Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Bill's Possible Treatment Options- Mike Scammon

Bill has three options at this point: surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Surgery would involve removing the melanoma and the ring of tissue around it (in order to prevent missing any cancer cells). Chemotherapy would kill cancer cells that have spread throughout the body. Radiation therapy would kill cancer cells that have spread beyond the tumor.

I would personally choose to use chemotherapy. Chemotheapy and radiation do the same thing except radiation is more of a targeted procedure and chemotherapy gets spread throughout the body. This is because chemotherapy is put in by intravenous, thus getting the chemo-chemical into the blood stream which could spread the chemical farther and reach many parts of the body in hopes of killing more cancer cells.

Bill's Options

There are a few options that bill and others can take to recover. These options are surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy.

Surgery includes the actual removing of the tumor at the exact location and diagnosing the different location it actually affects.

Chemotherapy is the use of chemicals and drugs to kill the cancer cells within the body

Radiation therapy is the use of high energy X rays to reduce or to kill off cancer cells just like chemotherapy.

I think for Bill, Surgery will be the best fit option because he can get it over with just a one time removal but there can be some pain afterwards. Surgery has been one of the more successful options and that it is very fast and effective.

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

For skin cancer, there are three main types of effective treatments. Surgery, Chemotherapy, and radiation therapy are the most common treatments.

Surgery- Surgery is the most effective type of treatment. Doctors are able to locate the tumour, and be able to actually see what parts of the body it has effected.

Chemotherapy- Chemo are chemicals injected into the body to effect the cancerous and noncancerous cells.

Radiation therapy- Radiation therapy reduces the amount of cancerous cells in the effected area. It can also prevent, and kill cancerous cells as well.

In my opinion, I would go with surgery. It is the most effected treatments, and also the fastest. Although the healing process may take a while, and it may be painful, it is always worth it. There are always pain killers to refer to.

Treatments for Skin Cancer- Ramy A.

Treatments for skin cancer are so various. There are three that i looked into that look pretty effective and enough to help people like bill with their benign/malignant tumor cells.

1- Surgery is one way to get rid of all or just parts of the tumor. This procedure is used to help surgically remove the tumor/ establish what stage the cancer is at/ or treating the cancer and symptoms.

2- Chemotherapy, also know as Chemo. helps stop the spread of tumors. What this is, is often times pills, Injection in the veins; muscle; abdominal; and arteries. Chemo helps work on cancerous and noncancerous tumors. Often time this even affects normal cells which may cause side effects towards the body. so any additional medicine is permitted during your therapy.

3- Radiation Therapy is a third way people fight off tumors. This is radiation that kills, prevents, or just decreases the size of tumor cells. Radiation also affects the normal cells. Luckily these normal cells are able to recover from the damage back to their normal stages of life.
  • External beam radiation- radiation sent out from a machine (outside the body) into the body to help kill of tumors.
  • Internal Radiation therapy- place sources of radiation as closely as possible to the tumor to kill off any harmful cells.


In my opinion, I think that surgically removing tumors is the best way to approach tumor cells. If necessary then i would also continue to take on radiation therapy to kill off any other tumor cells that Doctors weren't able to reach to.

Treatments for bill

1. surgery, raidation therapy, electro chemotherapy

2. surgery. surgery is a common procedure for many sicknesses and is the most common type of cure for this specific diease. it has the lowest risk factor as opposed to the other two and in most cases is what is performed by many doctors across the country when treating this disease

3. i agree with Kristyna because she chose the same route i did. it makes the most sense and is the most logical choice.

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Bill's Treatments

Three Treatment Bill could use are:
  • Surgical Excision
  • Chemotherapy
  • Immunotherapy
For Bill I would choose to get it surgically removed first. It is still in an early stage and they could surgically remove it before it starts spreading throughout his body and get rid of it. This would probably be the easiest so he wouldn't have to go through chemo when he might be able to catch it early enough and surgically remove it.

Thursday, October 8, 2009

Neurofibromatosis 1



Neurofibromatosis is a genetic disorder of the nervous system that usually affect the development and growth of nerve cell tissues. They cause tumors to grow on nerves and create other issues such as skin changes and bone deformities.




















on the left is the beginning of a tumor in the dermal, and on the right it shows the plexiform neurofibroma with antibodies against s-100 protiens.






affected body system:
the nervous system

symptoms:
-Cataracts at

young ages

-Learning disabilities

- Brown colored skin marks

-Facial weaknesses

-Ringing in ears

-Balance Problems

- Changes in vision

-Headaches

-Freckles in creases of armpits/groin

-seizures

-high blood pressure

-scoliosis

-speech impairment

-optic nerve tumors

-Early puberty






sources:
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://atlasgeneticsoncology.org/Tumors/Images/NeurofibromFig1.jpg&imgrefurl=http://atlasgeneticsoncology.org/Tumors/NeurofibromaID5098.html&usg=__4LWCs3wcv73x9wVHKdxGFUUSTsc=&h=417&w=312&sz=121&hl=en&start=8&um=1&tbnid=nKRD32caTjr3WM:&tbnh=125&tbnw=94&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dneurofibromatosis%2Btype%2B1%26ndsp%3D20%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dsafari%26rls%3Den%26sa%3DN%26um%3D1

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Leukemia

















Leukemia is cancer of the bone marrow and blood.

Some symptoms are:

  • Fatigue
  • Malaise (vague feeling of bodily discomfort)
  • Abnormal bleeding
  • Excessive bruising
  • Weakness
  • Reduced exercise tolerance
  • Weight loss
  • Bone or joint pain
  • Infection and fever
  • Abdominal pain or "fullness"
  • Enlarged spleen, lymph nodes, and liver
Body systems affected:
The main body system affected by Leukemia are the skeletal system, and the cardiovascular system because leukemia is cancer of the bones which is in the skeletal system and also of the bone marrow and the bone marrow makes blood so it affects the cardiovascular system.

http://www.topnews.in/health/files/leukaemia.gif
http://www.leukemia-lymphoma.org/all_page?item_id=9346



Tuesday, October 6, 2009

i got it :)

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)



 Symptoms
Difficulty breathing/swallowing
Gagging or choking easily
Slow or abnormal speech
Voice changes/hoarseness 
Cramping in muscles
Muscle weakness that slowly gets worse, usually starting in one part of the body, like the arm or hand and slowly making it hard to lift things, climb stairs or even walk

Body Systems Affected:
Neuromuscular 



Other Information:
ALS is also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease.
A relatively rare disease, there are - at any given time in the United States - 40,000 people living with ALS. There are 5,000 new diagnosis a year. 
There is no known cure for ALS. While there are treatments that may extend a person's life with the disease, right now there is no way to reverse the disease or even just stop it from getting worse.
In 90% of all cases of ALS, the cause is unknown. The other 10% of the time, it is caused by a genetic defect. 
ALS progresses differently in different patients. 
Besides being related to someone who has ALS hereditarily, there are no known risk factors for ALS, which puts anyone and everyone at risk.
ALS will, gradually, eliminate a person's ability to care for themselves. 20% of patients live five years after their initial diagnosis, leaving the other 80% to die within three to five years of being diagnosed.


Sources:

Scoliosis

Symptoms:

• Shoulder Blades are different heights.
• Appearence of hips, one may be more prominent than the other.
• Rib cage may stick out or become noticably un-even.
• Leaning on one side of the whole body.
• Back pain and/or difficulty breathing

Body systems affected:
Skeletal

Scoliosis is an abnormal curvature of the spine. Usually it does not cause pain and at worst scoliosis can interfere with the function of organs. From the side it takes the form of an elongated S, the upper back bowing outward and lower back curving slightly inward. Viewed from behind, the spine should appear as a straight line from the base of the neck to the tailbone. If you have Scoliosis the view from behind may show one or more curves. Most cases of Scoliosis dont get worse and periodic check ups may be all that is needed. Children with a more severe case of Scoliosis willl show at these check ups that the curve in the spine increases along with the childs growth. Some cases are left as they are and monitered where as some children requite a brace or at worst surgery. Scoliosis is usually genetic, but doctors dont know the cause.

Fun Facts:
• Girls more often than boys are reported to have scoliosis.
• Out of every 1,000 children, 3 to 5 develop scoliosis severe enough to need treatment.
• I have scoliosis :)


Sources:
http://www.iscoliosis.com/
www.medicinenet.com/scoliosis/article.htm

Pheochromocytoma




Pheochromocytoma is a rare tumor that develops in the core of the adrenal gland. Your adrenal glands produce hormones that give instructions to your cells.



Symptoms can include: High Blood Pressure, Rapid heart rate, Forceful heart beat, Profound sweating, Abdominal pain, Sudden onset headaches, feeling of anxiety and extreme fright, Pale skin, and Weight Loss.




The Endocrine system is effected the most by Pheochromocytoma. This effects the hormones sent out by this system which can effect other systems.




Sources:

http://www.ispub.com/













Eye Cancer

Symptoms:
- Decreased ability to see
- Floaters, which are spots or squiggles drifting in the field of vision, or flashes of light
- Visual field loss, losing part of your field of sight so that instead of seeing all around, you only see part of what is around you.
- A dark spot growing on the iris
- A change in position of the eyeball within its socket
- Bulging of the eye
- A change in the way the eye moves within the socket


The body system affected by eye cancer is the nervous system.

Fast Facts:
- It’s more common in people who have a lighter colored eye color and skin tone and weaker immune systems
- Wearing UV clothing, sunscreen, and UV sunglasses helps prevention

Sources:
http://www.cancer.org/docroot/CRI/content/CRI_2_4_3X_How_is_eye_cancer_diagnosed_74.asp?sitearea

http://www.mahalo.com/eye-cancer

Monkeypox


Monkeypox is a rare disease that can be closley compared to small-pox. This disease usually occurs primarily in the rainforests of west and central Africa. Laboratory tests have also shown that this disease can also infect rodents.Monkeypox is caused by a Monkeypox Virus, which belongs to the orthopoxvirus group of viruses.

Symptoms Include:
  • Enlargement of lymph nodes.
  • Fever
  • Headaches
  • Muscle Aches
  • Backache
  • Exhaustion
  • General Discomfort
  • Papular Rash
Monkeypox usually last about 2-4 weeks.


Body Systems Affected:
  • Lymphatic: lymph nodes get swollen and disease affects the body's immunity
  • Integumentary:Skin gets really bad rashes and bumps
  • Muscular:disease makes muscles feel sore and weak
Resources:

http://www.medicinenet.com/monkeypox/article.htm#tocd

Esophageal Cancer




Symptoms.

  • severe weight loss
  • vomiting
  • coughing up blood
  • serious cough
  • pain or trouble swallowing
  • pain in the throat, back, behind the breastbone, or between the shoulder blades.
Affected Body Systems.
  • digestive system
Sources.
http://www.medicinenet.com/esophageal_cancer/page3.htm#4whatare
http://www.gastrointestinalatlas.com/EsophagealCa2.jpg

celiac disease

symptoms

children and infants:

abdominal bloating and pain
chronic diarrhea
vomiting
constipation
pale, foul-smelling, or fatty stool
weight loss

adults

fatigue
bone or joint pain
arthritis
bone loss or osteoporosis
depression or anxiety
tingling numbness in the hands and feet
seizures
missed menstrual periods
infertility or recurrent miscarriage
canker sores inside the mouth
an itchy skin rash called dermatitis herpetiformis

main body system affected:

  • digestive
  • skeletal

Sources

http://digestive.niddk.nih.gov/ddiseases/pubs/celiac/index.htm#symptoms

http://incostress1.files.wordpress.com/2007/10/villi.jpg

Monday, October 5, 2009

i got it :)

i got it :)

Arthritis

Arthritis is a joint disorder featuring inflammation. A joint is an area of the body where two different bones meet. A joint functions to move the body parts connected by its bones. Arthritis literally means inflammation of one or more joints. Arthritis is frequently accompanied by joint pain.

There are many types of arthritis (over 100 and growing). The types range from those related to wear and tear of cartilage (such as osteoarthritis) to those associated with inflammation resulting from an overactive immune system (such as rheumatoid arthritis). Together, the many types of arthritis make up the most common chronic illness in the United States.
The causes of arthritis depend on the form of arthritis. Causes include injury (leading to osteoarthritis), metabolic abnormalities (such as gout and pseudogout), hereditary factors, infections, and unclear reasons (such as rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus).
Arthritis is classified as one of the rheumatic diseases. These are conditions that are different individual illnesses, with differing features, treatments, complications, and prognoses. They are similar in that they have a tendency to affect the joints, muscles, ligaments, cartilage, and tendons, and many have the potential to affect other internal body areas.

Symptoms:
include pain and limited function of joints
joint stiffness, swelling, redness, warmth, tenderness of the inflamed joint

Body Systems :
Many of the forms of arthritis, because they are rheumatic diseases, can cause
symptoms affecting various organs of the body that do not directly involve the joints. Therefore, symptoms in some patients with certain forms of arthritis can also include fever, gland swelling (lymph node), weight loss, fatigue, feeling unwell, and even symptoms from abnormalities of organs such as the lungs, heart, or kidneys.

Fun Fact:
Arthritis sufferers include men and women, children and adults. Approximately 350 million people worldwide have arthritis. Nearly 40 million people in the United States are affected by arthritis, including over a quarter million children!
More than 27 million Americans have osteoarthritis. Approximately 1.3 million Americans suffer from rheumatoid arthritis.
More than half of those with arthritis are under 65 years of age. Nearly 60% of Americans with arthritis are women.


Source:
http://www.medicinenet.com/arthritis/article.htm

Mononucleosis AKA Mono



Mononucleosis is a viral infection causing fever, sore throat, and swollen lymph glands, especially in the neck.

Symptoms

Mono may begin slowly with fatigue, a general ill feeling, headache, and sore throat. The sore throat slowly gets worse. Your tonsils become swollen and develop a whitish-yellow covering. The lymph nodes in the neck are frequently swollen and painful.

A pink, measles-like rash can occur and is more likely if you take the medicines ampicillin or amoxicillin for a throat infection. (Antibiotics should NOT be given without a positive Strep test.)

Symptoms of mononucleosis include:
  • Drowsiness
  • Fever
  • General discomfort, uneasiness, or ill feeling
  • Loss of appetite
  • Muscle aches or stiffness
  • Rash
  • Sore throat
  • Swollen lymph nodes, especially in the neck and armpit
  • Swollen spleen

Mononucleosis, or mono, is often spread by saliva and close contact. It is known as "the kissing disease," and occurs most often in those age 15 to 17. However, the infection may develop at any age.

Mono is usually linked to the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), but can also be caused by other organisms such as cytomegalovirus (CMV).

SARS ( Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome)



Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is a contagious and sometimes fatal respiratory illness. SARS first appeared in China in November 2002. Within six weeks, SARS spread worldwide, carried by unsuspecting travelers. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 8,000 people were infected and about 800 eventually died of severe acute respiratory syndrome during the outbreak.

Symptomss:
  • Fever, 100.4 F (38 C) or higher
  • Chills
  • Muscle soreness
  • Headache
  • General feeling of discomfort
Body systems affected:
  • Lympathic system: Infectious to the body's immune system
  • Respiratory system: affects breathing system
Resource:
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/sars/DS00501

Rosacea




















Symptoms are as followed:
  • Facial redness.
  • Bumps or pimples on skin.
  • Enlarged blood vessels that cause red lines.
  • Stinging or burning, can be similar to a mild sunburn.
  • Nasal thickening.
Rosacea has an affect on two body systems. One system is the integumentary system, where the skin is irritated. The other system that is affect is the nervous system, because a trigger for rosacea is stress and anxiety.


http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/guide/understanding-rosacea-symptoms

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/images/ency/fullsize/19686.jpg

http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/18-common-rosacea-triggers


By: Ryan Bouchard

Leukemia

Leukemia by Jessica Whiteside

symptoms:
  • swollen lymph nodes in neck or armpit
  • fevers or night sweats
  • pain in the bones or joints
  • frequent infections
  • feeling weak or tired
  • bleeding and bruising easily
  • swelling or discomfort in the abdomen
  • weight loss for no apparent reason
affected systems:
  • Leukemia is a cancer that starts in the tissue that forms blood. Unlike normal blood cells, leukemia cells don't die when they should. This causes the balance between normal white blood cells, red blood cells, and platelets to be thrown off. With an abundance of leukemia cells, it makes it hard for normal blood cells to do their job correctly.
Leukemia cells in blood:
other information:

  • Different forms of Leukemia are grouped by how quickly the disease develops (acute or chronic) as well as by the type of blood cell that is affected.
source:





Anterior Cruciate Ligament Tear (Torn ACL)


The Anterior Cruciate Ligament is one of four major knee ligaments, and is very important involving knee stability.

Symptoms of torn ACL: Instability of the knee
Knee Tightness and swelling (caused by torn blood vessels)
sharp/throbbing pain
loss of strength & range of motion

The body system affected by this injury are the skeletal system because the ACL is crucial in keeping the knee stable to perform everyday activites.

Extra Info: Ligament repair surgery is one of the most common among orthopedic surgeons. Because Torn ACLs are most common in sporting events, and sports are a large part of society many ACL injuries occur weekly.




http://www.usgyms.net/acl.htm
http://www.sports-injury-info.com/symptoms-of-a-torn-acl.html
http://orthopedics.about.com/od/aclinjury/tp/acl.htm

Cold Sores


Symptoms:
*Small, white, blisters surround that surround the mouth
*Discomfort to the host during daily habits, such as eating or drinking
*Swollen lymph nodes
*Irritation in the throat





Body systems effected:
Lymphatic System - The lymph nodes, part of the lymphatic *immune* system, are swollen and a fever may develop due to lack of efficiency of the lymph nodes.

Symptoms:
*Small, white, blisters surround that surround the mouth
*Discomfort to the host during daily habits, such as eating or drinking
*Swollen lymph nodes
*Irritation in the throat

Resources:
http://www.nucleusinc.com
http://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/tc/cold-sores-topic-overview

Notes:
Everyone in the world gets cold sores 1 to 12 times a year! :O
Like...No way right? Except its only a minor infection of cold sores...so little, its not noticeable to the host.

Strep Throat



Strep throat is a bacterial infection which can make the throat feel very sore and scratchy feelinng. It is caused by the Streptococcus bacteria.


Symptoms:
  • Throat pain

  • Difficulty swallowing

  • Red and swollen tonsils, sometimes with white patches or streaks of puss

  • Tiny red spots at the hard or soft palate

  • Swollen, tender lymph glands in neck

  • Fever

  • Headache

  • Rash

  • Stomach ache and sometimes vomiting, especially in younger children

Body Systems Affected:

  • Lymphatic System- infection of the body

  • Digestive System- trouble swallowing can interfere with eating habits
  • Nervous System- works w/ the Lymphatic System to try to heal the infection

Other Facts:

  • Strep throat is highly contagious

  • It occurs most commonly in people ages 5-15

Source:

TB [Tuberculosis]


Tuberculosis is an infectious disease. The bacteria that cause tuberculosis are called mycobacterium tuberculosis. People with TB or tuberculosis cough excessively and suffer a terrible pain in the chest. They cough up blood and display excessive weight loss, fatigue, loss of appetite and a persistent fever. TB spreads from the infected person to others in the peripheral. When the patient sneezes, coughs or spits, the bacteria infect those around. Latent Tuberculosis is a condition in which the infected person remains unaware of the infection because of milder symptoms. But, the condition becomes active very often, threatening the patient's life span in the absence of proper antibiotics. Pulmonary Tuberculosis affects a person's lungs, while Miliary Tuberculosis results in infection of the lungs that slowly spreads to the heart, liver and brain. Tuberculosis, also affects the skin and bones



Skin cancer - Melanoma
Symptoms
~Change in the shape, size, feel, or color of a mole
~Most have an area that is blue or blackish-blue
~May appear as a new mole
Body Systems affected
~ Integumentary
~Immune

Alzheimer's Disease


Symptoms:
  • Memory Loss
  • Challenges in planning or solving problems
  • Difficulty completing familiar tasks
  • Confusion with time or place
  • Trouble understanding visual images and spatial relationships
  • New problems with words in speaking or writing
  • Decreased or poor judgment
  • Changes in mood or personality


Body System Affected: Nervous System



http://www.alz.org/alzheimers_disease_10_signs_of_alzheimers.asp




Sunday, October 4, 2009

Pneumonia


Pneumonia- Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs. It it the third leading death in America. The symptoms of pneumonia include, coughing, fever, chest pain, as well as having a hard time breathing. Diagnosing this disease takes may tests, and examinations. Tapping on the back, and listening to abnormal sounds of the body may lead to the result of pneumonia. As treatments for the body, the body is given antibitoics. Until this day, if given an antibiotic is the beginning process of the disease, the antibitoics are very effective. Systems that are involved in this disease is the repiratory system. The respiratory system is what helps us breathe. It is what exchanges the oxygen into carbon dioxide. Pneumonia is what effects the repiratory system, which results in breathing difficulties.

http://www.answers.com/topic/pneumonia



Lung Cancer by Mike S.











Symptoms

  • a cough that does not go away and gradually gets worse


  • constant chest pain


  • coughing up blood


  • shortness of breath


  • swelling of the neck or face


  • loss of weight or loss of appetite


  • fatigue

Main Body System Affected



  • Respiratory System- This is the main system affected because the cancer is located in the tissue of the lungs. The cancer occurs when cells in the lungs start to grow in an uncontrollable manner. It can start anywhere in the lungs and can affect any part of the respiratory system.

Fast Facts



  • It is the leading cause of cancer deaths in men and women

  • It is thought to develop over a period of many years

  • smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer


Sources




By: Mike S.


Got it.

Saturday, October 3, 2009

Hi! I got the invite. Thanks! Kristyna C
Hi. I signed in!
hello :)

Friday, October 2, 2009

First post

Ni Hao
  1. whats good, I'm ready to learn

Thursday, October 1, 2009

signed in ok.

Sunday, September 27, 2009

Assignment #1 - Diseases

Diseases of the Human Body
An introduction to what can “go wrong” with each organ system


When the human body is not working properly we say that someone has a disease. Sometimes a disease is caused by a bacteria, virus, fungus, or animal that has taken up residence within our bodies, these are usually thought of as "infectious" diseases. When we are sick the body is trying to fight off the invader. Some diseases and conditions are not fully understood as to how or why they originate, and may have multiple factors; these can range from bedwetting or migraines to diabetes or cancer. Other diseases are passed on in families, these are called genetic diseases or genetic disorders. Diseases disrupt normal body functioning (homeostasis), causing the breakdown of one or more body systems. Physical injuries include breaks, sprains, etc also disrupt normal body functioning.

Assignment:
1. Research and post about any disease. In your post, include the following:

  • Symptoms of this disease.
  • Body system(s) affected.
  • A related photo. It might be a picture of a broken bone, a tumor, rash, bacteria, etc.
  • List the source(s) of your research and photo.
  • Any other interesting / disgusting information, if desired.


2. Comment on at least 2 classmates’ posts. In your comments, include the following:

  • How does this disease disrupt normal body functioning (homeostasis)?
  • If you are commenting on a post that already has comments, be sure to include new information, don’t merely agree or restate your classmate’s comment.

Refer to the Posting Rubric for Grading (9 points).

Posting Rubric

POSTING RUBRIC – 9 points per topic

Quality of Postings
3 - Postings reflect the question posted and information source is cited
2 - Postings reflect the question posted but no information given to the source of information
1 - Postings are not relevant to the question posted

Quantity of Postings
3 - Responds to the question posted and responds to 2-3 students
2 - Responds to the question posted and responds to one student’s posting
1 - Responds to the question posted and one of the following: Neglects to respond to any student’s posting OR dominates the discussion with excessive postings

Understanding of Readings
3 - Responses accurately agree or disagree with material from information sources and other students’ postings
2 - Responses inaccurately agree or disagree with material from information sources and other students’ postings
1 - Responses do not mention material from information sources and other students’ postings