Steroids are anti-inflammatory substances that are made by the body in the adrenal glands, according to Macmillan Cancer Support. They can also be made in the laboratory and marketed as drugs. Some steroids can treat cancer either alone or in...
A carcinoid, also called a carcinoid tumor, is a rare, slow-growing cancer of the neuroendocrine system. This system furnishes hormones that govern organ function throughout the body. According to Macmillan Cancer Support, 85 percent of carcinoids...
Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease where your body's immune system attacks your joints. This can result in significant pain, swelling and loss of function in your joints, particularly in your hands and wrist. According to Medline...
Almost all drugs have effects beyond their intended action. This is because most drugs have more than one action in the body and patients can react unpredictability to a given drug. There are two kinds of effects---side effects and adverse...
The development of enlarged breast tissue in a man is called gynecomastia. This condition is common in newborns and adolescents entering puberty. Men who are fully mature may also experience, and be embarrassed by, gynecomastia. Weight management,...
Lung cancer is a form of cancer that begins in the lungs. It is the deadliest form of the disease, and according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information's PubMed Health website, more people die from this condition than breast, colon...
Enzastaurin hydrochloride is an anti-cancer drug developed by Eli Lily and Company that is currently in phase III clinical trials. It acts by blocking blood vessel growth, reducing tumor blood supply, decreasing tumor cell growth and increasing...
Olive leaf extract is derived from fresh or dried leaves of Olea europaea, the olive tree. This tree is an evergreen native to Mediterranean regions and also cultivated in similar climates. Laboratory and animal studies indicate beneficial...
Eyelashes may be thought of as a beauty attribute, but they serve a practical purpose by keeping debris out of your eyes. Losing your eyelashes, or having a lack of eyelashes, is called hypotrichosis of the eyelashes. Some people are born without...
Breast cancer remains one of the top causes of cancer death in women, second only to lung cancer. The treatment and prevention of the disease is the source of intensive research. Metastatic breast cancer is an advanced form of the disease in which...
Follicular lymphoma cancer belongs to the class of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma---the abnormal and uncontrollable growth that occurs in a specific type of white blood cell known as a lymphocyte. Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma accounts for the majority of...
Anal melanoma is a very rare cancer that can be difficult to diagnose. Many symptoms such as fatigue, rectal bleeding and changes in bowel habits are symptoms of this condition as well as other bowel diseases. Treatment for this kind of cancer is...
The liver is an organ responsible for filtering wastes, producing hormones, and aiding in the process of digestion. Liver cancer occurs when malignant cancer cells begin to grow and spread within the tissue of the liver. Liver cancer can be...
The esophagus is a mucus-lined tube that runs between the throat and the stomach. It is part of the gastrointestinal tract and is vital for getting food from your mouth to your stomach. Cancer of the esophagus, also called esophageal cancer,...
Coenzyme Q10 is an important chemical substance found in the cell membrane of almost every cell in the body and plays a critical role in numerous biological processes. No serious side effects have been linked to coenzyme Q10; it is considered safe...
Brivanib alinate is a drug being developed by Bristol-Myers Squibb for the treatment of multiple different cancers. The drug blocks blood vessel and tumor cell growth, and it is currently being evaluated in clinical trials for its safety and...
Milk thistle is a herb native to the Mediterranean region and contains a biologically-active ingredient known as silymarin. It sometimes called holy thistle or Mary thistle. Silymarin is found in the seeds of the milk thistle plant. It is this...
Traditional Asian medical practitioners have been using the root of Dong quai, also known as Angelica sinensis, for centuries to treat women's health issues, which is one reason it's sometimes called the "female ginseng." Although few scientific...
Bone cancer is a malignant tumor that begins in the bone and destroys normal bone tissue. Bone cancer can affect any bone in the body, but most commonly affects the long bones that are located in the arms and legs, according to MayoClinic.com....
If you are Caucasian, between the ages of 20 and 39, you may be in the high-risk category of testicular cancer. Are you are one of those individuals diagnosed with testicular cancer? Is your doctor planning to treat you with chemotherapy, surgery...
Squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue is most common in people who smoke or drink excessively, according to the Merck Manuals Online Medical Library. Other risk factors include long-term irritation from dental cavities, chewing tobacco or betel...
Multiple myeloma, a cancer of the blood cells, specifically affects plasma cells, which are a type of white blood cell the body produces to fight infection. Plasma cells collect in the bone marrow. In multiple myeloma they grow out of control,...
Dehydroepiandrosterone, or DHEA is a steroidal hormone naturally found in the body that has been controversially suggested to have a role in aging. While DHEA may be beneficial for the treatment of depression or certain hormonal deficiencies, it...
Chemotherapy, the use of chemical agents in the treatment or control of diseases, plays a pivotal role in the treatment of cancer. Chemotherapy often acts by impairing the division of cells that are rapidly growing and dividing. An oncologist may...
Capsaicin is the molecule in chili peppers responsible for the hot or burning sensation you experience upon eating the peppers or handling them. The capsaicin molecule stimulates the nervous system, which is why it produces the burning sensation....
Maitake mushrooms, scientifically known as Grifola frondosa, are native to the mountains of northeastern Japan. Roughly translated, maitake is Japanese for "dancing mushroom." People are said to dance for joy when they find one because of their...
Hibiscus is a large genus of flowering plants, growing primarily in tropical and subtropical regions, whose flowers are used for a wide range of medicinal purposes and edible products ranging from making jams and jellies to lowering blood...
The scientific name for kava, a member of the pepper family, is Piper methysticum. The word "kava" refers to both the kava plant and the traditional Polynesian milky beverage prepared from its roots. Purported to produce a state of relaxation,...
Estrogen is a steroid hormone that is synthesized in the body and secreted into the bloodstream, where it circulates throughout the body, affecting a number of tissues and organs. Estrogen is normally synthesized in the ovaries in females, and to...
