From: Valerie Jackson, MD	Category: Cancer
City: Indianapolis	Language: English

Mammogram recommendations; Dr. Valerie Jackson, Indiana School of Medicine, reviews the new guidelines from the USPTF. She reviews current literature which she feels shows that women at age 40 should have screening mammograms for breast cancer.

From: Richard Battafarano, MD, PhD	Category: Cancer
City: Baltimore	Language: English

When a lung mass is seen on an xray it is usually followed up by a cat scan. The risk of a nodule being lung cancer is directly related to the size. There are 2 general types of lung cancer: Small cell lung cancer, which is usually a more aggressive cancer that spreads outside the lungs early. Non small cell lung cancer includes adenocarcinoma and squamous cell cancer have a better prognosis, and are less likely to have spread at the time of diagnosis. Univ. of Maryland.

From: Richard Battafarano, MD, PhD	Category: Cancer
City: Baltimore	Language: English

Smoking and lung cancer: Smoking causes many diseases including cardiovascular disease, chronic lung disease, and lung cancer. Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death becasue it is usually diagnosed later in the disease process. Symptoms include weight loss, coughing up blood. Second hand smoke does contribute to lung problems such as asthma, chronic infections, and bronchitis, the link to lung cancer is not as clear.

From: Michael Wallace, MD	Category: Cancer
City: Rochester	Language: English

New esophageal cancer treatment. Traditionally, total surgical removal of the esophagus was the treatment for esophageal cancer. Now early esophageal cancer can be treated non surgically with endoscopy. The symptoms of esophageal cancer include dysphagia- difficulty with swallowing, weight loss, persistent acid reflux symptoms or spitting up blood., and occasionally pain with swallowing.

From: Norman Hogikyan, MD	Category: Cancer
City: Ann Arbor	Language: English

Throat Cancer includes the mouth, throat, glands and larynx. The most common symptom of throat cancer is persistent hoarseness, if you are hoarse for more than a month, you should see and ENT doctor. Another symptoms can be dysphagia, or difficulty with swallowing, or pain with swallowing, also a non healing mass in the throat or neck. Hemoptysis or coughing up blood is a worrisome symptom. The primary risk factors are alcohol and tobacco use.

From: Carola Arndt, MD	Category: Cancer
City: Rochester	Language: English

Osteosarcoma: Dr. Carola Arndt , A pediatric hematologist and oncologist from the Mayo Clinic, discusses osteosarcoma. Osteosarcoma is the most common bone cancer in children. The most common presentation is with bone pain.It can spread to the lungs, or to other bone. The workup includes xray, and MRI of the bone. A lung CT scan, and a bone scan. The treatment is with chemotherapy and surgery. I has a good prognosis.

From: Michele Halyard, MD	Category: Cancer
City: Scottsdale	Language: English

Breast Cancer Treatment Options: The surgical treatments for breast cancer includes mastectomy- when the entire breast is removed, and breast conservation surgery when most of the breast is preserved- usually a lumpectomy. The factors that determine which surgery a women will have include the size of the tumor, extent of disease and the patients choice.

From: Richard Gray, MD	Category: Cancer
City: Scottsdale	Language: English

Genetics and breast cancer: Dr. Richard Gray, a surgical oncologist from the Mayo Clinic, discusses the genetic component of breast cancer. He states that patients with 2 or more family members with breast cancer, relatives with breast or ovarian cancer, Ashkenazi jewish descent, or family members with male breast cancer may have a genetic predisposition, such as the BRCA gene mutation. Knowing this may affect preventive measures and treatment.

From: Therese Bevers, MD	Category: Cancer
City: Houston	Language: English

Cervical cancer screeening guidelines. Dr. Therese Bever, from MD Anderson, discusses new screening guidelines for cervical cancer. Patients at highest risk of cervical cancer include people with cervical dysplasia, women with persisitent HPV- Human Papilloma Virus infection, those with abnormal immune systems, and those with DES exposure.