Archive for the ‘Cancer’ Category

A new study has shown racial disparity regarding breast cancer. According to the findings, black women are prone to get this disease but the exact reasons for this mystery are unknown.

Black women are comparatively heavier and researchers believe that this fact might provide some explanation to the mystery.

“This has been an important question,” said Susan M. Gapstur of the American Cancer Society, who wasn’t involved in the new work.

Earlier studies have also associated obesity to breast cancer but this relationship is not properly tested yet.

The latest study, promulgated in Journal of Clinical Oncology, is the most comprehensive till now.

Yani Lu of City of Hope in Duarte , California and his team collected data for around 4500 women staying in major cities of America. It was found that after 8 years, around 14 percent of white women and 25 percent of the black died of the disease.

“It is always important to maintain a healthy weight, for a variety of reasons,” said Gapstur.

Like most other cancers, mesothelioma treatment also depends upon the staging of the disease. If the disease or cancer is yet localized without any spread, the physician can think of surgery. Removal or debulking of the affected region can be done if the mesothelioma is diagnosed at early stage with the help of imaging techniques like CT scan and MRI scan. Also biopsy of lung tissue can help diagnose the condition exactly.

Once diagnosed, staging is done with the help of these techniques. If the cancer is already metastasized to distant organs or neighboring lymph nodes, the surgery cannot be a fruitful option and one may have to go for

chemotherapy and radiation therapy. But at times, these options may also not offer help. This is the time when the victim is advised some clinical trials in the mesothelioma centers where such facility is available. The trials are the treatments those are not completely proven methods but have proved useful in some patients.
Some other treatment options like photodynamic therapy, immunotherapy, gene therapy, monoclonal antibody therapy, cytokines therapy, and some alternative therapies like homeopathy are tried in these patients. Obviously these therapies or any treatment can be initiated if the patient and his relatives give consent for the same. But one thing is sure that mesothelioma cancer has poor prognosis unless treated promptly. So, whatever steps are thought of and are taken should be taken fast by doctor and patient’s relatives. Only then there are chances to extend the patient’s life by some years.

Cervical cancer or cancer of cervix (the lower narrow uterine part) is one of the commonest cancers affecting women. The incidence is higher in African-American women than Caucasian women. However, the underdeveloped countries report the highest rate of cervical cancer due to lack of knowledge regarding effective screening facilities.

Every woman should know some facts about cervical cancer as much as she should know about breast cancer. This puts her in positive frame of mind and also it is then possible to avert the danger in its inception. Let’s see the facts:

(1) If you have crossed forty years of age, the “pap-smear” testing must be done to diagnose any cervical problem much in advance.

(2) After the test is done, ask your healthcare professional to describe the problem to you properly. This will enable you to know the stage of cancer if prevailing. Mild dysplasia or low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (SIL) is quite common and with early treatment, complete cure can be achieved.

(3) Know the risk factors for cervical cancer. They are:

- HPV (Human Papillomavirus) infection. This is one of the precursors for development of cervical cancer. The high-risk group of HPVs causes cervical cancers and not all types.

- Early age of first sexual intercourse and more number of sexual partners make woman more prone to cervical cancer.

- Women who are smokers are about twice more likely to develop cervical cancer than non-smokers.

- If the mother of a woman is given the drug Diethylstilbestrol (DES) during pregnancy to avoid miscarriage, her daughter has high chances of developing cervical cancer.

(4) The HPV vaccine is a great way to tackle HPV infections in young girls who have not yet contacted the virus through sexual contact. Even the high risk women should be vaccinated for protection against cervical cancer.

(5) Early detection of cervical cancer is the key. Diagnosed early, the cancer has good prognosis. But in late stages nothing much can be done to prevent metastasis of the cancer to distant body parts.

Well, prevention is obviously better than cure. So, beware of your sexual activity. Also check yourself regularly by Pap test and keep yourself updated about your positive health status! It’s definitely worth it!