Essay, Research Paper: Cancer

Different Cancers


Leukemia

Symptoms
Feeling weak or dizzy after an activity
Pains in joints and bones
Constantly sick, one cold after another
Swelling in the neck and armpits, tender to the touch
Feeling warm with a pale complexion
A persons immune system has been damaged

High Risk Conditions
People with exposure to large amount of radiation

Treatment
There is no cure for all leukemia patients. However, they have found a number of ways of bringing about remission, which if permanent, will mean a cure for the patient. Often patients will undergo chemotherapy, which refers to using chemicals to treat the patient by cleaning out the bone marrow of the cancer cells.


Brain Cancer

Symptoms
Headache
Nausea
Visual changes
Convulsions
Lethargy
Personality changes
Psychotic episodes
Impaired mental function

High Risk Conditions
Brain cancer can occur at any age, but is most common in middle-aged adults.

Treatment
If the cancer is not too far into the brain, it can be operated on and be removed. In inoperable cancers, radiation may reduce the of the tumor and chemotherapy may halt the progress of the disease.

















 









Lung Cancer

Symptoms
Persistent cough
Blood-streaked sputum
Chest pain
recurring pneumonia or bronchitis

High Risk Conditions
Smokers and people who have exposure to asbestos.

Treatment
Surgery is available for some, although the cancer must be caught at an early stage. If the cancer persists after the surgery, then chemotherapy is needed to reduce the size of the cancer.


Eye Cancer

Symptoms
Crossed eyes (strabismus)
a yellowish or white spot in the pupil

High Risk Conditions
Being a baby under the age of 2 or 3. (Disease is rare)

Treatment
Treatment depends on the extent of the cancer. If only one eye is infected, the cancer will be removed with as much of the optic nerve as possible. If both eyes are involved, the more cancerous eye is removed and usually cryotherapy or laser surgery is applied to the other eye.



Cancer of the Bone

Symptoms
Pain and swelling in the bones and joints

High Risk Conditions
Most of these cancers occurs in young people under the age of 20

Treatment
Usually the bone that is infected is removed and an anti-cancer drug is administered. A newer treatment includes applying radiation to the affected bone.