Oncology – Significant Progress in Therapy

oncology Denver is that specialized branch in medicine that deals with the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer. Basically, the medical professional who practices oncology is properly called an oncologist.

Cancer is one of the most virulent of all diseases encountered by man. So far, science has learned so many important bits of information regarding this, especially among oncologists and their support team in their usually multi-disciplinary fight against cancer.

Management

With the many great strides in the medical field of oncology Denver, what are still considered as the best management for the disease are the three main components that includes improved presentation efforts to reduce exposure to risk factors, improved screening of several cancer types (allowing for earlier diagnosis) and the general improvements in its scientific treatment.

The best (so far) among oncological methods of disease management (which includes winning against it) are the current multi-disciplinary conferences where the medical oncologists, surgical oncologist, radiation oncologist, pathologists, radiologists, and organ specific oncologists meet to find the best possible management for every patient.

Risk factors

The leading cause of cancer (and the leading death from cancer) is tobacco. Smoking had been associated with increased risk of cancers of the lungs, larynx, mouth, esophagus, throat, kidney, liver, stomach, pancreas, colon, rectum, cervix and acute myeloid leukemia.  

Alcohol can increase the risk of cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, larynx, liver, and breast. The risk is greater for those people who drink alcohol and use tobacco.

Obese individuals also have an increased risk of cancer of the breast, colon, rectum, endometrial, esophagus, kidney, pancreas, and gallbladder. For some cancers, advanced age is also considered a risk.

Signs and symptoms

Screening is one recommended action for cancers of the breasts, cervix, colon, and lungs. Some of the signs and symptoms of cancer usually depend on the site and type of cancer.

In breast cancer, lumps and axilla, with or without ulceration, or bloody nipple discharges. Lung cancer can be deduced by persistent cough, breathlessness, blood in the sputum, and hoarseness of voice.

Head and neck cancer usually have a non-healing ulcer or growth, or lump in the neck. With brain cancer, there is persistent headache, vomiting, loss of consciousness and double vision.

Thyroid cancer usually has lumps in the neck and esophageal cancer is characterized by painful swallowing with solid food and weight loss.  Stomach cancer usually has vomiting, dyspepsia, and weight loss.

Future directions

There had been many progressive advances in the conditions of diseases thought to be incurable in the past. Leukemia, lymphoma and germ cell tumors and the early stages of solid tumors are now curable malignancies.

The main survival rate of cancerous diseases has significantly improved over the recent years. Currently, immune-therapies have already proven efficient in the treatment of such diseases as leukemia, bladder cancer and several types of skin cancer.

Due to improved screening, diagnostic methods and treatment options with targeted therapy, oncology had made significant strides in combating many types of cancer. For the patient, the range of promising therapeutic options had also become wider.