What is cancer?
Cancer is a term for diseases in which abnormal cells divide and multiply out of control. Cancer cells can spread to nearby tissues and can spread through blood and the lymphatic system to other parts of the body. There are several main types of cancer. Carcinoma is a type of cancer that originates in the skin or tissues that cover or line internal organs. Sarcoma is cancer that originates in connective or supportive tissues such as;  bone, cartilage, fat, muscle, and blood vessels. Leukemia is a cancer that starts in the bone marrow, and causes abnormal blood cells to be produced at increased rates and then enter the bloodstream. Lymphoma and multiple myeloma are cancers that originate in the immune system.

How did I get it?
Everyone wants to know the answer to this question, but the reason that people develop cancer is not totally understood. There are substances that are known to cause cancer which are called carcinogens. Carcinogens are still being identified and some people who are exposed to them develop cancer while others do not. The total time that a person is exposed to carcinogens and the amount of carcinogens seem to affect the chances of developing cancer. Genetics plays a very important role in the chances of developing cancer.

What do I do now?
After you have been diagnosed with cancer, you may be overwhelmed and shocked. You will have many questions and possibly have unpleasant thoughts about what you have to go through. But as you move forward and get past that initial shock, you will begin the journey of surviving your cancer. Because medicine continues to make advances in the fight against cancer you can be optimistic about your recovery. The treatments now available to our patients make them more tolerable and you are able to continue with your normal life. You don?t have to fight cancer alone; our team of experts will help you overcome this disease.

How is cancer diagnosed? 
Cancer is diagnosed by using a battery of tests that gather details about abnormal cells, which could have been detected through medical examinations, self-examination, or symptoms that were reported to your doctor. These cells must be identified as either malignant (cancerous) or benign (non-cancerous), and if they are malignant, to determine how aggressive the cancer cells are. Aggressive cancers grow more quickly than less-aggressive cancers. The tests that are used to evaluate cancer include, pathology reports, diagnostic testing- (x-rays, C.T. scans, Pet scans and M.R.I.), blood tests, and tumor marker tests.

What is cancer staging?
The stage of the cancer describes how far the cancer has spread. Not all cancers are staged. Cancer treatments may differ depending on the stage of the cancer. The TNM staging system is the most common one.  “T” refers to the size of the tumor, “N” is the number of lymph nodes that are involved, and “M” refers to metastasis.  TNM staging measures the extent of the disease and assigns a number between 0-4.  Usually, the lower the stage the better the prognosis.

What is a prognosis?  
The probable outcome of your cancer treatments is called the prognosis. These are some of the determining factors that may affect your prognosis: your age, your general health, level of fitness, stage of cancer, size and aggressiveness of the tumor.

What is chemotherapy?
Chemotherapy is a treatment that uses drugs to kill cancer. The chemotherapy may be a single drug or a combination of drugs that are injected into your body or taken orally. Chemotherapy is a systemic treatment that affects your whole body.

What is radiation therapy?  
Radiation therapy is the use of high-energy radiation to kill cancer cells. Radiation is a local treatment used to eliminate cancer cells.  Radiation can be delivered externally or internally. Radiation can be given alone or in combination with surgery or chemotherapy.

Will I be radioactive?
This is a common concern, but there is no need to fear. You will not become radioactive. The radiation passes through your body during treatment and then disappears.

Is it painful?
Radiation therapy treatments themselves are completely painless. The position that you have to maintain during treatment may be slightly uncomfortable.

Will the radiation make me sick? 
Radiation therapy should not cause you to become nauseous. Although, if you are being treated over the stomach you may experience some nausea and you should report it to your radiation oncology nurse.

What are the side effects?
The side effects of radiation therapy depend on the area of your body that is being treated and the amount of dose given.  Among the most common side effects are skin reaction in the treatment area and fatigue. If you are being treated in the head and neck area you may experience dry or sore mouth or throat. Treatment in the lung area may cause coughing or an increase in mucous production. Treatment in the abdominal area could produce mild nausea and /or diarrhea.  Most side effects disappear within 4-6 weeks after your treatments are finished.

Will I lose my hair?
You will not lose your hair, unless we are treating your head directly. Radiation is a local treatment and will only affect the area that is being treated.