Understanding Cancer

Understanding Cancer

A Cancer diagnosis is dreaded and feared yet rarely understood. Even as cancer cases in India and across the world are poised to grow, there continues to be a sense of mystery around it with very little understanding of the causes and cures for an ailment commonly referred to as the Big ‘C.’ A cancer diagnosis is typically followed by intense periods of anxiety, stress, and fear for the patient as well as a caregiver. Cancer fighters recall feelings of shock followed by anger and denial when their cancer is first discovered mostly because of the myths surrounding it.
The questions abound and range from “How can this happen to me?” to “I don’t have any bad habits so why me?” and is inevitably followed by that looming unspoken query, “Can I survive this?” While these questions besiege patients and caregiver, Doctors, Oncologists and Cancer support groups reassure us that a cancer diagnosis is not a death sentence. Given the right circumstances, one can control and even conquer Cancer. Accurate information and a better understanding about Cancer will certainly help reduce negativity around it so that it can be treated like other health conditions. ‘Cancer fighters’ and ‘Cancer thrivers’ have shared their journey with us in the course of this research and echoed the importance of the right information and a stress-free frame of mind to get through the long drawn treatment and overcome the Big ‘C’.

Did You Know?

The Greek word ‘Oncos’ and ‘Carcinos’ are attributed to Hippocrates and refer to a ‘benign swelling’ and a ‘malignant swelling’ respectively.

What is Cancer?

Cancer, a word surrounded by much fear and plenty of uncertainty, refers to an uncontrolled growth of cells that invade and damage normal tissue. These cells may form a mass called ‘tumor’ which could be malignant or benign. A malignant tumor grows and spreads to other parts of the body while a benign tumor could grow but won’t spread.

Signs and Symptoms

Cancer typically distorts normal organs, nerves and blood vessels causing symptoms related to that specific body part. One of the first places that cancer spreads is the lymph nodes – those bean-shaped organs located in clusters in the neck, groin and under the arms.

Though generalized symptoms like fever, fatigue and weight loss are common in cancers that have spread beyond their site of origin it is the size and aggressiveness of cancer that determines its symptoms.

Types of Cancer

  • Carcinomas – These are the most common type of cancer and begin in the skin or the tissue that covers the surface of internal organs and glands. Carcinomas usually form solid tumors.
  • Sarcomas – These begin in the tissues that support and connect the body. A sarcoma can develop in fat, muscles, nerves, tendons, joints, blood vessels, lymph vessels, cartilage, or bone.
  • Leukemia – These are cancer of the blood and begin when healthy blood cells change and grow uncontrollably.
  • Lymphomas – This is cancer that begins in the lymphatic system. The lymphatic system is a network of vessels and glands that help fight infection.

Risk Factors

Even though over 75 percent of cancer cases are diagnosed in people aged 55 or older, increased age alone is not a risk factor for cancer. Statistics show that 5 to 10 percent of cancers are genetically inherited and those cancers tend to occur earlier in life.

Risk factors could include genetics (the BRCA genes, for example) lifestyle (such as smoking, diet, and sun-tanning), environmental exposures or the presence of harmful substances. Viral and bacterial infections also lead to certain cancers, such as the hepatitis virus in liver cancer, Helicobacter pylori in stomach cancer and the HPV virus in cervical cancer.

Stages of Cancer

Stage 0: Cancers at this stage are identified according to the location where they initially emerged and multiplied with the resulting tumor not have spread to nearby tissues. The prognosis for Stage 0 cancer is very good and boosting the immune system may reverse cancer.

Stage 1: Small cancerous tumors may have spread to nearby tissue but not beyond, such as the bloodstream or lymph system. “Early stage” cancer prognosis is also quite good with healthy changes preventing its return.

Stage 2 and 3: “Regional spread” indicates that cancer has expanded and embedded into the surrounding tissue. Even though this stage may cause concern, cancer has not spread to other organs in the body.

Stage 4: When cancer spreads from the initial site to other organs or areas of the body, it is referred to as “distant spread” cancer, advanced cancer, or metastatic cancer. Metastasis refers to the spread of cancer cells from the place where they first formed to another part of the body.

Did You Know?
While there is so much fear associated with Cancer, the statistics are not completely hopeless.
1. Nearly 70% of people diagnosed with cancer all over the world live for more than five years.
2. Over 85% of cases of childhood cancer are curable.
3. Even the most resistant cancers, like melanoma, respond to immune-modulating treatments.

Cancerism

Cancer survivors often battle stigma that can be removed through awareness. Noted oncologist Dr Amish Vora of HOPE Oncology clinic in New Delhi cautions against ‘Cancerism’ which is worse than racism and sexism as it is tough to pinpoint. “Cancer is not infectious yet people avoid those who are diagnosed with it and patients often find it difficult to socialize. They may be discriminated against during job interviews or even in relationships,” explains Vora.

Fact Sheet

According to the World Health Organization, the most common types of cancer that kill men in order of frequency are lung cancer, stomach cancer, liver cancer, colorectal cancer and oesophageal cancer. WHO statistics say that the five most common cancers that kill women in order of frequency are breast cancer, lung cancer, stomach cancer, colorectal cancer, and cervical cancer. According to Specialist Oncologist Dr (Col.) R Ranga Rao, 17 lakh new patients are being diagnosed with cancer every year in India which ranks 3rd in cancer cases after China and the US. The data from National Institute of Cancer Prevention Research (NICPR) reports that for every two women newly diagnosed with breast cancer, one woman dies of it in the country, and almost half million deaths happen due to ignorance about the disease. One woman dies of cervical cancer every 8 minutes in India. Nearly one-third of cancers are caused due to tobacco use while alcohol and tobacco together pose higher risks of developing oral and other cancers.

Globocan’s worldwide data states says that there were 14.1 million new cancer cases, 8.2 million cancer deaths, and 32.6 million people living with cancer within 5 years of diagnosis in 2012. 57% (8 million) of those new cancer cases, 65% (5.3 million) of the cancer deaths, and 48% (15.6 million) of the 5-year prevalent cancer cases occurred in the less developed regions. The overall age-standardized cancer incidence rate is almost 25% higher in men than in women with rates of 205 and 165 cases per 100 000 person-years, respectively.

Anti Cancer Diet

Food has an important link to diseases and the focus on building immunity to prevent or to fight cancer (during Chemotherapy) has resulted in research into plant-based diets that seem to help prevent cancer. Some plant chemicals fight cancer cells directly, while others promote a healthy immune system to reduce cancer risk. Fruits, vegetables, chocolate, tea, and wine are considered beneficial as they contain polyphenols. Spices and herbs rich with flavonoids and carotenoids also reduce oxidation and inflammation thus providing multiple benefits.

To read more on Cancer, click on the link below,

https://famhealth.in/infocus-detail/cancer

Quinoa-Stuffed Peppers Recipe

 
  

The month of October is the Annual Breast Cancer Awareness Month. In October various health campaigns are organised to spread messages and to remove the fear from the minds of people telling them that this cancer is curable.Breast cancer can be cured if it is detected in the early stages. Here awareness and early detection are of utmost importance. Self-examination of the breast is of great help in detecting breast cancer.

The early symptoms of breast cancer are

  • A lump in the breast or underarm that is often painless and persists.
  • Pain or tenderness in the breast and a swelling in the armpit.
  • A pittish surface on the breast which looks like the skin of an orange.
  • Change in the size of the breast.
  • Nipple retraction.
  • Often the nipple can develop a scaly rash with itching and burning sensation.
  • An unusual discharge from the nipple which may be bloodish or of a light colour.

The key to fight this cancer is to be aware of changes in the body and to visit a doctor without losing out on time. We must spread the message of awareness to as many people as we can and save many precious lives.

  • Let us all get together to
  • Support the fighters
  • Admire the survivors
  • Honour the taken
  • And never ever give up hope

 

Article by, Mrs Sudha Murgai –Director India,Roko Cancer Charitable Trust

New research on Breast Cancer

 
  

The efforts to find a treatment for breast cancer are ongoing. Researchers are developing new drugs and treatment for cancer. Research done in the labs if found successful are then taken to the clinical trials for further confirmation of the drug or any treatment therapy.

Some latest research carried out for breast cancer is as below:

Monoclonal antibodies developed in the lab:

They are being developed to work alone or with chemotherapy and radiation therapy to find and attack cancer cells. Our bodies do not recognize cancer cells as foreign body; this therapy aims to develop certain antibodies which start to recognize cancer cells as foreign cells and starts fighting with them. Trastuzumab (Herceptin) is an example of an FDA-approved monoclonal antibody.

Anti–angiogenesis drugs:

Anti–angiogenesis drugs block angiogenesis (the growth of new blood vessels). In this research cancer cells are devoid the supply of blood vessels, which will not allow them to grow further. This research aims to develop such drugs which can restrict the supply of blood vessels especially in metastatic breast cancer (MBC).

Immunotherapy:

Immunotherapy aims to develop the body’s immune system to fight cancer cells. An example is cancer vaccines. Vaccines may be made up of cancer cells or parts of cancer cells. These cells stimulate the body’s natural defense to help attack and kill cancer cells. They are currently under study for MBC.

Food and cancer Research:

A study conducted at Loma Lind University, looked at several dietary items and the risk of prostate, colorectal, and breast cancer. This research revealed that a vegetarian diet was associated with a slightly lower cancer risk (particularly in gastrointestinal cancers), and a vegan diet was associated with a lower risk of cancers of female organs and prostate cancer. A lower rate of breast cancer was found when high amounts of foods such as soy isoflavones were consumed. The research also revealed that cooked tomatoes were associated with lower prostate cancer risk. Studies have revealed that high fibre diet minimizes the risk of bowel cancer. Foods high in fibre include fruits, vegetables, pulses and wholegrain foods, the best source is whole grains. Scientists are trying to find the reason for consuming high fibre diet and less risk of cancer.

Salt-preserved foods and cancer:

Salt-preserved foods have found to increase the risk of stomach cancer. Some salt-preserved foods are pickled vegetables, salted fish and cured meats. Salt could increase stomach cancer risk by damaging the stomach lining, which causes inflammation or the stomach lining becomes sensitive to cancer causing chemicals. Salt may also react with stomach bug called Helicobacter pylori that is linked to both stomach ulcers and stomach cancer.