cancer

What is Optune, and what is it used for? Optune is a treatment for adult patients (22 years of age or older). Optune is used after surgery, and radiation with chemotherapy have been used if possible. A doctor may use Optune to treat a patient with newly diagnosed brain cancer (called glioblastoma multiforme, or “GBM”) …

Dilaudid vs. Percocet quick comparison Dilaudid (hydromorphone hydrochloride) and Percocet (oxycodone and acetaminophen) are both opioid narcotic pain relievers. Percocet has an additional non-narcotic pain reliever added (acetaminophen) which achieves greater pain relief than either drug taken separately. Both Dilaudid and Percocet are available as generic drugs. Side effects of both Dilaudid and Percocet are similar and include lightheadedness, dizziness, …

What is lapatinib (Tykerb), and how is it used? Tykerb is indicated in combination with: capecitabine for the treatment of patients with advanced or metastatic breast cancer whose tumors overexpress human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) and who have received prior therapy including an anthracycline, a taxane, and trastuzumab. Limitation of Use: Patients should have disease progression on trastuzumab …

What is rituximab? How does it work (mechanism of action)? Rituximab is an intravenous drug that is used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. It belongs to a class of drugs called monoclonal antibodies. Other monoclonal antibodies include trastuzumab (Herceptin) and gemtuzumab ozogamicin (Mylotarg). Tumor cells (like most normal cells) have receptors on their surfaces. Many kinds of …

What is cyclophosphamide? How does it work (mechanism of action)? Cyclophosphamide is a drug that is used primarily for treating several types of cancer. In order to work, cyclophosphamide first is converted by the liver into two chemicals, acrolein and phosphoramide. Acrolein and phosphoramide are the active compounds, and they slow the growth of cancer cells by interfering with the …

Mesothelioma facts Mesothelioma is a cancer that arises from the cells lining the chest or abdominal cavities. Mesothelioma typically results from exposure to asbestos. When mesothelioma affects the chest, the doctor may look inside the chest cavity with a special instrument called a thoracoscope. When mesothelioma affects the abdomen, the doctor may look inside the abdomen with a special tool …

What is proton beam therapy and for what is it used? Proton beam therapy is a type of radiation therapy that uses protons instead of X-rays (photons) and can be used for the treatment of various solid tumors, including liver cancer (hepatocellular carcinoma or HCC). Protons are positively charged particles that, produced with high energy, can destroy cancer cells. Proton …

Thymoma facts A thymoma is a type of tumor or growth in the thymus gland. Thymic tumors are tumors of the thymus gland. Physicians describe thymomas in terms of their degree of spread. Most thymomas have the potential to behave like a cancer and spread beyond the thymus, but many appear to behave in a benign fashion and are noninvasive. …

Key points Share Your Story Avoiding risk factors and increasing protective factors may help prevent cancer. The following risk factors may increase the risk of liver cancer: Hepatitis B and C Cirrhosis Aflatoxin The following protective factor may decrease the risk of liver cancer: Hepatitis B vaccine Cancer prevention clinical trials are used to study ways to prevent cancer. New …

Tumor grade facts* *Tumor grade facts medical author: Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD Tumor grade is a classification system based on the appearance of tumor cells under the microscope. Cancer cells that are described as low-grade (grade 1) have an appearance similar to normal cells. High-grade (grade 3) cancer cells appear distinctly abnormal under the microscope. Low-grade tumors are often referred …