January is observed as the cervical cancer awareness month, with the aim of raising awareness about causes, diagnosis, prevention, and treatment. As per statistics, India alone is the contributor to almost one third of all cervical cancer fatalities, worldwide. This has been attributed to the lack of awareness, limited or restricted access to healthcare services etc. On the other hand, cervical cancer is also one of the most successfully treated and preventable cancer, if detected and diagnosed early and managed efficiently.
Cancer is a disease, in which the cells inside the body grow out of control. Cervical cancer is when the cancer starts at cervix. Cervix connects vagina (also known as the birth canal) to the uterus (also known as womb or where a baby grows). This often occurs in people who are aged 30 and above. There exist three diverse types of cervical cancer, namely:
What causes cervical cancer?
Cancer develops when healthy cells in the cervix starts to mutate (changes) in DNA. In normal situation, healthy cells multiply, grow and die at a set time. But in mutation the cells multiply, grow and do no die. This leads to the accumulation of the abnormal cells which then forms a mass, also known as tumour. These cancerous cells invade nearby tissues and can very well break and spread from cervix to any other part of the body (metastasize).
How does
cervical cancer feel like?
Usually,
the body does not let out any signs during the initial stages of cancer. But a
lot of changes can be observed when the cancer progresses to a more advanced
stage, the signs and symptoms at this stage includes:
So, when one experiences these symptoms or notices any sign, it is better to get diagnosed.
Cervical Cancer Diagnosis: The most common and important cervical cancer screening is the broader use of Pap smear (also known as Papanicolaou test) and high-risk HPV test. Pap smear test is a part of women’s regular check-up test as well, where the cells from cervix surface is collected and viewed under microscope. Any abnormality in this will lead to the next step, which is biopsy, where a part of the cervical tissue is taken for testing and confirming.
A pelvic
exam, aka colposcopy, also carried out if there is any unusual findings in
Pap smear.
Conization is a removal process (a part of the cervix), using a LEEP (loop electrosurgical excision procedure), or a scalpel, or laser. A simple procedure, usually done for minimally invasive tissues, under anaesthesia, where the patient can leave home in the same day.
Treatment: The course of treatment can be
internal, external or both. If cancer is present only on the surface,
then process like conization will be carried out by doctors to destroy or
remove the cancerous cell. Surgery is recommended and needed of the
cells have passed beyond the surface through a layer called the basement
membrane, and if the disease has invaded into the deeper layers of the
cervix.
A hysterectomy
is carried out if the tumor is found to be spread across the uterus.
Radiation
therapy, use of
high energy rays is employed to damage cancer cells and to prevent them from
growing further. This therapy, just like with surgery, affects the cancer cells
only in the treated area. The course of treatment spans over a period of 5-6
weeks, wherein a beam of radiation is targeted over the pelvic area.
Chemotherapy- use of powerful drugs to kill
the cancerous cells. Used in cases where it is locally spread or
advancing/spreading to other parts of the body. This treatment takes place in
cycles of treatment with recovery period in between, as it is very
intensive.
Immunotherapy/Biological
therapy: An
advanced and recently emerging technique, which targets checkpoints in immune
cells to alter the immune response, to block proteins on the cells which will
cause shrinkage or slows down the growth of the cell. “Prevention”
plays a vital role!!!
As said,
earlier, cervical cancer prevention is vast and can be successfully treated if detected earlier. So,
what must be done??
Ovarian Cancer, being the third most
common cancer in women, typically accounts for 6.7% of observed cancer
incidences in India. Ovarian cancer is a sobering reminder of the
silent threats that can exist within an intricate tapestry of women's
health. It is a silent but deadly disease that frequently goes undetected until
it reaches advanced stages, making treatment and survival extremely
difficult.
Here’s our guide to ovarian cancer, which
includes information on symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and treatment options of
ovarian cancer.
Ovarian cancer is a malignant tumour that
develops in the ovaries, the organs that produce eggs in females. The
female reproductive system consists of two ovaries, one on either side of the
uterus, (which are about the size of an almond) that produce eggs and the
hormones oestrogen and progesterone. In the early stages, ovarian cancer has
usually no symptoms, but a person may experience lower abdominal pain or
pressure, as well as vaginal bleeding.
The symptoms of ovarian cancer can vary from
person to person. However, it may develop and spread throughout the abdomen
before noticing any symptoms, which makes early detection
very difficult. Ovarian cancer symptoms can include:
If you are worried about any of these signs
or symptoms, it is vital that you immediately schedule an online consultation
with either an oncologist, or a gynaecologist, have all your queries sorted out,
and get proper guidance regarding ovarian cancer.
It is uncertain what causes ovarian
cancer, but researchers have identified factors that may enhance the risk of
the disease. Doctors acknowledge that ovarian cancer develops when cells in or
near the ovaries undergo DNA changes (mutations). A cell's DNA contains
instructions that teach the cells what to do. The changes cause the cells
to grow and multiply rapidly, forming a mass (tumour) of cancer cells. Cancer
cells continue to live while healthy cells die, invading neighbouring tissues
and breaking off from the original tumour, allowing it to spread to other parts
of the body.
However, there are a few risk factors that
can increase the likelihood of developing ovarian cancer, which includes:
Age: Ovarian cancer is more common in
women over the age of 50.
Family history: Women with a
family history of breast, colorectal, or ovarian cancer have an increased risk of
the disease.
Endometriosis: Women with endometriosis
(a disease in which tissue similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside
the uterus) have a higher risk of certain types of ovarian cancer.
Obesity: Obesity is associated with an
increased risk of developing ovarian cancer.
Never been pregnant: If you have never
been pregnant, you may be at a higher risk of developing ovarian cancer.
Diagnosing ovarian cancer might be
challenging due to unclear symptoms and limited screening methods. Healthcare
providers may use a variety of diagnostic tools to assess suspicious symptoms,
including:
Pelvic examination: A physical exam
to look for abnormalities in the ovaries or pelvis.
Imaging tests: Ultrasound, CT
scans, and MRI scans can help discover the ovaries and detect
abnormalities.
Blood tests: The CA-125 blood
test examines a protein that is frequently high in women with ovarian cancer,
although it is not conclusive on its own.
Biopsy: A tissue sample can be taken
through surgery or minimally invasive techniques and examined under a
microscope.
The goal of cancer treatment is to remove
as much of the cancer cells as possible from your body. The most common
treatments for ovarian cancer are:
Surgery: This often includes the removal of
your reproductive organs as well as any organs that have cancer. Your surgeon
may perform laparoscopy (minimally invasive surgery) or laparotomy (open
surgery with an abdominal incision).
Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy may
be recommended either before or after surgery. Chemotherapy medications are
intended to target and kill malignant cells.
Targeted Therapy: Targeted drugs are
prescribed to specifically target cancer cells while minimizing damage to
healthy tissues.
Hormonal Therapy: Some ovarian tumours
use hormones to grow. This sort of therapy inhibits cancer growth by blocking
hormones.
Radiation Therapy: In some cases,
radiation therapy may be used to target and kill cancer cells.
Ovarian cancer poses significant
obstacles, but early identification and treatment improvements have led to
improved prognosis for many patients. Let us continue to raise awareness by
promoting routine screenings, genetic testing, and proactive healthcare
practices.
Reference:
1.
https://rb.gy/c683et
2. Cleveland Clinic - Ovarian Cancer: Symptoms, Diagnosis & Treatment
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/4447-ovarian-cancer
Over the recent times, it is
heart-breaking to see so many individuals lose their precious lives to cancer.
Cancer is one of the most dangerous life-threatening diseases in the world as
it can impact any part of your body. We all know that cancer comes in different types, and it is crucial that we educate
ourselves on the several types of cancers and the various symptoms that is
associated with each cancer type. From cervical cancer to breast cancer, lung
cancer to thyroid cancer, endometrial cancer to stomach cancer, the list goes on. But there
are some rare types of cancer which we might not have even heard of. Let us get
to learn about seven rare types of cancer, its symptoms, and its treatment.
Rare cancers, as defined by the National
Cancer Institute, affect less than 15 per 100,000 people each year. Most types
of cancer are rare, and they are often harder to prevent, diagnose, and treat
than the more common cancers. Anal, stomach, and laryngeal malignancies are all
examples of uncommon forms of the disease.
Anal carcinoma is a rare type of cancer
that develops in the anal canal. The anal canal is a small tube at the end
of your rectum through which faeces leave your body. It can cause signs and
symptoms like:
To diagnose anal cancer, your doctor might
need your medical history, your age, and your signs and symptoms. In addition
to that, a few tests are also used to diagnose anal cancer. The tests include,
Anoscopy, Biopsy, Ultrasound, X-ray, CT scan, Positron emission tomography
(PET) scan, Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan and Digital rectal
examination (DRE).
The treatment for anal cancer includes,
surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, radiosensitizers, and immunotherapy.
Lymphoma is a type of cancer that develops
in lymphocytes, which are part of the immune system and help the body fight off
infections. Lymphocytes can be found in the bone marrow, spleen, thymus, and
lymph nodes. The signs and symptoms of this cancer include:
The diagnosis for Lymphoma cancer includes
tests like, Blood tests, PET scan, MRI, Chest X-ray, Bone scan and Abdominal
ultrasound. The treatment option varies from chemotherapy, radiation therapy,
biological therapy, stem cell transplant and bone marrow transplant.
Chronic myeloid (myelogenous) leukaemia
(CML) is a type of blood cancer that starts in your bone marrow in the
blood-making myeloid cells or stem cells. It is a type of cancer that affects
the white blood cells and is most common in people over 60 to 65 years old.
Innovative treatments have turned CML from a life-threatening illness into a
chronic illness. The signs and symptoms include:
The diagnosis for Chronic myeloid
leukaemia includes physical examination, Blood tests, and Bone marrow tests. CML
is now mostly treated with a drug called imatinib. The treatment includes chemotherapy
and stem cell transplant.
Heart cancer occurs when malignant cells
develop uncontrollably on or around the heart. Most tumours that form in the
heart are not cancer. However, some heart tumours are cancerous. Most cases of
heart cancer are sarcomas, which develop in the body's softer tissues. The
symptoms of heart cancer are:
To people who are suffering with these
symptoms, a doctor will need the following tests to diagnose: Chest X-ray,
Electrocardiogram, Coronary angiography, Echocardiogram and CT scan. The
treatment includes chemotherapy, radiation, and management of symptoms.
Wilms tumour, also called nephroblastoma,
is a type of childhood cancer that begins in the kidneys. It is the most common
kind of cancer in children that affects the kidneys. It usually affects around
children of ages from 3 to 4 years.
The most common symptoms are:
The diagnosis includes physical exam, tests
like CT scan, X-rays, MRI scan, blood and urine tests and biopsy. The treatment
includes chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
Male breast cancer is a rare cancer that
develops in a man's breast tissue. Even though breast cancer is most often
thought of as a disease that affects women, it does occur even in men. The most
common symptoms are:
The diagnosis includes breast exam,
mammogram, and biopsy. The treatments include chemotherapy, radiation therapy,
surgery, and hormone therapy.
Esophageal cancer is cancer that starts in
the esophagus, a long, thin tube that runs from your throat to your stomach.
Your esophagus moves food from the back of your throat to your stomach so that
it can be digested. The symptoms are:
Esophageal cancer can be diagnosed with
tests like Biopsy, ultrasonography, Barium swallow, and PET scan. The treatment
of this cancer includes radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and surgery.
It is not easy to come across these seven uncommon forms of cancer. An oncologist is someone you may consult if you have concerns or questions regarding cancers.
As far back as recorded history
goes, cancer has always been the leading cause of death worldwide. Each year on
February 4, people throughout the world unite to rid the world of cancer and
the fear it inspires just by its name. The annual event is themed around the
colors orange and blue to encourage people to band together in the fight
against cancer.
World Cancer Day is a global health
event that raises awareness of cancer. It is celebrated on February 4th every
year since 2000, to educate people about how they can identify
cancer, treat it, and prevent it. The annual observance of World Cancer Awareness Day has
grown into a major global event for raising public awareness about cancer. More
than 900 events were held in 105 countries during the 2017 campaign. On this
World Cancer Day, 3,75,000 tweets and posts were made using the trending
hashtag #WorldCancerDay. There were over 1,10,000 downloads of campaign
materials, and over 50,000 unique posters were made by site visitors.
History
The World Cancer Summit Against
Cancer in the New Millennium, which took place on February 4, 2000, in Paris,
officially named February 4 as World Cancer Day.
At the Summit in Paris on 4
February 2000, then-General Director of UNESCO Kichir Matsuura and then-French
President Jacques Chirac signed the Charter of Paris Against Cancer, a document
designed to encourage cancer research, prevention, and better patient services.
The charter also includes an article establishing the anniversary of its
official signing as World Cancer Day.
The purpose of World Cancer Day is
to increase public understanding of cancer as a major health problem and to
mobilize efforts to provide all cancer patients with timely and effective
diagnosis, treatment, and palliative care.
This year's World Cancer Day theme,
"Close the Care Gap," is a continuation of the 2022 theme and will
run until 2024 (a three-year campaign) with yearly goals. It was hoped that by
launching a multi-year campaign, there would be more time to gain traction with
target audiences, generate more awareness, and ultimately make a bigger impact
on the world.
The objective of this year’s theme
is “Uniting our voices and taking action.” The focus of this second year is on
mobilizing the support of people, groups, activists, and officials who are all
committed to making things better. The Union for International Cancer Control(UICC)
plans to investigate in greater depth the role that the consumption of unhealthy
items like tobacco, alcohol, and ultra-processed foods play in causing cancer
and other preventable deaths. The UICC strives to draw attention to the fact
that the sales of these products primarily affect the marginalized
groups (such as youth, those from low-income backgrounds, and ethnic
minorities).
Cancer is a disease in which
abnormal cell growth occurs in one part of the body and then spreads to other
parts. Over one crore people lost their lives to cancer in 2020, making it
the leading cause of death worldwide. Reports indicate that there
were between 19 and 20 lakhs (estimated) of cases in India in the year
2022. Cancer risk factors include tobacco use, heavy alcohol use, poor diet,
insufficient exercise, and environmental factors including smog and car exhaust.
Various chronic diseases
increase the likelihood of developing cancer, and this is a special difficulty
for countries with low and moderate incomes. Cancer survival rates were also
lower in these countries because of issues like inadequate healthcare
infrastructure, late diagnosis, and high costs. Similarly, even in
developed countries, a lack of cancer awareness also causes a delay in
diagnosis. According to a study from 2020 that was conducted in four main
centers, most people with cancer in India identify the disease and seek treatment only in their later stage. Cancer education is significantly impacted
by both literacy and economic status. Those in India with higher incomes and
levels of education were more likely to be aware of cancer than others.
The main key factors why World
Cancer Day is important are,
As a result, there is a pressing
need to fill the knowledge gaps regarding cancer screening, prevention, and
treatment among the Indian and global populations, particularly in low and
middle-income countries where literacy rates are low and hence contribute to a
rise in cancer prevalence. Some of the prevalent cancer types are Stomach Cancer, Breast Cancer, Lung cancer, Cervical cancer, etc...On this World Cancer Day, let's all remember how
important it is to both detect cancer early and treat it well.
The Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) is organizing many events in honor of World Cancer Day 2023, including a "5k Challenge" in which people from all walks of life are encouraged to participate in activities including running, cycling, swimming, hiking, or walking to symbolize closing the gap in care. In addition, there will be "21-day challenges" designed to help people form new, healthier habits, increase public understanding of cervical cancer, and learn more about disparities in access to cancer care.
We all know that some cancers are curable when diagnosed and treated at an early stage. Therefore, it is recommended to see an oncologist as soon as you experience any symptoms.
Cancer is one of the deadliest chronic diseases that
human beings have been fighting for years. It is a universal plague that can
affect any part of the body. Cancer is competent to rapidly create abnormal
cells that can grow beyond their usual boundaries, invade adjoining body parts,
and spread to other organs.
Gastric Cancer, also known as stomach cancer, is a cellular abnormality that begins in the stomach (the stomach is located Just behind the ribs in the top middle of the belly which helps with food digestion and breakdown) and it begins in any part of the stomach.
In 2020, stomach cancer accounted for approximately 1.1 million
new cases worldwide and was the third leading cause of cancer mortality,
accounting for nearly 800,000 deaths. Men are about twice as likely as women to
have stomach cancer. About 90% to 95% of stomach malignancies are
adenocarcinomas. The gland cells in the deepest layer of the stomach are where
these tumours start to grow (the mucosa).
There are two main types of stomach adenocarcinomas. They are intestinal and diffuse types.
Gastrointestinal Stromal tumors (GISTs), neuroendocrine tumors,
lymphomas, squamous cell carcinomas, small cell carcinomas, and leiomyosarcomas
can also start in the stomach, but these cancers are rare.
Stomach cancer can be hard to find, and there are no symptoms in
the early stage.
Stomach cancer is found most often in people over the
age of fifty five, Scientists worldwide are trying to learn more about what causes this
disease and prevention but they could not find the exact reason for stomach
cancer and the r
There are considerable amounts of hereditary disorders linked to an increased risk of stomach cancer, including
People with Type A blood have a higher risk of developing
stomach cancer, though it is unclear why.
The diagnosis of stomach cancer is based on a thorough clinical
examination, a detailed patient and family history, and a variety of
specialized testing.
Imaging procedures, including CT scans, MRIs, and positron
emission tomography, are just the amount of the tests that doctors can perform
to identify stomach cancer (PET). When it comes to stomach problems, barium is
frequently used. During a barium swallow test, you ingest the barium liquid,
which travels down your food pipe and into your stomach. After that, X-rays are
performed to check for any anomalies.
A tiny, flexible, and thin tube with a camera is inserted into
the stomach by a doctor to perform an upper endoscopy. During the endoscopic
operation of a gastric patient, the doctor can take a biopsy (sample), and
malignant cells can be detected in the lab.
An endoscopic ultrasound test might be performed if a person is
diagnosed with stomach cancer. The examination, which uses an ultrasound probe,
aids in staging the tumors or determining how much of the stomach is impacted
by the cancer.
Treatment options for stomach cancer vary from person to person.
According to the tumor's stage, different treatments are used. The principal
treatment is surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy.
Surgery is the typical treatment for
stomach cancer. The operation is known as gastroplasty. During the
surgery, the surgeon removes subtotal or total gastrectomy of the stomach
and specific tissues around the abdomen.
Chemotherapy is the use of drugs
to kill cancer cells. In this treatment, the drugs enter the bloodstream and
travel through the body. Chemotherapy can be used before surgery for stomach
cancer. (The dual form of chemotherapy and radiation therapy is referred to as
"chemoradiation.”) Neoadjuvant treatment frequently results in tumour
shrinkage and may facilitate surgery.
Additionally, it might prolong patients'
lives and prevent cancer from returning. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy is one
of the standard therapeutic options for specific stages of stomach cancer.
Chemotherapy is regularly administered again after surgery.
After surgery, radiation therapy and
chemotherapy can be used to try to eliminate any cancer cells that the
surgery did not manage to remove. As a result, cancer may spread more.
According to a study from Karnataka, stomach cancer is one of
the top five cancers among young Indian men and women (aged 15 to 44). In
India, 50,000 cases of stomach cancer are estimated to occur annually.
Diagnosis
of gastric cancer is made by taking various tests. They are blood tests,
imaging tests (endoscopy, ultrasound, CT, PET-CT, biopsy, or diagnostic
laparoscopy), and diagnostic laparoscopy, which are all available in India and
are highly accurate in their diagnosis. India has improved healthcare
facilities like surgery, laparoscopy, and robotic surgery, as well as the top
oncologists specializing in treating complicated illnesses like stomach cancer
are in India. They are adopting robotic or laparoscopic surgeries to ensure
fast, safe alternatives to conservative open surgery. Using this technology,
stomach cancer patients have decreased postoperative pain, shorter hospital
stays and quicker recovery.
India is one of the most popular locations for stomach cancer treatment since it boasts modern facilities, innovative technology, sophisticated infrastructure, and access to highly qualified medical professionals at reasonable costs. So, people receive treatment in India each year for stomach cancer.
Post A Comment