spinal tumor

Coping With Spinal Cancer

In normal condition, the body cells grow, divide and form a new cell.  As the body grows, there will be an increased rate of cell growth and division, depending upon the need.  With time the cells become older; they eventually die and are replaced by the new cell formation.

When cancer occurs, the entire cell formation cycle gets collapsed.  This results in abnormal cell growth, failure of older cell replacement, and continuous new cell formation.  Actually, the older cell should die after maturing, replacing the new cells. In cancer, the older cells persist, and new cells are formed endlessly even though it is not necessary.  These additional cells get accumulated and form a tumor.

 

Different types of Cancer

  • Based on the specific type of cells, it is classified as follows;
    • Carcinoma: When different epithelial cells form tumors, it is referred to as carcinoma in general.  Based on the specific epithelial cells, it is then classified as Adenocarcinoma, Basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and transitional cell carcinoma.
    • Sarcoma:  In bones, soft tissues like blood vessels, muscles, ligaments, and tendons, the cancer cell formation is referred to as sarcoma.
    • Leukemia:  When cancer occurs in the bone marrow, which plays a vital role in blood cell formation is called leukemia.
    • Lymphoma: The cancerous cell formation in the lymphocytes including both T cells and B cells, which is essential for the immune system of the body, building up tumors in the lymph nodes and lymph vessels leading to a condition called lymphoma.
    • Melanoma:  Cancer cells that occur in melanocytes responsible for melanin pigment is called melanoma.
    • Multiple Myeloma:  When there is an occurrence of cancer in plasma cells, which spread over the entire bones leads to a condition of Kahler disease or multiple myeloma.
  • Based on the organs, cancer is classified as Brain cancer, Spinal cord cancer, Breast cancer, Lung cancer, Liver cancer, Prostate cancer, pancreatic cancer, uterine cancer, Bladder cancer.

 

Risk factors of Cancer

There are no specific reasons for the occurrence of cancer.  But, there are few risk factors which may cause cancer among the individual. It is possible to lower the risk level although there are few factors like age cannot be controlled.  Restricting the exposure of risk may help to lower the possibility of cancer cell formation. The risk factors based on research are age, smoking, alcohol, hormones, diet, radiation, sunlight, immune suppression, drugs like tobacco, obesity etc.

 

Symptoms of Cancer

Based on the cancer type, the symptoms may vary a little and few of the symptoms of cancer are as follows;

  • The appearance of a new mole on the skin or the size of the mole changes
  • Changes in the size of the breast or shape in case of breast cancer
  • A lump like structure on the skin
  • Changes in the bowel movements and habits as well
  • Sudden weight loss
  • Pain in the abdomen
  • Tiredness and fatigue
  • Difficulty in eating

 

Spinal cancer and its treatment

Spinal cord tumor is the cancer cell formation in and around the spinal cord which may be benign tumors or malignant tumors.

The treatment of spinal cord cancer involves surgery, radiation therapy or a combination of both treatments.  Depending on the cancer stage, sometimes chemotherapy is also employed. In some rare cases, treatment using corticosteroids can be done to treat the condition immediately wherein the spinal cord is being suppressed by the cancerous tumors.

 

Coping up with cancer

  • Gaining more knowledge about cancer and its treatment, clarifying the doubts and misunderstandings about cancer.
  • Emotionally trying to be stable though it is hard, with the adequate support and guidance from family members.
  • Being confident and making firm decisions regarding the treatment of cancer.
  • Taking care of cancer patients with a healthy diet and a relaxed atmosphere.  Remove the stressful factors and replace with interesting activities including listening to music, reading a book and a few other ways.
  • Indulge in self-motivation techniques, yoga, and meditation.

Comments are closed, but trackbacks and pingbacks are open.