Archive for the ‘Cancer’ Category

Preventing Breast Cancer

January 31st, 2010 admin

Breast cancer is the commonest cancer of women in the world. It can happen to anybody, young or old, married or single. One in 5 women is at the risk of developing breast cancer in her lifetime in USA. In India the incidence is slightly lower but it is increasing.

A lot of research is being done to find the cause and cure of breast cancer. Cause of breast cancer is still unknown. Certain cancer genes have been identified that run in families or can occur newly by mutation in women without any family gene. Tests are available to detect such a gene so that extra precautions can be taken to detect cancer early in women with such genes. Since the advances in plastic surgery have made it possible to create attractive new breasts, women who are genetically at high risk can go for removal of breasts and reconstruction.

Prevention gives the best chance of cure. You can beat the cancer by being cautious and detecting it early. Remember cancer starts as a painless lump in the breast and you have the best chance of detecting it yourself. By Breast self examination ( BSE). This is how you can do It:

* Stand in front of a mirror with top exposed.
* Place hands on hips.
* Look for signs of dimpling, swelling, soreness, or redness in all parts of your breasts in the mirror.
* Repeat with arms raised above your head.
* While still standing, palpate your breasts with your fingers, feeling for lumps. Try to use a larger area of your fingers rather than prodding. Feel both for the area just beneath the skin and for the tissue deeper within.
* Go over the entire breast while examining. One method is to divide the breast into quadrants and palpate each quadrant carefully. Also examine the “axillary tail” of each breast that extends toward the armpit.
* Repeat palpation while lying down.
* Check the nipples and the area just beneath them. Gently squeeze each nipple to check for any discharge.

Breasts tend to feel different in different parts of menstrual cycle. Therefore BSE should be done 7-10 days after the first day of periods, every month. Once you get the feel of your breasts it will be easy for you to detect any change and you will be able to differentiate normal breast feel from that of a lump.

If you have detected a lump or nodule do not panic, because 8 out of ten times these are harmless. You should go to an expert surgeon for examination. She/he may advise further testing if needed like mammography( breast X ray) and sonography of breast -both of which are painless .Fine needle biopsy may also be needed to get the diagnosis.

If the lump is benign (harmless) it can be left alone or can be removed through small incision. If it is malignant (cancer) and detected early (less than 2 cm size lump) then it is possible to have breast preserving surgery wherein only the lump with surrounding rim of normal breast is removed leaving behind rest of the breast and radiation to the breast. For bigger cancers treatment usually involves total removal of breast and chemotherapy, with or without radiotherapy. Plastic surgical breast reconstruction is commonly done after total removal of breast. If the cancer is detected in early stage, very long survival 20 years or more is known after complete treatment.

After the age of 40 yearly mammography can be done to detect any minute cancer. It is like an X ray and is painless. Early detection not only allows for breast preservation but also increases the chances of cure.

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Cancer Won't Wait. Why Should You?

January 31st, 2010 admin

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and there is no better time to prevent it than now. While eating healthy foods and keeping fit can help to prevent breast cancer, it can still strike despite all of your efforts. Therefore, it is absolutely essential for you to schedule regular breast cancer screenings or DNA Testing. By discovering a cancerous tumor in your breast earlier, the greater your chance of survival will become.

Here is a look at some of our lifestyle risks that we can control:

- Being obese or overweight
- Diet high in saturated fat
- More than 2 alcoholic drinks per day
- Too little physical activity
- Taking birth control pills for longer than 10 years if under 35

Other risks we have no control over:

- Early menstruation or late menopause
- First child at an older age or not having given birth
- Age. Especially those over 65
- Reasonably Increased Risk if you have family history of breast cancer (especially mother or sister), personal history of breast cancer of benign (non-cancer) breast disease and/or dense breast tissue.
- You also have a high risk if you have had past radiation therapy to the chest. Other factors include hormone treatments, gene mutations like BRCA1 or BRCA2, or a parent, brother, sister or child with these gene mutations: Li-Fraumeni, Cowden, or Bannayan Riley-Ruvalcaba syndrome.

When and what screening to begin with as recommended by the American Cancer Society:

- Between your 20s and 30s you should have a clinical breast exam every three years.
- In your 40s have a clinical breast exam and mammogram every year.
- For those with a moderately increased risk you should consult your doctors about whether and when you should add MRI screenings to your yearly mammogram
- For those at high risk a MRI and mammogram should be done every year beginning at the age of 30.

It is very important that we all stay on top of our health, whether we are a man or woman. So why wait until it is too late to realize how valuable your health is. A simple DNA test could determine if you may be genetically predisposed to breast cancer. For more information on how it can be prevented, be sure to visit CyGene Direct for your entire Personal DNA Testing needs. All of CyGene Directs’ DNA tests can be done anonymously and in the comfort of your own home.

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Skin Cancer, Remedies Of Skin Cancer and Prevention's

January 30th, 2010 admin

Whenever possible, people should avoid exposure to the midday sun (from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Standard Time, or from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Daylight Savings Time).

Keep in mind that protective clothing, such as sun hats and long sleeves, can block out the sun’s harmful rays. Also, lotions that contain sunscreen can protect the skin. Sunscreens are rated in strength according to a sun protection factor (SPF), which ranges from 2 to 30 or higher.

Excisional surgery type of treatment may be appropriate for any type of skin cancer. Your doctor cuts out (excises) the cancerous tissue and a surrounding margin of healthy skin.

A wide excision — removing extra normal skin around the tumor — may be recommended in some cases. To minimize or avoid scarring, especially on your face, you may need to consult a doctor skilled in skin reconstruction.

Causes of Skin Cancer

Pancreatin is a mix of many different enzymes, and those involved in the digestion of proteins are also used to help eliminate cancers that occur.

Cancer is often a disease of protein metabolism because the pancreatin enzyme cancer defense mechanism can be overwhelmed by consuming protein rich foods at inappropriate times or in excessive amounts.

The body needs a time span each day approaching twelve hours or more without protein consumption for its pancreatin cancer defense mechanism to work optimally.

It cleanses the skin and removes dead cells from the surface of the skin. It will also remove the dust and dirt that chokes the pores on the skin. Try making cleansers at home via using vegetable oils, coconut oil and water.

Cryotherapy technique uses extreme cold to treat pre-cancerous skin conditions and some small skin cancers. Liquid nitrogen is applied to the tumor to freeze and kill abnormal cells.

Prevention’s

Moles, warts and various skin cancers usually look much different than a skin tag. If you have any doubt that your growth may be a mole, wart or some type of skin cancer – see your dermatologist! Moles and skin cancers are not to be treated at home.

Mix the castor oil and baking soda to form a paste – on the thick side so it won’t slide off your body. Try to keep this paste on the tags for several hours a day – maybe use a rag or cloth to hold it in place? You should see them dry up in less that two weeks.

Cut a piece of duct tape small enough to cover the skin tag – and not much else. Apply the tape to the growth and keep it on as long as possible. Replace often. After a couple of weeks, you should see the tag drying up and coming off.

A good skin care routine can protect against ageing and ameliorate all these problems. Cheap creams and lotions can contain harmful ingredients that will worsen your problems and also lead to open pores, patchy skin and severe skin reactions. Many cosmetic creams contain harsh chemicals that can damage your skin in the long term.

Finally, the sunscreen will protect your face against sun damage and prevent pigmentation. The sunscreen also hydrates the skin and promotes skin renewal to keep it fresh and moist. DR’s secret is a comprehensive range that will not only prevent premature ageing of your skin.

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The Process Of Colon Cancer Surgery

January 30th, 2010 admin

The important part of the digestive system is colon. The colon helps the body to absorb nutrients, minerals and water. The other function of the colon is help the body get rid of its waste food particles and undigested materials in the form of stool. The length of the colon is approximately six feet and makes up the major portion of the large intestine. At the end of the large intestine are the rectum and the anal canal.

When cancer occurs in the cells of the colon, it is known as the ‘Colon Cancer’. This type of cancer is common and is found in both men and women. It has been estimated that almost 110,000 people in the United States alone are diagnosed with colon cancer every year.

Generally 95% of all colon cancers are of the adenocarcinomas type and the rest 5% are of less common cell types which includes neuroendocrine tumors, gastrointestinal stomal tumors, carcinoid tumors, lymphomas, melanomas, leimyosarcomas and signet ring cell tumors.

For effective treatment of the patient the doctor has to examine the extant or the stage of the cancer and then decide about the course of treatment to be followed. If tumors are to be removed due to colon cancer, then resection surgery also known as the partial or hemicolectomy is chosen as treatment.

The resection surgery is a major surgery and requires the surgeon to enter the abdomen through a large incision in the abdominal wall. The section of the colon or rectum which is diseased is removed along with the lymph nodes and some parts of the healthy colon. After removal, the two healthy ends are reattached again. The aim of the surgeon performing the colon cancer surgery is to make the patient to return to the most normal bowel function as soon as possible.

In the aftermath of the operation, some tissues are removed from the lymph nodes and sent to the laboratory for pathological examination. The function of the lymph nodes is to conduct the flow of a fluid known as the “lymph” into the cells in the body. As a rule, cancer cells tend to gather in the lymph nodes, so it is a good indicator for determining cancer and how far it has spread. The risk of the cancer reoccurring is also reduced after the removal of the lymph nodes.

There may be cases where a large part of the colon or rectum is diseased and the reconnection (also known as the anastomosis) may not be possible. In such cases the surgeon may perform a colostomy.

Surgeons create colostomy by inserting a large part of the intestine through an opening created in the abdominal wall. The portion of the colon that remains outside the body is known as the “Stoma” (mouth). A bag is attached to the stoma to collect the waste material of the body. This bag has to be emptied several times in a day regularly.

Colostomies are a temporary phenomenon and is necessary for allowing the colon to heal properly after completion of the surgery. After some times, a second surgery is performed to reattach the colon together. Permanent colostomy is required only in 15 percent of the cases of the surgery.

Recovery from the colon cancer surgery takes place in different phases which includes the postoperative stay in the hospital and the recovery time at home. Problems like infections and blockages are monitored by the doctors and complications if any are promptly treated. The patient is generally able to get back to his or her regular diet after a period of time that may be prescribed by the doctor. Care should be taken in taking your diet which should preferably be as per the instructions of your doctor.

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The Future Role of The Nurse in Speedier Cancer Testing

January 30th, 2010 admin

The Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, announced in his key speech at this year’s Labour Party conference that he plans to bring in speedier testing for cancer in patients showing symptoms of the disease. This will mean earlier diagnosis and earlier treatment, and could potentially save thousands of lives. This promise is building upon what the NHS has already achieved since it received extra funding and brought down the age for breast cancer screening, which has already made a difference to many women’s lives.

In his speech, Gordon Brown pledged to “finance a new right for cancer patients to have diagnostic tests carried out, completed and with results – often same day results – within one week of seeing your GP. That is our early diagnosis guarantee, building on our current guarantee of only two weeks wait to see a specialist.” The Labour Party promises to meet this target by 2014.

Initially the proposal will be implemented for lung, colorectal and ovarian cancers, with other cancers being brought into the service within 5 years. Funding which has previously been used for making improvements to hospital buildings will now be used to provide more diagnostics equipment within GP surgeries and community hospitals, including CT scanners.

So how will this be implemented? Leading cancer expert, Professor Mike Richards, will be leading the new initiative and has stated that it will involve new roles for nurses who will play an important role in carrying out many of the tests, including endoscopies and ultrasounds. The investment in the initiative will create further training opportunities for nurses and could create more nurse jobs. Nursing jobs could also involve raising more awareness of cancerous symptoms, such as unexpected weight loss, changes in bowel habits, persistent coughing or noticeable changes to a mole or wart. This will build upon the nurse’s role in cancer care as rehabilitative carer, where they address rehabilitation issues for patients in teaching, counseling and guidance.

However, there is a fear that the new responsibilities could add pressure to nurses who are already buckling under the strain of a large workload. It could prove challenging to implement the gold standard of clinical examination, ultra sound and pathology in the shorter time frame, bringing into question the quality of the diagnosis as well as the speed.

The new early diagnosis will benefit those patients who show some cancerous symptoms but do not fulfill all the conditions for immediate referral to a specialist. For example, if a young woman found a small lump in her breast, she is below the common age for breast cancer, so may not be referred to a specialist so quickly. The new scheme will be particularly helpful in detecting ovarian cancer, which can be hard to spot as it presents indistinct symptoms. The chief executive of Ovarian Cancer Action, Peter Reynolds, has stated that most women with ovarian cancer were currently diagnosed with the disease at a later stage, making treatment harder and bringing the success rate down.

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Chemotherapy Surgery India – Patients Testimonials of International Patients

January 30th, 2010 admin

hemotherapy Treatment In India

What is chemotherapy ?

Chemotherapy is a general term for treatments that use chemical agents (drugs) to kill cancer cells. Many different kinds of drugs are used, either alone or in combination, to treat different cancers. The specific drug or combination used is chosen to best combat the type and extent of cancer present.

Chemotherapy drugs are given for several reasons :-

1. To treat cancers that respond well to chemotherapy
2. To decrease the size of tumors for easier and safer removal by surgery
3. To enhance the cancer-killing effectiveness of other treatments, such as radiation therapy
4. In higher dosages, to overcome the resistance of cancer cells
5. To control the cancer and enhance the patient’s quality of life…….

Types of Chemotherapy Drugs

Common types of cytotoxic chemotherapy drugs include :-

* Alkylating agents modify/damage cancer cell DNA and block the replication of DNA, therefore interfering with the growth of cancer cells…….

Other drugs used in cancer therapy include :-

1) Hormonal agents target the hormonal processes that may stimulate cancer cell growth and/or survival.

2) Biological agents affect natural processes that may stimulate cancer cell growth and survival.

3) Immunotherapy is intended to boost the recognition of cancer cells by the body’s immune system, thereby helping the body to kill cancer cells……

How are chemotherapy drugs given ?

Chemotherapy is given in different ways depending on the cancer type and the drugs used.Methods of giving chemotherapy drugs include :

1. Intravenously (IV)
3. Intramuscular (IM)
4. Intraperitoneal (IP)
5. Intracavitary (IC)
6. Subcutaneous (sub.q.)
7. Oral (PO)…

How Chemotherapy Works ?

Chemotherapy kills rapidly dividing cells. Cancer cells often multiply more rapidly than normal cells. Cancer cell are also less able to recover from the toxic effects of chemotherapy than can normal cells. Normal cells that divide rapidly, such as hair or blood cells, are also killed by chemotherapy. This results in common side effects such as hair falling out and blood counts dropping……

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