i would really wear this kind of shirt!
would you love the dogs rather than their sexy master?
nurses are chicks. nurses nurse chicks. nurses or chicks??
im gonna check your vital signs!
cutie.. so chick..
here you go.. drink moderately..
im giving you a shot!
what are you thinking? 
lets get the party started! yummy!
let me think about it? hhmmmm…
we are lovers, but we started as good friends. you know that i love you. i know that you love. as i’ve mentioned on my previous post, love is a very broad word. it composes almost all of the beautiful things that a human can actually do. it’s not merely saying the word, or spending time together. there is so much more to it. like, treating each other as precious as a diamond, giving comfort and care at the darkest times. be sensitive. be humane and considerate.
like any other couple, we experience rough and tough roads of keeping the relationship as what we wanted it to be. but, how would it work if we wont work it out together?
there is so much pain. its raining..(yah, it is really raining outside!)
its raining tears. its killing me. i love you but i hate what you did.
i’ve been there for you. you have my 100% support.
i know i promised to hold on and never let go. i promised to love you forever.
I have been there for you from the start.
and i am still here for you, rain or shine.
now, that its raining..i am here and you can still stand under my umbrella..
Life is so short, yet too tough. It doesn’t always go along with what you want or what you need. People need to learn, earn and answer the call for survival. But, how can you outwit life itself?
I feel like I am not ready of what life might bring in the future. I am having so much fun with my life right now. I’m kinda laid back lately. I have a license, yet I don’t practice my profession. I had passed every foreign exam that I had taken, yet I am afraid to take the last exam that i need. I am enrolled in a review class, yet I don’t attend classes. I want to have a job, yet I don’t make any effort of applying.
Am I allowing things to happen because i wanted them that way? Or Am I just taking a break and wanted to enjoy life like I have never done before?
Those are some of the questions that I have in mind. I may know the answer, but I still don’t know what actions to take. It is so easy to have plans and all. Unfortunately, implementing is much difficult than planning.
I am still young, some of my friends say. I got an edge, they say.
BUT I SAY: COME ON LIFE, TRY ME! AND I WILL SHOW YOU WHAT I GOT TO OUTWIT YOU!
( i just wanna share this message from the card that I’ve given to janpol)
I’ve never been love-crazy before,
and to be honest, I always thought
people who acted like they were
must be exaggerating a bit.
But that was before you came into my life.
You have affected me like no one else ever has.
You’ve made me feel like I’ve never felt before.
I feel like a kid. I think about you all the time.
When I am not with you, I want to be.
When I am with you, I just cant get enough of you.
My whole world has been turned upside down.
Its terrible and its wonderful, and I hope it never ends,
because loving you is the greatest thing thats ever happened to me.
Happy Monthsary!!!
(A poem for Janpol)
I love you for no specific reason..
I trust you without any condition..
I care without asking something in return..
I appreciate and not expecting for more..
I cry yet i dont hate..
Coz i really love you..
I lack before you came, but now I am abundant..
Coz you are much more than what I prayed for..
I love you very much..
Happy 5th Monthsary!
We are from 2 different world:
grace is from the world of nursing
janpol is from the world of computers
We are a happy couple
We are enjoying our lives, at the same time, exploring and trying to find the home of our careers.
What is lung cancer?
Cancer of the lung, like all cancers, results from an abnormality in the body’s basic unit of life, the cell. Normally, the body maintains a system of checks and balances on cell growth so that cells divide to produce new cells only when needed. Disruption of this system of checks and balances on cell growth results in an uncontrolled division and proliferation of cells that eventually forms a mass known as a tumor.
Tumors can be benign or malignant; when we speak of “cancer,” we refer to those tumors that are considered malignant. Benign tumors can usually be removed and do not spread to other parts of the body. Malignant tumors, on the other hand, grow aggressively and invade other tissues of the body, allowing entry of tumor cells into the bloodstream or lymphatic system which spread the tumor to other sites in the body. This process of spread is termed metastasis; the areas of tumor growth at these distant sites are called metastases. Since lung cancer tends to spread, or metastasize, very early in its course, it is a very life-threatening cancer and one of the most difficult cancers to treat. While lung cancer can spread to any organ in the body, certain organs—particularly the adrenal glands, liver, brain, and bone—are the most common sites for lung cancer metastasis.
What causes Lung Cancer?
The most common cause of lung cancer is smoking.
Smoking causes lung cancer because there are substances within tobacco that are known to cause cancer. These substances are known as carcinogens (which means “cancer-causing agents”), and it is these carcinogens that cause the actual damage to the cells in the lungs. A cell that is damaged may become cancerous over a period of time.
One cannot predict which smoker is at greater risk of developing lung cancer. In general, though, a smoker’s chances of developing cancer depends on:
The age that the person began smoking
How long the person has smoked
How many cigarettes per day the person smokes
Passive smoking – breathing in someone else’s smoke – may also increase the risk for developing lung cancer.
There are other causes of lung cancer not related to smoking. People who smoke and who also are exposed to these other causes have an even higher risk for lung cancer.
These other causes include:
Exposure to cancer-causing agents through a person’s job. This includes exposure to asbestos, either in the mining or construction industries. Inhaled asbestos particles may remain in the lungs, damaging lung cells. It also includes exposure to certain industrial substances like coal products, vinyl chloride, nickel chromate, arsenic, and exposure to some organic chemicals like chloromethyl ethers.
Exposure to radiation, either through one’s occupation or for medical reasons, such as repeated x-rays, though this is quite uncommon.
Radon gas, which occurs naturally in rocks and soil in certain areas, may cause lung damage and may eventually result in lung cancer if it seeps into your home. The presence of radon in the home can be measured using an inexpensive kit that can be purchased at department or hardware stores.
Familial predisposition
While the majority of lung cancers are associated with tobacco smoking, the fact that not all smokers eventually develop lung cancer suggests that other factors, such as individual genetic susceptibility, may play a role in the causation of lung cancer. Numerous studies have shown that lung cancer is more likely to occur in both smoking and nonsmoking relatives of those who have had lung cancer than in the general population.
Lung diseases
The presence of certain diseases of the lung, notably chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), is associated with a slightly increased risk (four to six times the risk of a nonsmoker) for the development of lung cancer even after the effects of concomitant cigarette smoking are excluded.
Air pollution
Air pollution from vehicles, industry, and power plants can raise the likelihood of developing lung cancer in exposed individuals. Up to 1% of lung cancer deaths are attributable to breathing polluted air, and experts believe that prolonged exposure to highly polluted air can carry a risk similar to that of passive smoking for the development of lung cancer.
What are the types of Lung Cancer?
There are different types of cells in the lung, of varying size, for the different functions of the lung. This has resulted in the classification of two main types of lung cancer:
Cancer developing from the cells of neural origin in the lung is known as small-cell lung cancer.
Other types of cancers in the lung are known as non-small-cell lung cancer.
Some lung cancers are a mixture of both types.
The different types of lung cancers tend to grow and spread differently and are therefore not treated in the same way.
Non-small-cell lung cancer is the more common type, accounting for about 80% of lung cancers. It is this more common type of lung cancer that grows and spreads more slowly.
This less common type of cancer, small-cell cancer, is the type that grows more quickly and has a greater chance of spreading to other parts of the body.
Since the more common non-small cell group of cells in the lung are themselves made up of differing kinds of cells, three distinct types of non-small cell lung cancer are recognized. They are:
Squamous cell carcinoma, often found in the central part of the lung.
Adenocarcinoma, often occurring in the outer part of the lung.
Large cell carcinoma, which can occur anywhere in the lung.
People with adenocarcinoma have a more favorable outlook. However, any non-small cell cancers can begin to grow very rapidly and have an unfavorable prognosis.
What are the signs and symptoms of Lung Cancer?
Unfortunately, the symptoms of lung cancer can take many years to develop which often leads to diagnosis at an advanced stage of this disease. Some of the symptoms that may occur include:
Smoker’s cough that persists or becomes intense.
Persistent chest, shoulder, or back pain unrelated to pain from coughing.
Increase in volume of sputum.
Wheezing.
Nonsmoker’s cough that persists for more than 2 weeks.
Change in color of sputum.
Blood in sputum.
Repeated episodes of pneumonia or bronchitis.
Other symptoms that can be related to late-stage lung cancer can include:
Fatigue.
Loss of appetite.
Headache, bone pain, aching joints.
Bone fractures not related to accidental injury.
Neurologic symptoms, such as unsteady gait and/or episodic memory loss.
Neck and facial swelling.
Unexplained weight loss.
Other signs and symptoms may be caused by the spread of lung cancer to other parts of the body, including headaches, weakness, pain, bone fractures, bleeding, or blood clots.
How is lung cancer diagnosed?
The history and physical examination may reveal the presence of symptoms or signs that are suspicious for lung cancer. In addition to asking about symptoms and risk factors for cancer development, doctors may detect signs of breathing difficulties, airway obstruction, or infections in the lungs. Cyanosis, a bluish color of the skin and the mucous membranes due to insufficient oxygen in the blood, suggests compromised function of the lung. Likewise, changes in the tissue of the nail beds, known as clubbing, may also indicate lung disease.
The chest x-ray is the most common first diagnostic step when any new symptoms of lung cancer are present. The chest x-ray procedure often involves a view from the back to the front of the chest as well as a view from the side. Like any x-ray procedure, chest x-rays expose the patient briefly to a minimum amount of radiation. Chest x-rays may reveal suspicious areas in the lungs but are unable to determine if these areas are cancerous. In particular, calcified nodules in the lungs or benign tumors called hamartomas may be identified on a chest x-ray and simulate lung cancer.
CT (computerized axial tomography scan, or CAT scan) scans may be performed on the chest, abdomen, and/or brain to examine for both metastatic and primary tumor. A CT scan of the chest may be ordered when x-rays are negative or do not yield sufficient information about the extent or location of a tumor. CT scans are x-ray procedures that combine multiple images with the aid of a computer to generate cross-sectional views of the body. The images are taken by a large donut-shaped x-ray machine at different angles around the body. One advantage of CT scans is that they are more sensitive than standard chest x-rays in the detection of lung nodules. Sometimes intravenous contrast material is given prior to the procedure to help delineate the organs and their positions. A CT scan exposes the patient to a minimal amount of radiation. The most common side effect is an adverse reaction to intravenous contrast material that may have been given prior to the procedure. There may be resulting itching, a rash, or hives that generally disappear rather quickly. Severe anaphylactic reactions (life-threatening allergic reactions with breathing difficulties) to contrast material are rare. CT scans of the abdomen may identify metastatic cancer in the liver or adrenal glands, and CT scans of the head may be ordered to reveal the presence and extent of metastatic cancer in the brain.
A technique called a low-dose helical CT scan (or spiral CT scan) is sometimes used in screening for lung cancers. This procedure requires a special type of CAT scanner and has been shown to be an effective tool for the identification of small lung cancers in smokers and former smokers. However, it has not yet been proven whether the use of this technique actually saves lives or lowers the risk of death from lung cancer. The heightened sensitivity of this method is actually one of the sources of its drawbacks, since lung nodules requiring further evaluation will be seen in approximately 20% of people with this technique. Of the nodules identified by low-dose helical screening CTs, 90% are not cancerous but require up to two years of costly and often uncomfortable follow-up and testing. Trials are underway to further determine the utility of spiral CT scans in screening for lung cancer.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans may be indicated when precise detail about a tumor’s location is required. The MRI technique uses magnetism, radio waves, and a computer to produce images of body structures. As with CT scanning, the patient is placed on a moveable bed which is inserted into the MRI scanner. There are no known side effects of MRI scanning, and there is no exposure to radiation. The image and resolution produced by MRI is quite detailed and can detect tiny changes of structures within the body. People with heart pacemakers, metal implants, artificial heart valves, and other surgically implanted structures cannot be scanned with an MRI because of the risk that the magnet may move the metal parts of these structures.
Positron emission tomography (PET) scanning is a specialized imaging technique that uses short-lived radioactive substances to produce three-dimensional colored images of those substances functioning within the body. While CT scans and MRI scans look at anatomical structures, PET scans measure metabolic activity and functioning of tissue. PET scans can determine whether a tumor tissue is actively growing and can aid in determining the type of cells within a particular tumor. In PET scanning, the patient receives a short half-lived radioactive drug and receives approximately the amount of radiation exposure as with two chest x-rays. The drug discharges positrons from wherever they are used in the body. As the positrons encounter electrons within the body, a reaction producing gamma rays occurs. A scanner records these gamma rays and maps the area where the drug is located. For example, combining glucose (a common energy source in the body) with a radioactive substance will show where glucose is being used in a growing tumor.
Bone scans are used to create images of bones on a computer screen or on film. Doctors may order a bone scan to determine whether a lung cancer has metastasized to the bones. In a bone scan, a small amount of radioactive material is injected into the bloodstream and collects in the bones, especially in abnormal areas such as those involved by metastatic tumors. The radioactive material is detected by a scanner, and the image of the bones is recorded on a special film for permanent viewing.
Sputum cytology: The diagnosis of lung cancer always requires confirmation of malignant cells by a pathologist, even when symptoms and x-ray studies are suspicious for lung cancer. The simplest method to establish the diagnosis is the examination of sputum under a microscope. If a tumor is centrally located and has invaded the airways, this procedure, known as a sputum cytology examination, may allow visualization of tumor cells for diagnosis. This is the most risk-free and inexpensive tissue diagnostic procedure, but its value is limited since tumor cells will not always be present in sputum even if a cancer is present. Also, noncancerous cells may occasionally undergo changes in reaction to inflammation or injury that makes them look like cancer cells.
Bronchoscopy: Examination of the airways by bronchoscopy (visualizing the airways through a thin probe inserted in a tube through the nose or mouth) may reveal areas of tumor that can be sampled for pathologic diagnosis. A tumor in the central areas of the lung or arising from the larger airways is accessible to sampling using this technique. Bronchoscopy may be performed using a rigid or a flexible, fiberoptic bronchoscope and can be performed in a same-day outpatient bronchoscopy suite, an operating room, or on a hospital ward. The procedure can be uncomfortable and require sedation or anesthesia. While the procedure is relatively safe, the procedure must be carried out by a lung specialist (pulmonologist or surgeon) experienced in the procedure. When a tumor is visualized and adequately sampled, an accurate cancer diagnosis is generally possible. Some patients may cough up dark-brown blood for one to two days after the procedure. More serious, and rare, complications include a greater amount of bleeding, decreased levels of oxygen in the blood, and heart arrhythmias as well as complications from sedative medications and anesthesia.
Needle biopsy: Fine needle aspiration (FNA) through the skin, most commonly performed with radiological imaging for guidance, may be useful in retrieving cells for diagnosis from tumor nodules in the lungs. Needle biopsies are particularly useful when the lung tumor is peripherally located in the lung and not accessible to sampling by bronchoscopy. A small amount of local anesthetic is given prior to insertion of a thin needle through the chest wall into the abnormal area in the lung. Cells are suctioned into the syringe and are examined under the microscope for tumor cells. This procedure is generally accurate when the tissue from the affected area is adequately sampled, but in some cases, adjacent or uninvolved areas of the lung may be mistakenly sampled. A small risk (3%-5%) of an air leak from the lungs (called a pneumothorax, which can easily be treated) accompanies the procedure.
Thoracentesis: Sometimes lung cancers involve the lining tissue of the lungs (pleura) and lead to an accumulation of fluid in the space between the lungs and chest wall (called a pleural effusion). Aspiration of a sample of this fluid with a thin needle (thoracentesis) may reveal the cancer cells and establish the diagnosis. As with the needle biopsy, a small risk of a pneumothorax is associated with this procedure.
Major surgical procedures: If none of the aforementioned methods yields a diagnosis, surgical methods must be employed to obtain tumor tissue for diagnosis. These can include mediastinoscopy (examining the chest cavity between the lungs through a surgically inserted probe with biopsy of tumor masses or lymph nodes) or thoracotomy (surgical opening of the chest wall with removal of as much tumor as possible). Thoracotomy is rarely able to completely remove a lung cancer, and both mediastinoscopy and thoracotomy carry the risks of major surgical procedures (complications such as bleeding, infection, and risks from anesthesia and medications). These procedures are performed in an operating room, and the patient must be hospitalized.
Blood tests: While routine blood tests alone cannot diagnose lung cancer, they may reveal biochemical or metabolic abnormalities in the body that accompany cancer.
The doctor will decide which treatment you will receive based on factors such as the type of lung cancer, the size, location and extent of the tumor (whether or not it has spread), and your general health. There are many treatments, which may be used alone or in combination. These include:
SURGERY may cure lung cancer. It is used in limited stages of the disease. The type of surgery depends on where the tumor is located in the lung. Some tumors cannot be removed because of their size or location.
RADIATION THERAPY is a form of high energy X-ray that kills cancer cells. It is used:
In combination with chemotherapy and sometimes with surgery.
To offer relief from pain or blockage of the airways.
CHEMOTHERAPY is the use of drugs that are effective against cancer cells. Chemotherapy may be injected directly into a vein or given through a catheter, which is a thin tube that is placed into a large vein and kept there until it is no longer needed. Some chemotherapy drugs are taken by pill. Chemotherapy may be used:
In conjunction with surgery.
In more advanced stages of the disease to relieve symptoms.
HOW CAN YOU PREVENT LUNG CANCER?
If you are a smoker, STOP SMOKING. Your local American Lung Association has books, videos, and group programs to help you quit for good.
Many products, such as nicotine gum, nicotine sprays, or nicotine inhalers, may be helpful to people trying to quit smoking.
Minimizing exposure to passive smoking is also an effective preventive measure. Using a home radon test kit can identify and allow correction of increased radon levels in the home, which can also cause lung cancers.
Methods that allow early detection of cancers, such as the helical low-dose CT scan, may also be of value in the identification of small cancers that can be cured by surgical resection and prevention of widespread, incurable metastatic cancer.
