Muriel Lights' Candle Designs: June 2014

Today is the second anniversary of the day my husband was diagnosed with stomach cancer. One would ask why would anyone want to remember such a day. My response would be from that day forward my life as I once knew it would never be the same.
It has taken me almost two years to put words to that claim, to share not only the devastating effect that cancer had on me but the many family members who work diligently to be there for their love ones. My hope is to arm cancer patients and families with action plans to help them better identify their cancer what ever the outcome. The thing we fear the most is the unknown but to fight cancer you have to identify your cancer in order to fight it. Treatment today is more specified and will provide you with the best chance of survival. My mom had radiation and refused treatment she lived a year after her diagnoses my husband had five rounds of chemo and lived only four months after diagnoses. These are different variables based on personal choices and advances of the disease. My obstacle even today is that my readers have as much information possible to help them make the right choice for them.
This would be the third time in three years that cancer intercepted my life. First my moms diagnoses of small cell lung cancer in 2011 which claimed her life, second my breast cancer scare, which for women who have been in this position was traumatic. If the results show no cancer you still have to wait another six months to be retested and then for all practical reasons you will forever worry about cancer. Last but not least was my husband diagnosis which was not the cancer we expected. My husband had been going to the doctor regularly for the last year. His PSA level were high so they were watching him by testing for cancer. If that doctor had said colon cancer, prostate cancer I would have been somewhat prepared. He had been tested for both cancers. He had a family history of cancer he had lost four brothers to various types of cancers. No one searched outside the box even though he had family members who died from other cancers such as throat, month, lung and stomach cancer. But to be diagnosed with stomach cancer in the emergency room which at this point had already entered the liver his prognoses was not a good one. And for me it would be the second time in my life that a doctor told me my love one had terminal cancer in the emergency room.
Far too many people I know were finding out their cancer diagnoses at late stages of their cancers and far too many were people of color. Sometimes we are taking test looking for more common forms of cancer other times doctors and patients are not communicating effectively. Your body for the most part lets you know something is wrong it is your job to make your doctor listen and if the answers are not helping go find another doctor until you get answers. What is most devastating for me is that between directed testing and referrals that take too long, both my mother and husband found there true diagnoses in the emergency room. This country has spent a large amount of time talking about the cost of health care. Emergency room care is one the highest cost to care, but it is also more directed to the immediate problem maybe that why they saw in one visit what doctors missed in months of visits. Know your body, fight for answers you just may buy yourself the gift of time.

Cancer Type	2010 Spending (in millions)	2011 Spending (in millions)	2012 Spending (in millions

Lung	$281.9	$296.8	$314.6

Prostate	300.5	288.3	265.1

Breast	631.2	625.1	602.7

Colorectal	270.4	265.1	256.3

Bladder	22.6	20.6	23.4

Melanoma	102.3	115.6	121.2

Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma	122.4	126.4	119.5

Kidney	44.6	46.2	49.0

Thyroid	15.6	16.2	16.5

Based on growth and aging of the U.S. population, medical expenditures for cancer in the year 2020 are projected to reach at least $158 billion (in 2010 dollars) — an increase of 27 percent over 2010, according to a National Institutes of Health analysis. If newly developed tools for cancer diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up continue to be more expensive, medical expenditures for cancer could reach as high as $207 billion, said the researchers from the National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the NIH.

The rising costs of cancer care illustrate how important it is for us to advance the science of cancer prevention and treatment to ensure that we’re using the most effective approaches,” said Robert Croyle, Ph.D., director, Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, NCI. “This is especially important for elderly cancer patients with other complex health problems."

Cancer is a common disease one of every two men and one of every three women will be diagnose with cancer at some time in their lives. In New York State one of four deaths is due to cancer.

Who gets stomach cancer?

Stomach Cancer (also called Gastric Cancer) occurs most often in older people under the age of 50. Men are about twice as often among black as among whites some groups, particularly immigrants from countries with high rates of stomach cancer, such as Japan and China, and their American children, have much higher rates of stomach cancer than other New Yorkers.

What factors increase risk for developing stomach cancer?

At this time, the causes of stomach cancer are not well understood. However, scientists agree that certain factors increase a person's risk of developing this disease. These risk factors include:

H. pylori (Helicobacter pylori).Individuals who are infected with the bacterium H. pylori are at higher risk for stomach cancer than people who are not infected. However, most people with H. pylori do not develop stomach cancer.

Family history.People with close relatives (parents, brothers/sisters, children) who have had stomach cancer are at greater risk for the disease. Current research indicates that about 30% of stomach cancers may be inherited.

Smoking. Smoking increases the risk for getting stomach cancer. A current smoker's risk for stomach cancer may be about double that of a non-smoker.

Ionizing radiation.Individuals exposed to high levels of ionizing radiation, such as radiation treatment for other diseases, are at higher risk for developing stomach cancer.

Workplace exposures.Individuals who work in industries that are dusty, such as foundries, steel-making and mining, are at increased risk of developing stomach cancer. Workers in the rubber industry, oil refineries, and workers exposed to diesel exhaust are also at increased risk for the disease.

Diet.Diets low in vegetables, fruit and high fiber foods may increase risk for stomach cancer.

What other risk factors for stomach cancer are scientists studying?

Scientists are continuing to look at various foods and specific vitamins and nutrients to better understand how they affect the risk for developing stomach cancer. High salt intake appears to increase the risk for stomach cancer. In addition, studies suggest that eating smoked, pickled and salty preserved, or poorly preserved, foods increases the risk of getting stomach cancer. Drinking green tea appears to reduce the risk for stomach cancer.

Scientists also continue to focus on the specific ways that H. pylori affects the stomach and leads to stomach cancer in some people. H. pyloriinfection also increases a person's chances of getting ulcers, but having an ulcer does not necessarily lead to an increased risk for stomach cancer. Increased risk appears to depend on the type of ulcer and ulcer treatment.

What can I do to reduce my chances of getting stomach cancer?

To help reduce the risk of getting stomach cancer:The following may help reduce the risk of developing cancer:

Exercise regularly.
Talk with your health care provider about recommended cancer screenings.

For more information:

Reference
http://www.health.ny.gov/statistics/cancer/registry/abouts/stomach.htm
http://www.nih.gov/news/health/jan2011/nci-12.htm

Muriel Lights' Candle Designs