For many, chemo brain symptoms are the hidden cost of beating cancer. Your doctor says they can prescribe drugs that may help. Maybe. But what if you’ve had enough with pumping chemicals into your body? What if you are taking more drugs than you care to already? What if you are worried about interactions with other medications? Are there alternatives?

You have just been through a life-changing, emotionally draining experience. Now you are experiencing chemo brain symptoms. No matter what reason you don’t want to take drugs to help your chemo brain symptoms, you can get help. You are not out of luck. Nor are you alone.

Chemo brain symptoms can be crippling. Chemo brain’s symptoms take away your ability to think clearly and perform normal day to day actives. What used to come naturally is now a chore. When you cannot concentrate long enough to pay your bills and balance your checkbook, life gets very hard.

An accountant who can now only fumble with numbers. A consultant who can’t follow up or remember promises made any longer. They are in fear of losing their jobs.

A lot of time is wasted looking for where you placed items. Like your car keys. Your cell phone.

This can be devastating to someone who was successful and intelligent. That was BC. Before Chemo.

Doctors don’t all agree that chemo brain exists. Or they don’t think it’s a result of chemotherapy. While others do believe it not only exists, but it’s a side effect of chemotherapy.

But then, who cares?

No matter what the cause, whether anyone else believes in the condition, you need help and a solution. One that doesn’t involve taking more drugs.

I’ve got Good news! I’m happy to tell you that there are thousands who have gotten relief through certain brain training exercises.

Thousands have successfully gotten their brain back. They have cleared their way out of the fog using brain training.

It’s not going to come as a surprise to you to tell you that not all brain training exercises are equal.

What if you could train your brain using the same methods others have successfully used to relieve their chemo brain symptoms? Seems like you would have a good chance to get back to normal too. Wouldn’t you think?

I urge you to investigate brain trainers that have helped others with this same condition. Getting relief now! You deserve it, don’t you think?

Can you train your brain to think again? Thousands have. Why not you?

Many report improvements in just a few weeks.

By going to the following website, you will learn how others have triumphed over chemo brain.

http://www.chemobrain.info

This year about 14% of the one hundred ninety three thousand men identified as having prostate cancer will already have advanced prostate cancer at the time they are diagnosed. With screening, including digital examinations and PSA blood tests, a number of these individuals could have been diagnosed before the cancer progressed to an advanced stage. A lapse of time until the cancer is advanced not only limits the man’s treatment options but also significantly reduces his chances of surviving the cancer. Consider the following published malpractice claim as an example.

While doing a physical examination on a fifty-six year old male patient, a physician noted a small nodule on the left part of the prostate. The physician ordered a PSA test the results of which showed the level to be 3.1 – or within normal range. The doctor took no further action at the time. Almost 3 years passed. The physician once more performed a physical examination and documents that the prostate is normal. This time, the doctor does not order a PSA test.

The patient saw a different physician about six weeks later as part of an insurance mandated medical examination. This physician ordered a PSA test which comes back at 5.3 – high. The patient then contacted his regular physician’s practice and was told to return so they can do their own PSA test. This test returned a 3.5 – in normal range. The physician told the patient not to worry and that nothing else needed to be done.

Again, almost three years went by until the doctor next screened the patient. The doctor again records the nodule. The doctor then ordered a PSA test that registered at 4.7 – elevated. The doctor does not inform the individual and does nothing further regarding these 2 abnormal test results. Nearly two years later the physical examination reveals that the prostate not only had a nodule, but was firm on the side of the nodule and was enlarged. The PSA test now revealed that the leve had gone up to 14.1. This time, the doctor at last refers the patient to a Urologist who diagnoses the patient with metastatic prostate cancer that had gotten to the bones in his pubic area and the top portion of his right leg.

An action for medical malpractice followed during which the physician admitted that the existence of the nodule was an “abnormal” result. The law firm that helped the man and his wife reported that the matter settled in the amount of $850,000. This amount incorporated two hundred fifty thousand dollars for non-economic damages and two hundred fifty thousand dollars for the wife’s future wrongful death claim. This is the top amount that can be recovered for those claims under the controlling law.

Joseph Hernandez is a lawyer acceping catastrophic injury and medical malpractice cases. Learn more about prostate cancer cases at http://www.prostatecancerlaw.com

Distributed by http://www.ContentCrooner.com

Men tend to have a lack of awareness when it comes to issues surrounding prostate cancer, their own risk for the cancer, and the methods available for detecting whether they have prostate cancer. Many men have limited, if any, knowledge of the advantage of screening for prostate cancer or of the recommendations for when to commence testing, how often to screen, and the meaning of screening test results. They simply put their belief in their doctor to let them know what they should do to stay healthy.

Cases involving the delayed diagnosis of prostate cancer cases are all too common. This article will consider the following fact pattern: the physician (1)
screens the individual for prostate cancer by keeping track of the amount of PSA (Prostate Specific Antigen) in his system, (2) notices abnormally raised levels of PSA and but (3) neither informs the patient of abnormal results (and what they suggest) nor orders diagnostic tests, for instance – a biopsy, to eliminate prostate cancer. Examine the following case, for instance:

In this reported case a man found out he had prostate cancer after he followed up when told by his internist that he most likely had cancer. The issue in this case was that the doctor did not tell the patient that he might have cancer until the third year of raised PSA test results. The year before the man’s PSA level had increased to 13.6. Two years prior to that it had been at 8.0 During these years the physician did nothing to rule out prostate cancer as the cause of these high readings and did not tell the patient about the abnormal test results or the possibility that he might have cancer. By the time he was diagnosed he had metastatic prostate cancer and surgery was not one of the treatment alternatives. Rather the man underwent radiation therapy and hormone

therapy in an attempt to slow down the further progression of the cancer. The law firm that took this matter on reported that the case proceeded to mediation and settled for $600,000.

If a doctor does not do anything in the presence of abnormal test results and the person subsequently finds out that he had prostate cancer all along and that the wait led to the cancer spreading outside the prostate gland, thus decreasing treatment alternatives that are available and lowering his chances of surviving the cancer, the person might be able to successfully pursue a malpractice lawsuit against the physician.

As the above lawsuit illustrates physicians sometimes follow the guidelines by performing screening for prostate cancer but when the test results are
abnormal they do not follow through.

Joseph Hernandez is an attorney acceping medical negligence matters. To request a free attorney consultation visit http://www.prostatecancerlaw.com/advanced-prostate-cancer.shtml

Distributed by http://www.ContentCrooner.com

Since skin reactions are a common side effect of radiation therapy, you will need to pay special attention to the skin area being irradiated while undergoing your course of treatment. Here are a few tips:

1. Select a good cream and use it consistently. Today, there are products made specifically for skin care during radiation. Your doctor or nurse may advise a specific cream or leave the choice up to you. With our product, we have found that people have the greatest success and the least skin side effects when they start early and use our one product exclusively and consistently throughout treatment.

It’s important to use a radiation cream regularly. And so, you may want to buy two or three smaller size tubes so you can keep one on your bedside table and put the other one in your purse or car. Having your radiation cream nearby at all times can make it easier for you to apply it throughout the day.

We recommend people start applying their radiation cream once or twice daily several days before beginning radiation. As soon as therapy begins, use the cream immediately following treatment and most importantly, again at bedtime. In the event your skin begins to react to the radiation, apply the cream more often. In some cases, it may be necessary to apply a radiation cream up to 5-6 times per day, each and every time the skin feels sensitive. Note that the skin area to be irradiated should be bare and dry for the treatment itself!

Once the course of therapy has ended, continue using your radiation cream for at least two weeks because the radiation keeps working and skin still needs to be cared for.

If the part of the body being treated is in an area that gets a lot of moisture or friction, such as the underarms, some people have found it helpful to apply their radiation cream first, and to follow up with a light dusting of corn starch.

2. Avoid sun exposure to treated area.

3. Wear only soft, loose, lightweight fabrics over the treatment area. If you are being treated for breast cancer, avoid bras that might chafe or irritate your skin.

4. Avoid artificial hot or cold packs. These can do further damage to delicate irradiated skin.

5. Check your skin at the treatment site every day and alert your nurse or doctor to any changes.

If your skin has reactions to your radiation treatment, they will usually go away within a few weeks. Be sure to consult with your care team if any condition lingers.

Sean E. Chavel is a contributing editor for http://www.jeanscream.com, a radiation cream for cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy.

Many chemo patients report mental impairment. Some estimates say as many as 50%. They notice it during and after chemo. The impairment was not present before chemo. Is there a link between chemotherapy and brain damage?

Chemo uses chemicals to kill cancer cells. The body is pumped full of toxins. This would likely cause some cognitive deficits. Mental impairment occurs more often in those treated for cancer involving the reproductive system. Examples are breast and prostate cancers. In these cancers, the chemo levels are very high.

Some call the mental impairment a mental fog. Some call this condition chemofog. The term chemo brain came about in 2004. The term describes the mental fog patients feel during and after chemo treatments.

Researchers have known about chemo brain for over twenty years. Since the 1980′s, there are a large number of breast cancer survivors. Many of them have reported symptoms. They started to suspect issues with chemotherapy and brain damage.

They were reporting problems they did not have prior to chemo. Problems with their memory. They were fumbling for words in the middle of sentences. They could not concentrate like before. They could not multi-task any longer. They were having a hard time learning new things. These are typical reports from a chemo brain sufferer. They were feeling half-crippled.

These symptoms lasted for a few weeks to years. Survivors reported different levels of each symptom.

Only recently have there been studies involving chemotherapy and brain damage. The medical profession did not understand the phenomenon. Doctors trivialized the condition for years.

The cause of chemo brain still is not clear. It is not clear how often it happens or what actually triggers it. Some theories are that stress, fatigue and depression causes the effects. Hormone changes, lack of estrogen.

When talking about chemotherapy and brain damage with patients, they have differing views. Some patients have extreme symptoms. Some notice no issues. They are not always sure if they have chemo brain or age-related issues. While other cannot notice a difference before chemo than after chemo.

Medical professionals also have conflicting views on chemotherapy and brain damage.

Some say that the link is real. They point to the large number of documented chemo brain cases. There are also a growing number of studies by researchers. These studies are showing that mental impairment after chemo is real. They are also showing that the impairment can last longer than two years.

In one study, researchers took brain scans of breast cancer survivors. They used chemo patients and patients who survived cancer through surgery. The study showed the brains of chemo patients had to work harder to perform the same tasks.

Others argue the stress of chemo could have an impact on mental function. They also cite reduced levels of estrogen, fatigue, and anxiety. These could all cause chemo brain symptoms. They also point to other medications. Chemo patients often take other drugs to treat chemo side effects.

Another study on chemotherapy and brain damage had a different conclusion. They discovered there might not be a link between chemotherapy and brain damage after all. This study evaluated the cognitive state of women before chemo. Thirty five percent of the women showed some level of mental impairment. Memory was impaired most often.

The conclusion was twofold. First, the cause of chemo brain might be due to factors not considered yet. The second is that any study linking chemotherapy and brain damage must include tests prior to chemo.

The debate about chemotherapy and brain damage will continue.

The bottom line is that the cause of the mental impairment does not matter. What matters is that people are suffering. Chemo brain, cognitive impairment, chemofog, what ever you call it. It has a direct impact on a person’s quality of life.

Brain training is one way to help recover from chemo brain. Thousands have been able to regain their cognitive function due to many different causes. Chemo brain is one of them.

Go to http://www.chemobrain.info to find out how Posit Sciences has helped patients who have had chemotherapy and brain damage.

Discover how others have triumphed over chemo brain!

Can you train your brain to think again? Thousands have. Why not you?

http://www.chemobrian.info

Chemo brain comes as a surprise to many cancer patients. Survivors think their lives will get back to normal when the cancer is gone. Unfortunately, as many as 50% of chemo patients report a lingering phenomenon known as chemo brain. The effects can stonewall attempts to get back to their day-to-day lives. What is chemo brain? What are the symptoms? What can you do about it?

Some patients report mental cloudiness after chemo treatments. Therefore, chemo brain also goes by the name ‘chemo fog.’

Not all cancer patients suffer chemo brain. A patient may have two choices to fight cancer. The two choices are chemo or surgery, depending on a number of factors. Chemo uses chemicals to kill cancer cells. Cancer patients treated with surgery do not appear to get this mental cloudiness. At least not at the level chemo patients experience.

Fear of this cognitive dysfunction can influence the course of treatment.

There has been a debate for years. Some medical professionals do not believe it exists. Of those who do believe chemo brain is real, they do not agree on the cause.

Recently have there been studies on chemo brain. They are confirming it is real. Researchers have been able to measure symptoms. They have determined that chemo brain is a very real side effect of chemotherapy.

Some reported symptoms include problems in the following areas:

- Memory. Weakened short-term memory. Memory lapses. People’s names escape you. Cannot remember where you put your keys, remote, glasses, etc.

- Concentration. Can’t focus. Easily distracted. Cannot read an entire book.

- Multi-tasking. Can only concentrate on one thing at a time. Cannot talk on the phone while cooking without losing track of one or the other.

- Word Recall. Cannot find the right words. Cannot finish sentences because the right words elude you.

- Slower Thinking. Cannot learn new things as fast as before. Takes you longer to finish things.

The symptoms listed here are the most commonly reported. Sufferers can experience a multitude of issues not present prior to chemo. Some symptoms can be mild and some fierce. The symptoms can last anywhere from a few weeks to ten years.

As you can imagine, this is very frustrating for the sufferer. Cognitive dysfunction can seriously affect a person’s quality of life. I do not know how someone with this condition could not develop coping strategies. Some include:

- Using day planners can be a godsend. Keeping everything in one place makes tracking easier. You can enter ideas, promises made, appointments, phone numbers, etc.

- Routines can be helpful. Put your keys in the same place every time. Keeping a daily schedule can ensure that daily tasks are completed.

- Do not try to multi-task. Only try to focus on one thing at a time.

On average, symptoms disappear in about four years. However, some things you can do may help the process. Lifestyle factors may help overcome cognitive dysfunction. For example, exercising your body and eating vegetables.

Exercising your brain can also be very helpful. There are countless stories of people who have put their lives back on track after suffering mental dysfunction. This includes people with such issues as traumatic brain injury, strokes, and yes, chemo brain.

Challenging your mind is one of the best ways to overcome cognitive dysfunction of any type. There are brain-training games out there that have helped others with chemo brain. They are worth investigating to see if you too can defeat chemo brain.

Can you train your brain to think again? Thousands have. Why not you?

Many report improvements in just a few weeks.

By going to the following website, you will learn how others have triumphed over chemo brain.

http://www.chemobrain.info