Medical information
12 articles shown
When Stomach Cancer Spreads to the Abdominal Lining: Chemotherapy Given 'Directly Into the Belly' and the Tests That Gauge Whether Surgery Is Possible
A plain-language look at intraperitoneal chemotherapy (IP) and chemo ports used for gastric cancer that has spread to the peritoneum, plus the staging laparoscopy, frozen section, and peritoneal cytology tests that help gauge whether surgery is possible.
An Unfamiliar Diagnosis Called Urachal Cancer — Basic Facts That Help When Facing a Rare Tumor
An overview of urachal carcinoma — a rare cancer arising from the urachus between bladder and navel — covering its location, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment, plus how to cope with the isolation of a rare diagnosis.
Does 'Eating for Easy Digestion' Really Prevent Pancreatic Cancer? What Actually Lowers Stomach and Pancreatic Cancer Risk
The belief that hard-to-digest food strains the pancreas into cancer is not well supported. This article outlines the evidence-based factors that actually lower stomach and pancreatic cancer risk and the warning signs worth checking.
Before Starting FOLFIRI: Knowing the Two Kinds of Diarrhea and How to Handle Nausea
A plain-language guide to FOLFIRI before you start: the two kinds of irinotecan-related diarrhea (early and delayed), how to handle nausea, and caring for your emotional well-being when treatment is long.
Stinging, Frequent Urination After Pelvic Radiation Ends — When Acute Radiation Cystitis Eases, and How to Tell It From a Bladder Infection
Pain, frequency, and urgency with urination after pelvic radiation are common signs of acute radiation cystitis and usually ease gradually over several weeks. Fever, blood, or cloudy urine may instead signal a bacterial infection that needs evaluation; hydration and avoiding bladder irritants can help.
A Cataract at a Younger Age: Caring for Your Eyes During Cancer Treatment
Cataracts are not only an aging condition; some chemotherapy, radiation, and long-term steroid use can lead to them being found at a younger age. Here are the symptoms, when surgery is considered, and everyday eye-care tips.
Stage 4 Peritoneal Metastasis: Understanding 'Cure' vs. 'Living Longer'
An calm overview of what 'cure' really means in stage 4 cancer with peritoneal metastasis, how systemic chemotherapy, conversion surgery, and HIPEC fit in, and why the right path differs from person to person.
When Surgery Doesn't Come First — Why Advanced Ovarian Cancer Is Sometimes Treated with Chemotherapy Before the Operation
Explains why advanced ovarian cancer is sometimes treated with chemotherapy before surgery (neoadjuvant chemotherapy). The extent of spread and the chance of complete removal — not tumor size alone — guide the decision, and chemo-first is a strategy for a safer, more complete operation rather than a sign of hopelessness.
Surgery Is Done, but Results Come in Two Weeks — How Pathology and Staging Decide Whether You Need Chemo After Colon Cancer
After colon cancer surgery, the decision about adjuvant chemotherapy comes from the pathology report and stage, not the operation itself. Lymph node spread or high-risk features point toward chemo, while the patient's strength and wishes are weighed too.
Bowel Obstruction After Repeated Abdominal Surgery: Warning Signs and When Not to Wait
Repeated abdominal surgery can lead to adhesions and bowel obstruction. Don't mistake abdominal swelling, repeated vomiting, and a halt in gas and stool for simple indigestion — early emergency care can prevent serious complications such as sepsis.
Radiation Before a Transplant: Understanding Total Body Irradiation (TBI) as Conditioning
The radiation given before a stem cell transplant, total body irradiation (TBI), is not a separate treatment but part of 'conditioning' that prepares the body for new cells. Here is why radiation, transplant, and the isolation room form one connected sequence.
When Chemotherapy Stops Working: Understanding the Shift from First-Line to Second-Line Treatment in Pancreatic Cancer
Advanced pancreatic cancer is treated using sequential "lines" of chemotherapy. This article explains in plain language why resistance develops, how tumor markers like CA19-9 should be interpreted, and what factors guide the move from first-line to second-line treatment.