This is a question to ask your doctor. Even though treatment regimens have similarities, they are often tailored to the individual patient. Therefore, it is important you speak frankly with your doctor. Undergoing chemotherapy can be a scary experience, especially if you have heard that another treatment is better. However, your doctor made her recommendation based on your specific cancer and your general health and she has your best interest in mind.

Patients with advanced lung cancer who receive chemotherapy generally have an improved quality of life and tend to live longer than those who do not undergo drug therapy. Clinical studies have shown that patients on drug therapies for late stage lung cancer experience fewer days in the hospital and have fewer and less severe symptoms from their disease.

Even though researchers are examining different agents, including vitamins, to see if they can help reduce a person's risk of lung cancer recurrence or enhance treatment, at this time, there is no evidence that high doses of vitamins can do so. You should consult your doctor before starting any dietary supplements.

Lung cancer is the most frequently occurring cancer in the US, accounting for 30% of all diagnosed cancer. The largest number of asbestos related deaths occurs from lung cancer. Most lung cancer caused by asbestos inhalation starts in the lining of the bronchi, the tubes that lead from the windpipe into each lung. Lung cancer caused by asbestos exposure can also begin in the windpipe itself, the bronchioles, smaller tubes which branch off from the bronchi, or in the alveoli.

Statistics are compiled from the experiences of large numbers of people and therefore, are best interpreted in a general way, with the understanding that individuals may have different experiences.

The treatment must be continued until the cancer appears to have been eliminated. The patient's PSA scores will be checked to see what effect the treatment has had. However cancer can recur and the patient needs to be very careful and follow regular screenings.

The exact cause of breast cancer is not known. Female hormones and increasing age play a part. The chances that you will develop breast cancer increase as you age. In the United States, about 1 in every 8 women who live to be 80 will have been diagnosed with breast cancer at some point in her life.5 Family history also plays a role in the development of breast cancer. You are more likely to have breast cancer if your mother, father, or sister has breast cancer.

Minimal amounts of cancer cells can still be present after the removal of the cancer through surgery. Even when tests show clear margins and the absence of disease, tiny amounts of cancer cells may still be present in the body. Unfortunately this is a very common problem with lung cancer. Up to half of patients with Stage I or II non-small cell lung cancer still have cancer after surgery.

Side effects of chemotherapy include nausea, vomiting, hair loss, diarrhea, mouth sores, fatigue, fever, chills, sleep disorders. These can usually be controlled with medication and occur rarely except hair loss. If these side-effects do occur, the treating oncologist must be contacted immediately. Certain drugs may cause infertility. Discuss this with your oncologist before treatment starts.

Prior to beginning treatment, do not tweeze, remove hair, or apply chemicals. You must allow the hair to grow for the procedure to be effective. Schedule a free consultation with me (a licensed professional) and be sure to print out the home page (for more free time). I will be able to evaluate your hair removal needs and discuss what you may expect from treatment. Call today!!

A doctor makes a prognosis based on many factors, including the specific type of cancer, its stage, and the general health and age of the patient. Doctors carefully gather as much information as they can before they make a prognosis. However, a second opinion may provide additional information. Cancers are classified into stages in order provide guidance for treatment decisions.

Research shows that there are some immediate health benefits of quitting smoking, including enhanced circulation and lowered blood pressure. Quitting smoking after a diagnosis of lung cancer can help your body better cope with the treatment you are about to undergo.

It's the leading cause of cancer death in both men and women in the U.S. More people die of lung cancer than colon, breast, and prostate cancers combined. According to the American Cancer Society, there will be about 174,470 new cases of lung cancer in 2006 including 92,700 in men and 81,770 in women. A woman's chance of developing lung cancer is one in 17, while a man's chance is one in 13. Black men are more likely to develop lung cancer than white men.

The March 2006 death of nonsmoker Dana Reeve, the widow of Superman actor Christopher Reeve, from lung cancer shed some light on this issue. It turns out that more than 60% of new lung cancer patients have never smoked or already have quit smoking, says the Lung Cancer Alliance. In some of these people, exposure to secondhand smoke may actually be a culprit. Reeve, for example, a lounge singer, performed in some very smoky clubs. So in short, yes nonsmokers can -- and do -- get lung cancer.

Surgery to remove the tumor, radiation (X-rays that kill or shrink cancer cells directed at the site of the tumor) , chemotherapy (systemic drugs that kill all fast-growing cells in the body including cancer cells) and potentially experimental treatments are all part of your doctors tool box for lung cancer treatment. Before deciding on which treatment or combination of treatments is right for you, your doctor will have to determine how advanced your lung cancer is.

The best way to prevent lung cancer is not to smoke and to avoid breathing in other people's smoke. If you smoke, quit. While the risk for former smokers remains elevated when compared to a nonsmoker, it continues to fall with each year of smoking cessation. In fact, after quitting for 10 years, an ex-smoker reduces their risk anywhere from 30% to 50%. Just do it! Eating a healthy diet loaded with fruits and vegetables may also help prevent the cancer.

You should talk to your doctor about this issue. Screening for lung cancer is controversial, because it can detect scars and other irregularities that may be mistaken for cancer. However, screening can find cancers when they are early, and therefore more treatable. The National Lung Screening Trial is examining whether screening with spiral computerized tomography or standard chest x-ray can reduce lung cancer deaths.

Chemotherapy refers to the use of drugs to treat cancer. There are many medications that are used in different cancers. These drugs work in a variety of ways to kill cancer cells.

People at high risk for developing lung cancer, i.e.- those 50 to 80 years of age with at least 10 pack-year histories. You have a 10 pack-year history if you have smoked one pack a day for ten years, two packs a day for 5 years, etc.