PATRICK SALAUN's Blog

Hi All,

I am sure that you have all noticed several articles on cancer tests in the past few weeks. A lot of the information on the site has been related to the causes and treatment of various cancers. I have had some interesting discussions on these, so I feel that they have been well received. However, cancer screening and diagnosis are just as important – hence my latest section on various cancer tests. For a summary of the recommendations for cancer screening, please see this article.

So far I have dealt with some familiar tests used to detect common cancers. For those who have not gotten around to it as yet, you can have a look by clicking the following links.

Role of MRI in breast cancer – breast cancer
Mammography – breast cancer
Barium enema – colorectal cancer
Prostatic specific antigen – prostate cancer
Colonoscopy – colorectal cancer
Fecal occult blood tests – colorectal cancer
Pap smear – cervical cancer
Barium Meal and Swallow – gastric cancer
Skin examination and biopsy – skin cancer

I will add more articles on tests used for screening and diagnosis of other cancers in the future. Remember, if there is a particular test that you would like more information on, you can always email me. I will try to get the relevant information on the site as soon as possible.

You may also be interested in the various discussions related to these articles. I would recommend the discussions on decreasing your risk of cancer as well as the role of MRI in breast cancer. You can also start your own discussion if you wish.

Our Precarious Lives

Posted by Paul Brown

Hi all,

I have just posted another article in the series on mechanisms that predispose to cancer. This one is on impaired DNA repair. It was interesting to note as I did some research on the topic, just how intricate all these safety mechanisms are. When you think about it, it’s really quite easy theoretically to develop a predisposition to tumour formation or to develop cancer itself.

There are so many ways that cancer can form due to a myriad of underlying causes. These include spontaneous changes in the chemical structure of the bases themselves. These make up the backbone of the DNA molecules that are tightly coiled into what we see under the microscope as chromosomes. But in addition to this, we are constantly exposed to all sorts of potential triggers. Examples of these include chemicals, metabolic products, radiation, the sun and other environmental factors.

All of these can cause changes within the DNA in our cells and indeed they do on an ongoing basis. It is the various DNA repair systems within each of our cells that identifies and corrects these errors before they can be passed on to subsequent progeny and spread throughout our bodies. This is the setting of genetic abnormality that predisposes to cancerous transformation and must be checked.

I could not help but marvel at the intricate mechanisms that are employed by our cells to identify and correct these errors. As a result very few changes occur after each replication cycle, maintaining a remarkable level of genetic integrity. In so doing, our cells are constantly holding cancer at bay. Please join our discussion on disturbed cellular processes.

Future Plans

Posted by Paul Brown

In recent weeks, I have been concentrating on writing articles on a range of familiar tests applicable to the management of common cancers. There have also been several articles exploring some of the basic mechanisms that underlie the development of cancer. So far there are a few ongoing discussions on these issues. Feel free to join in or to start your own.

I would like continued feedback on these. For example, would you like more information on some of the less common procedures? If so, which ones? I could also go into greater details with respect to some of the mechanisms associated with cancerous transformation. Just let me know by email or through the discussions. There is so much information available on the basic sciences of cancer.

In addition to all this, I will be starting a new section within the cancer topic. This will deal with the clinical features of cancer. So far, two articles have been planned and these will be on cancer symptoms as well as the signs of cancer. Symptoms are subjective features which we notice and then inform our health care provider about. In contrast, signs are objective features which our health care provider detects often while undergoing a physical examination.

Please let me know what you think of them. They will be published next month. Based on your suggestions, I may expand this section, by exploring individual features further in greater depth.

More articles will also be published soon within the research section. If you find anything interesting, let me know.

Interesting Issues

Posted by Paul Brown

There have been some interesting events occurring that could have a significant impact on the development of cancer research. It is often tempting to think that science occurs only in the lab or the lecture halls. Of course, we know that this is not so. There is much that occurs in the halls of government and often times these have major implications.

One such issue has to do with stem cells. It is felt by many scientists in this area that such research holds the key to potentially dramatic breakthroughs in the treatment of several important diseases. The problem as we have mentioned is the ethical issues surrounding the use of embryonic stem cells. There are some who propose that science could benefit just as well with the use of adult stem cells, while simultaneously avoiding much of the ethical dilemma. Interestingly, research has shown that adult stem cells appear to lose their proliferative potential as a protective anti-cancer mechanism. This implies that using adult stem cells as a source of therapeutic cells may have limited value. I’ll have more on this later. Join the stem cell debate discussion here.

Another interesting discussion has developed on the use of pap smears and newer improved versions of the test or alternative approaches. Among these is detection of the causative agent, Human Papilloma virus. As with any new test, the sensitivity and specificity will be followed closely to evaluate whether they can truly replace what has been considered the gold standard of cervical cancer screening for many years. Join in the discussion and share your thoughts.

More Basic Science

Posted by Paul Brown

Recently, I have been looking at various fundamental mechanisms that are found to be deranged in several cancers. These regulate basic functions within the cell that mediate cell division, growth, death and motility, among others. I have written before on the disturbed cellular processes that are associated with cancer. You can read this article here. This will give you an overview of the mechanisms that may be disrupted in the malignant process.

So far I have written on excessive cellular proliferation, deficient apoptosis and abnormal cell adhesion. These are just some of the ways that normal cells are transformed into cancer cells. I will be exploring various other mechanisms involved in malignant transformation. If there are any aspects that you would like more information on, just let me know. I will try to get the relevant information on the site as soon as possible.

These basic processes are crucial to maintaining normal cell counts within the system. Cells grow and divide according to the needs of the body; therefore any disruption will lead either to too many or too few cells. Generally speaking, in the case of cancer there is excess cell division and not enough cell death, leading to too many cells. Cancer cells also tend to adhere inappropriately to other cells and this may explain why they are able to overcome certain constraints, facilitating their spread.

I will be following up with more mechanisms in the coming weeks and months. These will include defective differentiation, impaired DNA repair, immortalization of cancer cells and enhanced angiogenesis. You are more than welcomed to give me your input.

Remember My Polls

Posted by Paul Brown

Hi all,

Thanks to all those who have participated in the cancer site over the last few months. It has been an interesting journey as I attempt to develop a useful body of information as well as a supportive community. I am grateful for all the suggestions, input and discussions that have been generated so far, and look forward to growing with you as the site develops further.

Recently we have introduced a new mode of participation that will take the form of personal pages. It will be interesting to see how this takes shape. If you are new to the site or are still uncertain about this new feature, just check here, to see the details and general guidelines on starting your own personal page. This will be yours to develop as you see fit (within the scope of the general guidelines).

With all that is happening here, I just want to remind you all about the polls. This is another important way that I can get feedback from you. I know that the polls are at the end of the homepage and perhaps you may miss it (often times we don’t go all the way to the end of a page). However, I am making a special appeal for more participation in the polls. It is very helpful to know a little about who you are, what you think about various issues, what are your concerns and things like that. If there is an issue or question that you would like to explore you can also email me with your suggestion and it will be seriously considered. So, please remember my polls. They will only take a few seconds.

Personal Cancer Pages

Posted by Paul Brown

We’re ready to get started with your personal pages. I hope that you are as enthusiastic as I am about the potential of this section to the cancer topic. As I said before it is very simple to start your cancer page. Each will be titled so as to identify them as such. So as to make things run smoothly, I have prepared some guidelines and rules on how these pages should be handled. A link to this information can be found on the cancer front page and this entire blog entry will also be placed within the cancer discussion threads. So, here goes;

The general guidelines for participating in these forum remains in effect in their entirety, with respect to contributing a personal page and commenting of them.
All personal pages will be found in the discussion forum.
To start a personal page you will simply start a discussion topic.
So as to identify these pages from other discussion threads, title your discussion as follows; “Personal Page – Your name or username”
The author will add to their page and he/she may add as much as they wish.
Remember that all material submitted will become a part of the site. Do not add personal information that you may wish removed at a later date.
For those who read these pages, you may add comments of your own to them.
Comments related to a particular personal page can also be made in the regular discussion threads. It may be useful to title these threads with some reference to the specific personal page.
If there are any problems with your cancer page, simply email me here.

Personal Pages

Posted by Paul Brown

I have been thinking of ways to allow you all to interact more with the cancer section. So far the main ways have been for you to share in the ongoing discussions or to start one of your own; as well as to email me with questions and suggestions.

However, I am going to suggest a new method for you to participate. I know that some of you have survived cancer or are going through the challenges of dealing with a recent cancer diagnosis. For those who have been through this, you have a wealth of knowledge and experience to share, that will be of tremendous benefit to this community. You will also have countless tales of your fears, ups-and-downs and successes.

Even for those who do not personally have cancer, many will have shared the experiences of those close to them. You too have much to say and offer to any forum on cancer. Sometimes being able to observe from ‘a distance’ offers a unique perspective that would not otherwise have been possible. You would also be able to offer useful advice on how to help others cope as well as the struggles and fears of a caregiver and/or friend of a cancer patient.

With this in mind, I would like to introduce the concept of personal pages. This is going to be your own cancer diary. These pages will also be in the discussion forum. Each person who wishes to start one simply has to start a discussion topic. However, so as to identify your personal page, you will need to label it as follows; “Personal Page – Your name or username”. It’s that simple. You can then enter as much information as you wish there. When anyone wishes to comment they may do so on your page or use the regular discussion threads. I will be posting a special discussion topic on the rules surrounding these pages, with a link to this from the home page.

More Tests

Posted by Paul Brown

I have been spending some time in the past few weeks looking at various tests that we may or not be familiar with. Some will be tests recommended to us for screening purposes. I have written before on the various recommended cancer screening tests that are available. Their primary aim is to detect cancer at an early stage, thereby increasing the chances of a cure.

Other tests will be used to establish a diagnosis or to aid in the diagnosis. So far I have written on the barium enema, the prostate specific antigen (PSA) test and colonoscopy. These are used in the diagnostic work up for colorectal and prostate cancer. I will be exploring various other tests involved in the evaluation of other cancers. If there is a particular test that you would like more information on, you can always email me. I will try to get the relevant information on the site as soon as possible.

Of course some of the tests may also be used for therapy. A good example is the colonoscopy test. This is because the colonoscope allows for the introduction of instruments through its core, which can perform various functions. These include the excision of polyps and the control of bleeding.

I will be following up with more cancer tests in the coming weeks and months. So far I have barium meal, Pap smear and fecal occult blood test on the agenda for future topics in this area. However, as I mentioned before you are more than welcomed to give me your input.

Cancer Basic Science

Posted by Paul Brown

I have been publishing several articles on various cancers, including information on their cause, diagnosis and treatment. You can explore these by looking at the list of cancers. More recently, the focus has been on various cancer tests. I will be continuing with this series of articles in the coming weeks and months so as to have a reasonable body of information about these on the site. Thanks to those who have shared their thoughts on them and given feedback. Several interesting discussions have developed as a result. You can check the discussion forum.

Coming up, there will be a series of articles on the basic science behind cancer. Most of us are accustomed to hearing about the more clinical stuff. That is the information that seems most relevant to many persons. Whether you are a cancer patient, cancer survivor, a friend or a relative, more often than not, your primary focus has been on these aspects of cancer. This is natural as it is the clinical information that you will be able to more easily understand and use.

However, just as important is an understanding of what exactly cancer is. It is also useful for those who are interested in cancer, to appreciate how cells become transformed from normal cells to cancerous ones. To get an overview you can read this article, outlining the various disturbed cellular processes that lead to cancer. In the coming weeks and months I will be exploring each in more detail. The first of these is excessive cell proliferation and you can read about this here.

Diagnosing Cancer

Posted by Paul Brown

I am in the middle of my series on several tests used in the screening and diagnosis of cancer. Many of you will be familiar with most of them whether from personal experience, observing the experience of others or simply through general knowledge. However, I am aware that some of the jargon can be confusing and even intimidating at times. As a result, I have prepared a few definitions below concerning these investigative procedures including some important terminology regarding their limitations.

So here goes;

Diagnostic test – a test that is used to confirm a condition or disease.
Screening test – a test that is use to assess the likelihood of a condition or disease being present in an asymptomatic patient. A positive screening test will usually prompt further testing to confirm the diagnosis.
False positive result – a result that implies the patient has a condition or disease, in the absence of the condition or disease.
False negative result – a result that implies the patient does not have a condition or disease, in the presence of the condition or disease.
Sensitivity– the degree to which a test can accurately predict the presence of a condition or disease in patients who have that condition or disease.
Specificity – the degree to which a test can accurately refute the presence of a condition or disease in patients who do not have that condition or disease.

Hope this helps to clarify some of the more important terms related to these various tests. Feel free to email me for further clarification.

Read more about Common Cancer Terms.

Searching for Answers

Posted by Paul Brown

I have had the opportunity to come in contact with several persons with cancer. Everyone is different, so I don’t want to oversimplify things. However, when it comes to advanced cancer, I have seen many persons become desperate. They grab at anything that may offer hope; a hope that eludes them based on what conventional medicine has to offer. And who could blame them. They are fighting for their lives and there is not much left to lose at this stage.

But the same is often true even among those who are not quite at this stage of desperation. Many persons appear to be open to the possibility that the various forms of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) may offer more than what they have come to expect. There are many traditions passed down from generation to generation. However, in our high-tech, ultra-connected world, information literally travels across the world in seconds. Anyone with basic equipment has access to this.

Of course, there are dangers to this rapid access to information. Much is unedited and even when it is, we don’t always have the knowledge to adequately assess the validity and applicability of the information to our own circumstances. Many will see what they want to see and so make ill-advised use of this knowledge.

When faced with serious illnesses like cancer, many will gravitate to complementary and alternative modalities. These may represent their last chance at a cure or even for some relief from difficult symptoms. For some, there is the added appeal that even if they do not benefit themselves, others may benefit from the knowledge gained by their experience.

Care Place

Posted by Paul Brown

You may remember my blog post on cancer support groups as well as a discussion thread I started, listing various groups. I have actually joined one called CarePlace. This is not just for cancer patients, but has a wide target audience.

According to their own description ‘CarePlace is an online community for people experiencing similar health related concerns and their caregivers to come and share, find support and gain knowledge. At CarePlace you can join multiple communities, participate in forum discussions, create a journal, tell your story, post photos, send hugs and form your own groups. In addition to sharing experiences and finding support, CarePlace is a resource for learning about conditions, treatments and helpful organizations from other members.’

I like the fact that the communities appear to be growing. This is certainly so for the cancer-specific communities. So far there are groups for breast cancer, lung cancer, brain cancer, various soft tissue and blood cancers and skin cancer. And the list has consistently increased.

Back to my own site – so far we have gotten a few more links for cancer support groups. You can check the ongoing discussion here withan expanding list of links to cancer support groups. I have gotten a few from as far as Australia. We really appreciate them all. Please continue to add any links that you come across. I know that other readers will find them useful.

Also remember the poll at the end of the page concerning your experiences with medical insurance. I think that this is a very important issue as I am sure you would agree.

Screening Tests

Posted by Paul Brown

Hi All,

Last week I wrote an article on the role of MRI in breast cancer diagnosis. Following up on this, I have just published another article on mammography so as to give you some more background information. This will be a part of my series on cancer screening tests. You can expect many more similar articles in the months ahead. I thought that this would be a good time to discuss mammography since we have been looking at breast cancer lately. In fact there are several articles already on the site exploring various aspects of breast cancer,including the risk factors, genetic predisposition, clinical and mammographic features, staging and therapy. You can link to all of them from the general page on breast cancer summary.

You can also explore the various screening recommendations for several cancers by clicking here. So far there is information on breast, prostate, colorectal, cervical, uterine and skin cancer. As more information is added to the site, you will be able to access more articles on these various tests, so please check back soon.

Finally, look out for my new poll to start early next month. You may recall my review of the book “A Physician’s Radical Guide”. For those who missed this, it was about the pitfalls of the medical system, including the difficulties of navigating the medical insurance system and how to work around them. The new poll seeks to get your opinion on your experience with medical insurance. You can access the poll on the front page of the cancer topic.

Latest on Breast Cancer

Posted by Paul Brown

I am going to be spending more time in the next few weeks looking at some of the current cancer research Keeping up to date is a game that one can almost never win. The pace of research is steady at best and there are always new reports available at a moments notice. Amidst all the molecular work that is ongoing for many cancers, there are still many clinically-oriented issues being investigated.

One such recent article that I found particularly interesting was one on breast cancer. More specifically, it had to do with the possible role of MRI in the diagnostic phase of breast cancer. These researchers have found that the use of MRI to evaluate the contralateral breast appears to identify about 3% more tumors than clinical breast examination or mammography alone. You can read my article here.

This procedure is reported available at many centers. I am interested to know just how widespread this practice is. If you have had MRI evaluation as part of you breast cancer workup, I would be very grateful if you would let me know. You may email me or simply join the discussion. This could be the start of an evolving trend in breast cancer management that I think would be of interest to many.

Remember to check out all my articles on the latest cancer research by visiting the central research page here. This page will link you to many other articles on a wide range of cancer-related issues. It will also be expanded as more articles are added; so check back often.

The Fear of Cancer

Posted by Paul Brown

Cancer is obviously a physical disease, or more accurately, a group of distinct diseases. However, there is a significant non-physical component to any cancer diagnosis. I have had to deal with several cancer patients throughout the years. The psychological, emotional and even social implications can be quite debilitating.

The big C word carries an enormous burden. There is often a pervading sense of mortal danger because of our fear of cancer. Life which may have seemed fairly secure is almost immediately transformed to a fragile state. For those who are accustomed to good health and consider themselves physically strong, the impact may be even more threatening to ones sense of self.

Of course, ones fear of cancer is not confined to a cancer diagnosis. We all tend to have this fear, even if we do not consciously think about it. The facts are there for all to see. A third of us will develop cancer at some stage. This figure may increase as the population ages. Most of us know of someone who has had cancer and/or died from cancer. Many would also have seen the debilitation, discomfort and subsequent demise of fatal cases. It is right in our faces and therefore hard to deny.

This is one reason why we are often on alert with any provocation. Whether it is a lump noticed by ourselves or a medical professional, an abnormal screening test or general symptoms like weight loss; we often become panicked by our speculative thoughts that invariably include cancer on our list of possibilities. For many, there will be a happy conclusion. However, for others, their greatest fear will be realized, leading to their greatest ever fight.

For those who are going through the process of a cancer diagnosis, have been through this stage or have witnessed others, I invite you to participate in any of our discussions. You may also start one of your own.

Colorectal Cancer and More

Posted by Paul Brown

I had promised to complete a series on colorectal cancer a few weeks ago. As you have seen, I got sidetracked with some reviews. For those of you who have not been following, there are a few articles within the cancer review section. Just click on the reviews link within the introductory comments on the cancer homepage. From there you will be taken to an article with all the latest reviews to date. Hope you find this interesting. Please send your comments, suggestions etc. by email or in the discussions.

So, I am back to the colorectal series. The first is a general article covering the basic information on this very common and important cancer. Colorectal cancer ranks third both in terms of how common it is, as well as how dangerous it is as a cause of death. This will be following next week by a more detailed account of the treatment options available to patients with this disease. If there is any particular aspect of colon or rectal cancer that you would like me to explore, just let me know. I will do my best to cover it on the site.

I would also like to draw your attention to an interesting discussion going on at the moment. It is about decreasing your risk of cancer. At the moment the importance of the cervical cancer vaccine, Gardasil, is being examined. We are also looking at the recommendation that it be compulsory for young girls within the USA. This important vaccine is also not yet available in some parts of the world, including some developing countries. Let us know what you think.

Reviewing the Literature

Posted by Paul Brown

Hi All,

Thanks to those who have taken the time to participate in my poll. I still need more responses though. As a result I will keep the poll going for a while longer. Maybe it will continue for the rest of next month or at least a part of April. It is really important to get to know who you are in terms of why you come to this site. For example, a cancer patient with a recent diagnosis may be looking for a different type of information than say a cancer survivor.

I am also starting another section within the cancer topic. This one is for cancer reviews. I think that a lot of the difficulty with a cancer diagnosis is the massive volume of data out there. The temptation will naturally be to try to look through it all – of course that is impossible. The section will comprise reviews on various forms of cancer literature. These may be books, journal articles, magazines or what ever other form.

There will be other writers who may contribute, as long as it is on the topic of cancer. I will also need your input. If you find any resource on cancer that you would like reviewed just let me know. You will have to send the relevant material though. Just send me an email and we can arrange this.

So far there are three reviews up. These are on the following books: ‘What you don’t know can kill you’, ‘Cancer vixen’ and ‘The journey through cancer'. If you get a chance to read any of them, please don’t hesitate to share your opinion in the discussion forum – Looking forward to this.

Talk soon.

Inhaling Poison

Posted by Paul Brown

I have interrupted my colorectal cancer series with an article on tobacco smoking. This will add to my section on lung cancer which I did earlier this year. You are all aware by now that lung cancer is the number one killer among cancers, both in men as well as in women. Just as important is the fact that tobacco smoking accounts for the majority of such cases.

It is interesting to have a look at just what is in tobacco smoke. It is nothing short of frightening when you look at the various lists that have been published, some by the manufacturers themselves! There are various industrial solvents, preservatives, metals and even radioactive elements. In addition, there is also the much talked about nicotine, which makes it that much harder for persons to beat the habit. Many of these have been studied in great detail and some are considered carcinogenic to laboratory animals as well as to man.

Please remember that lung cancer is a highly preventable form of cancer. A major cancer prevention strategy is therefore to never start smoking or to quit if you have started, as the risk decreases proportionate with the duration of cessation. You can join the discussion on reducing cancer risk here. For those who have overcome the habit, I would love to hear your story or any advice you can give to others who are still struggling to do so.

Finally, I invite you all to join my poll below. The poll looks to categorize the readership of the site. It is useful to know so as to present the most appropriate material for you all.

Colorectal Cancer Month

Posted by Paul Brown

Hi all,

I have just recently posted a new poll. In order to get a better idea of my audience, I would really appreciate it, if you would all participate. The poll seeks to determine how you would categorize yourself with respect to the cancer topic i.e. patient, professional, casual reader etc. It will not take more than a moment and will give me some important feedback in terms of who my audience is.

The prostate cancer series has been concluded for now. There may be more to come in this series at a later date. I am starting another set of articles on colorectal cancer. This is another major cancer for both males and females. It is a significant cause of cancer as well as cancer deaths. I am sure you will find the information interesting.

I decided to do colorectal cancer now because, as some of you may have known, March is colorectal cancer awareness month. My first article in the series is on colorectal cancer staging. There will be more to come within the next week or two.

As always, I do invite your participation. If you have been diagnosed with this or any other form of cancer, I invite you to join in any of the discussions that have been posted so far, or start one for your self.

Gender Specific Cancers

Posted by Paul Brown

I have been writing a lot recently on several major types of cancers. The first series was on lung cancer, being the leading cause of cancer for both men and women. It is also a highly preventable cancer; its major cause being smoking. Next was a series on brain tumours, which are also quite common and encompass a diverse range of diseases. They are classified based on location and cell type.

These were recently followed by two series on gender specific cancers. Breast cancer is a major and predominantly female cancer while prostate cancer is a major male cancer. However, their significance transcends mere numbers. For example, within most cultures, the female breast is considered an important feminine feature. Breast cancer may therefore carry added emotional and psychological trauma than other forms of cancer. The prospects of losing this part of ones anatomy can be difficult to accept. Thankfully, reconstructive surgery has dramatically lessened the potential disfigurement and has certainly made mastectomy an easier choice for some. If you have been diagnosed with breast cancer or you are undergoing treatment, please share your experiences by joining the discussion.

Likewise, prostate cancer can be a major challenge for men. Although not visible, the prostate gland has important reproductive functions, which carries tremendous importance for most men. In addition, surgical treatment for prostate cancer carries a risk of loss of function, which can be hard to accept. Fortunately, newer surgical techniques have been developed that aim to spare as much of the nerve supply necessary for normal sexual function. Please share your experiences with prostate cancer here.

Cancer Support

Posted by Paul Brown

Hi all,

I have just started a discussion on the various cancer support groups. What I am hoping is for a lot of input from you all. If you have knowledge of any cancer support group, just visit the discussion here, and enter as much information as you can about your group. It would be great to establish a small database of support groups based on country or region. Imagine the benefit that this would be for those seeking help.

It would be useful to give the name of the group, what type of cancer(s) they support and the type of support they offer. Some may offer information, others some sort of counseling or perhaps just a place to talk with others in a similar situation. Likewise, some groups may be more geared towards persons with a recent cancer diagnosis, cancer survivors or relatives of cancer patients. Give as much information as you can. Also, don’t forget to state what country they operate in, if you know.

I have started off by giving a few examples. These include the following:

· OncoChat – an online chat link for cancer patients.

· Reach to Recovery – for Breast cancer patients.

· COCA International – a group that organizes camps for children with cancer.

Free fell to check these out if you think they could be of benefit to you. But don’t forget to add your own to the discussion. Hopefully, in a few weeks I will be posting a section with as many groups as I can find. I will also include those added by readers like you.

Cancer Series

Posted by Paul Brown

Thanks to all those who have been reading my articles on the various types of cancers. I am also grateful to those who participated in my latest discussions and the recent poll. There have been some really interesting arguments on stem cell research for example, which lead to an exploration of some philosophical and theological issues like twinning and ensoulment. This may appear a far stretch from cancer, but none-the-less very welcomed.

I have just completed a series on brain tumours. This included articles on therapy, as well as several common and important tumours including astrocytomas, meningiomas and medulloblastomas. Brain tumours are among the more common tumours, including within the pediatric population.

This will be followed by a series on breast cancer. This is another major cancer. In fact it is the most common cancer among women and is second only to lung cancer, in terms of cancer deaths.

I also invite you to participate in my latest poll on the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). There will probably be a section on the evidence for and against various forms of CAM in the near future. This poll will give me an idea of how important this issue is to you.

Introducing My Cancer List

Posted by Paul Brown

Hi All,

I am sure that you have noticed the changes on the cancer homepage as well as on the general site. We have just undergone a few changes and I suspect there may be more to come. I will certainly keep you up to date.

This weekend I have introduced a new section to the cancer topic. This will cover the various typesof cancers, organized as a list of cancers on a sectional page. As you are aware, cancer is really a general term that encompasses a wide range of specific diseases. These are generally classified based on the part of the body that is affected.

You can navigate to the sectional page by clicking “types” on the cancer homepage. From this sectional page you will be able to access information on the various types of cancer, by clicking on the relevant links. I will be working on developing the information for these pages. The aim is to have several done within the next two months or so. However, this will be an ongoing project. I will start with the more common and important cancers and then go on to less common ones.

So far I have added a link to lung cancer. From this article, you can browse to other articles on more specific aspects of lung cancer, for example lung cancer staging, and the treatment of non-small-cell lung cancer and small-cell lung cancer. I will try to follow this general plan for the others to come.

As always, please provide your feedback on this and any issue. You may email me here. Otherwise you can start a discussion on whatever is on your mind. This is very important, as your feedback will influence to an extent what cancer topics are developed first.

blog archive

Series on Cancer Tests

Our Precarious Lives

Future Plans

Interesting Issues

More Basic Science

Remember My Polls

Personal Cancer Pages

Personal Pages

More Tests

Cancer Basic Science

Diagnosing Cancer

Searching for Answers

Care Place

Screening Tests

Latest on Breast Cancer

The Fear of Cancer

Colorectal Cancer and More

Reviewing the Literature

Inhaling Poison

Colorectal Cancer Month

Gender Specific Cancers

Cancer Support

Cancer Series

Introducing My Cancer List

More On Stem Cells

Stem Cells and Cancer

The Child With Cancer