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WELCOME !!

Posted by SeemaVarma on 2 July 2010, 7:27 pm Sticky post

Cure sometimes, treat often, comfort always. Hippocrates. Every aspect is precious and the humanitarian satisfaction achieved is eternal.

The bottom line for prevention of any cancer, and for that matter any health problems, is a healthy lifestyle. Eat healthy, exercise and stay healthy!! And research in cancer supports this. A low fat diet, physical activity and exercise have all been associated with a lower risk. Obesity, especially in postmenopausal women, increases the risk of breast cancer. Moderation in alcohol intake is associated with a lower risk of cancer. Avoid smoking. Some studies suggest that vitamin D and aspirin intake may prevent some cancers , although not conclusively.

So, all in all, stay healthy, develop good habits, eat good, exercise, avoid smoking and alcohol – and reduce risk of not only cancer, but several health problems.

More on prevention, early diagnosis, treatment and suvivorship of cancer! Stay tuned!

“Variety is the flavor of life. For those unwilling to learn, knowledge won’t matter. Read to satisfy your own wonder, and pity those who have none.”
“The problem with this world is that foolish are always absolutely sure while wise people are always full of doubts”

Filed under Breast Cancer. Tagged brain tumors, breast cancer, cancer, carcinoma, colon cancer, Diagnosis, endometrial carcinoma, hematology, hepatocellular carcinoma, leiomyoma, leukemia, lung cancer, Lymphoma, melanoma, mesothelioma, myelodysplasia, myeloma, myeloproliferative disorder, nasopharyngeal cancer, Oncology, ovarian cancer, pancreatic cancer, Prevention, renal cell cancer, sarcoma, seminoma, survivorship, teratoma, testicular cancer, thymoma, tumor, tumor lysis

40 Comments

Poor pain management for cancer patients

Posted by SeemaVarma on 30 April 2012, 5:00 pm

According to the researchers at University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, pain is as prevalent as it was twenty years ago among ambulatory oncology patients with common solid tumors. In their study, 33% of cancer patients were not prescribed adequate pain medications. Minorities were twice as likely to have inadequate pain management, which may be attributed to communication gaps, cost issues and cultural differences in attitudes toward pain.

Effective communication and patient education are essential elements to assess and manage pain. There is also a need for increased awareness regarding necessity of adequate pain control and methods to achieve the goal, both among oncologists and primary care physicians.

Link to article:

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/762764

Filed under Palliative Care Medicine. Tagged cancer pain, oncologists, pain, palliative medicine

Comment

Diesel exposure increases risk of dying from cancer

Posted by SeemaVarma on 17 March 2012, 9:30 am

According to a recent study published in JNCI, diesel exposure increases the risk of getting lung cancer and dying from it. The risk of getting lung cancer was threefold higher for those exposed to diesel and in non-smokers, it was seven-fold higher.
The risk of dying from lung or esophageal cancer as well as chronic lung disease was increased.
The risk for lung cancer associated with exposure to diesel exhaust remained, even after controlling for other occupational environmental hazards, such as silica, asbestos, nondiesel poly-aromatic hydrocarbons, and respirable dust.
Occupational and environmental control measures need to be stringently enforced to reduce health impact. This includes improving ventilation, maintaining vehicles, limiting the use of diesel engines in enclosed spaces, turning them off when not in use and is necessary, use of appropriate respiratory protective equipment.

Reference: JNCI, March 5, 2012

http://jnci.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2012/03/05/jnci.djs034.abstract

Filed under Breast Cancer. Tagged cancer, cancer mortality, cancer risk, diesel, esophageal cancer, lung cancer, occupational exposure, occupational hazard

Comment

Avoid pregnancy while on Tamoxifen

Posted by SeemaVarma on 20 February 2012, 8:22 am

Tamoxifen is the agent of choice for prophylaxis or treatment of breast cancer in premenopausal women. Tamoxifen is teratogenic and conception should be avoided while on treatment with Tamoxifen, which is usually for 5 years at least.
The adverse effects of tamoxifen on fetal outcomes was summarized recently by Braems and coauthors (The Oncologist 2011; 16: 1547). Tamoxifen during pregnancy resulted in 12 to 43% fetal congenital anomalies or malformations. Spontaneous abortions, stillbirths and terminations of pregnancy were common in the series reported.

Filed under Breast Cancer. Tagged breast cancer, pregnancy, Tamoxifen

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Urine test may preclude the need for repeat prostate biopsy

Posted by SeemaVarma on 16 February 2012, 3:37 pm

Urinary prostate cancer gene3 (PCA3) assay can identify prostate cancer cells directly in urine and is accurate in picking up prostate cancer 90% of the time. This test in now FDA approved in men aged 50 or older who have had previous negative biopsies (1 or more) and have been recommended repeat biopsy based on elevated PSA levels. This test may preclude the need to invasive prostatic biopsy replacing it with simple urine test.

Filed under Breast Cancer. Tagged prostate biopsy, prostate cancer, prostate cancer gene assay, prostate specific antigen, PSA, urine test

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Gene profile test can help prevent excessive radiation

Posted by SeemaVarma on 3 January 2012, 2:54 pm

Genomic Health recently presented long awaited results of the use of gene profile assay, Oncotype DX , in stage 0 breast cancer (ductal carcinoma in situ; in-situ breast cancer) at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium December 2011.

Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is pre-invasive breast cancer which is historically over-treated due to lack of tools able to reliably differentiate low risk from high risk disease. Oncotype DX assay was able to predict the risk of disease recurrence within the breast with higher certainty compared to other known factors (grade, size, type of DCIS and menopausal status of the woman). It can supplement traditionally used prognostic factors and help in identifying a subgroup of women at low enough risk to be able to forego radiation therapy.