestion. It is the last organ involved in the digestive tract. Colon cancer is a malignancy that occurs in the inner lining of the colon or the rectum, the end part of the colon. Colon cancer has become a common ailment in today’s world.

Under normal circumstances, all cells in a human being undergo the process of cell birth and death. Cancer occurs when this cell growth becomes uncontrolled and when the body’s natural defense mechanism, the immune system, cannot control it. These cells then form a mass, better known as tumors. Tumors can be either benign or malignant. Benign tumors do not spread or invade any other part of the body. Malignant tumors on the other hand keep dividing uncontrollable and can invade other parts of the body and destroy the healthy cells in the body.

Like all other cancers there are known risk factors that increase a person’s chance of being affected by colon cancer. Those over the age of 40 are said to be at a higher risk of developing colon cancer, and colon cancer has rarely been diagnosed in those under forty. Having a family history of colon cancer can also increase the chances of developing the disease. Other factors like having had benign tumors or polyps removed before, having a diet that is high in fat but low in fiber and having another illness that may increase chances of developing colon cancer are all considered to be risk of getting colon cancer.

There are many symptoms that are linked with the presence of colon cancer but having one or more of them does not necessarily mean colon cancer is present. Bleeding from the rectum does not always mean colon cancer but this bleeding should never be ignored. Changes in bowel habits, pain in the abdomen or rectum and a feeling that bowel movement cannot be completed are also symptoms. Again having these symptoms does not mean you have colon cancer but they should be taken seriously and a doctor has to be consulted to find out what may be causing these irregularities.

Advances in science and the field of medicine mean that cure rates for this type of cancer are quite high. Treatments for colon cancer include surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy, and usually a combination of these therapies is given to a patient to increase the efficiency of treatment.

Popularity: 14% [?]

The body is made up of different types of cells that in turn are grouped into different tissues and organs. There are more than 200 different types of body cells. Cancer is a disease caused by the changing of these normal cells in an uncontrolled way, thus forming a lump, which, if not treated medically, will spread into adjacent normal cells or apply pressure on other body structures. Cancer research is all about identifying what causes cancer and working out ways and means for the diagnosis, treatment, cure and prevention of this deadly disease.

In the world today, there are many NGO’s and government sponsored institutions engaged in comprehensive cancer research work. Billions of dollars are spent annually on such work by these institutions. Normally such research work is spread from epidemiology, molecular bioscience to the carrying out of clinical trials of different treatment applications so as to evaluate and compare the efficacy of such applications. However, since 1990’s, the focus of these research has been centered on immunotherapy and gene therapy.

Some non-governmental organizations such as American Institute for Cancer Research (AIR) and Cancer Research UK have been funding thousands of scientists, doctors, and other research students in cancer research. Their research work covers almost all aspects of cancer-related subjects through extensive programmes of world-class research in hospitals, universities and other institutes all over the world.

More and more promising researchers, students, and scientists are joining in cancer research work in order to fight this deadly disease that afflicts millions of patients globally. The aspiring students of cancer research may well remember that they could find very insightful and educative research articles and source material from the World Wide Web. At the same time, if they are looking for some research grant or fellowship to carry out cancer research work to save the lives of millions of cancer patients in the world, they have a ready reference guide in the Internet where a simple search will give them a plethora of websites of such organizations that are all too ready to grant such assistance.

Everybody concerned about cancer, be it patients or academics, are keen on finding the latest news on the types of new therapy and information on treatments. Internet has all these. However, it is always useful to corroborate this evidence of the latest from many sources before accepting a single research paper. Mind you, cancer research is an ongoing process.

Popularity: 13% [?]

Lungs are one of the biggest organs in a human body. Separated into two sections, the left and right lungs, they perform THE most important task for life – breaking down the air we breathe to give every human the needed oxygen for survival. So what is lung cancer? The cells in each lung, and the whole body for that matter, go through the usual life cycle of living and dying. It is when old cells die that new cells should be formed to take their place. In the case of lung cancer, cells keep producing new cells when the other cells are perfectly normal, which means there is an excess of cells in a particular area of the lung. These cells would not have room to be present, and they also have no function as they would not be able to specialize into the different types of cells because there is no reason for them to. Because of this there is an influx of cells in the lung, which cause a mass of cells, better known as a tumor, to be formed. Tumors can be of two kinds – benign or malignant. Benign tumors pose no harm to the person as they do not spread and do not interfere with the usual processes of the body. Malignant tumors in the lung are what we call lung cancer. These malignant tumors can cause harm to the person, and could cause more harm by spreading throughout the body through the lymph system to other parts of the body.

Tobacco use is said to be one of the biggest reasons for lung cancer. The worst part is that you do not have to be a smoker yourself to be affected. Second hand smoking can have the same effect. So if you live with someone who smokes a lot, work in an area where there are lots of smokers around, or are in any way in the presence of smoke from a cigarette, you are at the same risk that the person who is smoking is in. Tobacco is said to have carcinogens, which increase the chances of cells acting in the abnormal way to produce a tumor. There have been many lawsuits against tobacco companies as they are not said to have made the impact tobacco has in the causation of lung cancer clear for the public. It is now the law that every cigarette packet should have a warning in bold letters mentioning how ‘tobacco is harmful to health’.

Treatment for lung cancer can vary according to how far the tumor has spread, or how much of an area is affected. Doctor’s would prescribe one or a combination of the following few as treatment methods, depending on each individual. Surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy are some of the most common treatments for lung cancer. But always remember, the fastest cure to lung cancer, or any other disease, is a positive frame of mind!

Popularity: 17% [?]

The cervix is the part of the woman’s womb that opens into the vagina. It is the connection between where a fetus lies to the birth canal. Cervical cancer occurs in this region, generally in the area called the ‘transformation zone’. This transformation zone is the meddle region of a cervix.

Cervical cancer can be of two main types – the most common kind of cervical cancer is called squamous cell carcinoma. This kind of cancer is found when the squamous cells on the lining of the cervix closer to the vagina start producing too many cells that interfere with the actions of healthy cells. The other type, which is less common, is called adenocarcinoma, which is formed by the mucus forming gland cells in the inner part of the cervix. This type of cancer has for some reason become common in women born in the last twenty to thirty years.

There are many risk factors that may increase the chance of a person developing cervical cancer. But it has to be mentioned that having these risk factors does not mean you will definitely have cervical cancer. Being infected by the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) is said to increase your chances of getting cervical cancer greatly. HPV is a kind of virus that is most commonly related to warts that form in different regions of the body. It is spread through skin-to-skin contact and so can be spread by intercourse, oral or anal sex. The Pap test is a good way of knowing if you have been infected by this virus. But it is important to know that having this virus does not mean you have cervical cancer. Another risk factor is said to be smoking. Carcinogens in the tobacco have been found in the mucus formed by the cervix and so it is said women who smoke are at twice the rick of forming cervical cancers. Also things like a woman’s diet, her use of oral contraceptives, having an immunosuppressive disease and having a family history of cervical cancer is said to increase the chances of developing cervical cancer. Again, it is important to remember that having these risk factors does not necessarily mean you will have cervical cancer, but it is always better to do a few tests.

Treatment for cervical cancer can be done by surgery, radiation therapy or chemotherapy. It is most common to be treated using a combination of two of these methods, and it is always advisable to listen to what the doctor has to say about these treatments.

Popularity: 13% [?]

Bones help in movement, giving structure to our body and hence are known as the supporting framework of the body.

To understand more about what bone cancer is, knowing more about the structure of the bone would be ideal.

Bone consists of a fibrous tissue called matrix on which calcium salts are laid down, as its outer part. This fibrous tissue is part of the outer membrane of the bone- the Periosteum.

Inside hollow bones, there is a soft tissue known as bone marrow. The bone marrow is found in a space called the Medullary cavity. The bone marrow can be either a fatty tissue only or a mixture of fat cells as well as blood generating cells. These blood generating cells in the bone marrow are responsible for the production of Erythrocytes, Leukocytes and Platelets, which are important components of blood.

At the two ends of a bone, there is a tissue known as cartilage which is soft but firm, acting as a cushion between bones.
The bone tissue or the osseous tissue contains two different kinds of cells. They are, Osteoblast and Osteoclast which are functionally known as the ‘bone forming cells’ and cells that dissolve or breakdown bone tissues, respectively.

The term tissue was commonly mentioned in the description of the structure of the bone. A tissue can be defined simply, as a group of cells who have a common function. Therefore, it is obvious that there are many cells forming a bone and any one of these cells mentioned above can develop in to a cancer.

There are several types of bone cancer, such as ‘metastatic cancer’ (which is a cancer that was spread from somewhere else to the bone), cancers formed in the bone marrow that generates blood cells such as ‘multiple myeloma’, leukemia (though it is commonly thought of as a blood cancer) and lymphomas (though it is often found in lymph nodes, there are occasions when it starts in the bone marrow).

A bone tumor that starts in the bone is known as primary bone tumors and they are usually the main type of bone cancers. Though most primary bone tumors lead to bone cancer, not all are cancerous.

Some cancerous primary bone tumors are: Osteosarcoma- (also known as Osteogenic sarcoma) one of the most common primary bone cancers that start in the bone cells
Chondrosarcoma a bone cancer that starts in the cartilage cells (the second most common primary bone cancer).
Ewing tumor (which is a bone cancer starting off either in bones or in other tissues).
Malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) mostly starting off in soft tissues than in bones
Fibrosarcoma (which is also similar to MFH)
Giant cell tumor of bone (which is less often found as a bone cancer - as it takes the non cancerous form)
Chordoma (a bone cancer that develops in the skull and bones of the spine).

All different types of bone cancers can be treated using, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and surgery.

Popularity: 17% [?]