Tag: blood cancer

Why You Should Know About Cancer?

Being diagnosed with Cancer can be one of the most frightening experiences anyone can have. Studies reveal that 1 million new Cancer cases are being diagnosed in India every year. The news of being diagnosed with Cancer can leave you in a state of emotional turmoil which is enough for anyone to lose all hopes to live and surrender to this disease.

We often think, that we are completely healthy and immune from Cancer as there is no history of Cancer in our family. But as a matter of fact, anyone with a normal and healthy lifestyle and healthy genes can get Cancer. Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in the world, particularly in developing countries.

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Few reasons why knowing about Cancer helps:

  1. Be aware – Being prepared and taking preventive actions can only do well to your health. Most people still think Cancer is a deadly disease which has no cure. Their knowledge about the disease is very limited which can only worsen the situation.
  1. Know about warning signs – Do you know 80% of Cancers are curable if they are diagnosed at an early stage? Cancer can be prevented if you know the warning signs in advance. When should you visit a doctor? What are the risk factors that cause Cancer? Information like these can make you more familiar with the disease and help you get rid of fears and clear the myths around Cancer.
  1. Know about Carcinogens – Carcinogens are substances in the environment that can cause Cancer. By Knowing about them, you can avoid them and lower your risk of getting Cancer.
  1. Remove the stigma around Cancer – Talking about Cancer is still a social stigma in India, which has increased the burden of this disease. A lot of people take Cancer as a synonym of death. It’s high time we start talking about it and make people aware about it.
  1. Be an emotional support to cancer patients – Cancer patients go through a lot during their treatment. Treatment has an intense effect on their health and personality. If nothing, one can definitely provide emotional support to them and motivate them to not lose their hope during this tough journey. Assure them that you have their back and will not let them fall.

One such initiative is Crab Curry – a Cancer support group, in which one gains knowledge about Cancer not only for himself but for others as well. Anyone can join Crab Curry on Facebook and become a part of this community.

What You Should Know About Cancer?

Cancer can leave you shocked, sad, devastated, and helpless! All at the same time.

There is a need to be aware of this disease because irrespective of gender, caste, creed and province, Cancer can affect anyone!

There are many forms of cancer, but all of them start with out-of-control growth of abnormal cells. More than 100 types of Cancer have been discovered and researched on.

What you should know about Cancer

In recent times, Cancer cases and deaths have increased at an alarming rate. Studies reveal that Cancer has become the biggest cause of deaths in India with 1,300 deaths daily and about 5 lakhs deaths every year. Among Indian men, stomach cancer cases grew by 33% since 1990, while prostate cancer shot up by 220%. While among women, breast cancer has had one of the highest increase at 166%. Increased population, unhealthy lifestyles, use of tobacco and tobacco products, unhealthy diet, lack of diagnostic facilities are some of the factors that attribute to a high rate of mortality in Cancer.

On hearing the word CANCER itself, our mind gets occupied with so many negative connotations about it. A lot of people believe it to be synonymous with death, but recent studies and researches in the field of Oncology have proven that a disease like Cancer can be cured and avoided if certain preventive measures are taken before time.

Prevention and early detection are as crucial as the treatment of Cancer. Early detection can help save a life, and it can only happen if you know how many kinds of Cancers are there, what their symptoms and treatments are and how it can be prevented. One needs to have proper knowledge about it and to get that knowledge it is important for one to know the source of such information. We have started this initiative to help those who seek knowledge and it also opens new gate for Cancer patients and survivors to share their stories and inspire others to be open about it. Join us and be a part of world full of hope, positivity and inspiration!

Breast Cancer – Know it. Fight it. Share about it.

Breast Cancer is a malignant tumor that starts in the cells of breasts. Malignant tumors are cancerous and are made up of cells that grow out of control & spread to other parts of the body.  Usually Breast Cancer begins in the cells of the lobules, which are milk-producing glands or the ducts that act as passage from which milk is drained to the nipple. Less commonly known, Breast Cancer can also begin in the stromal tissues, which include the fatty and fibrous connective tissues of the breast.

Breast Cancer is currently the leading form of Cancer among Indian women. About 1.3 lakh fresh cases of Breast Cancer are reported in India every year, which has increased due to lack of awareness among people. It is estimated that 1 in 28 women is prone to develop Breast Cancer during her lifetime. Moreover, an age shift has been noticed recently among women who are diagnosed with this disease – approximately 61% of Indian women diagnosed with Breast Cancer are in the age group of 35-50 years.

Despite being a serious disease, which is on a rise these days, not many women are aware that early detection and regular breast screening can do wonders in preventing its occurrence. Every women above 25 years of age should do regular Breast Self-exam once every month and look for symptoms like:

  • Swelling in the breast
  • Skin irritation or dimpling
  • Breast pain
  • Nipple pain or the nipple turning inward
  • Redness, scaliness, or thickening of the nipple or breast skin
  • A nipple discharge other than breast milk
  • A lump in the underarm area

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Though it is more commonly found in females, but males too can get Breast Cancer. Male Breast Cancer cases constitute 1% of all the Breast Cancer Cases. Having a family history of Breast Cancer can also put you at a higher risk of developing Breast Cancer. Besides that, radiation exposure, obesity and hormonal imbalance are some other risk factors.

However, healthy habits may help reduce your risk of developing Breast Cancer, such as:

  • Exercise at least three times per week
  • After the age of 40, have an annual mammogram
  • Perform your breast self-exam every month
  • Take any lumps or Breast change seriously
  • Limit your alcohol consumption to 2-3 drinks per week
  • Get plenty of sleep every night and stay stress-free

 

We all know that early detection is the best protection and can increase the chances of survival in 80% of the cases. Many women diagnosed with it turn into its victims due to their ignorance and unawareness. Moreover, there is a social stigma associated with Breast Cancer as people still hesitate to openly talk about it. This creates a vicious cycle of fear and misinformation among masses. It’s time we get rid of our inhibitions, raise awareness about avoidable cancer risks and importance of early detection.

Think before you get inked

Tattooing, a form of body art has been around for thousands of years. Anthropologists believe that it evolved ages ago as cuts in the skin to form scars – a decidedly painful process. That physical suffering depicted a leap in spiritual development and also passed as a tribal symbol of belonging to a certain tribe or religion. The colour, extracted from soot or plants, came much later.

However, with evolving times, this form of body art has been adapted as an art of expression; depicting human feelings, self-expression, religious traditions, sexual motivation or belonging to a community or a group. To some it is about being trendy, while to others it may be a matter of conviction. Be it for fun or as a form of art, not many people are aware of the fact that they are injecting hazardous chemicals into their skin as they get themselves inked!

Tattoos are permanent as ink is injected into the deep layer of the skin.  Earlier, natural dyes were used as ink but today many of these ink contain an unknown conglomeration of metallic salts (oxides, sulphides, and selenides) which are harmful and have many ill-effects on your skin. Many of these chemicals were originally intended for use in printer inks and in automobile paints and the same is used on your skin in the form of a tattoo; so it certainly deserves a second thought!

The message here is not to make you say NO to tattooing, but to make you more aware of its pros and cons.Tattoos and risks associated

Risk associated with Tattoo:

  • Infection – When same needle is used by multiple persons, it may pass infection, like HIV and hepatitis, from one person to another
  • Allergies – Getting a Tattoo makes one prone to many skin allergies and also causes itching and rashes
  • Scarring – Unwanted scars while getting or removing a tattoo
  • Granulomas – The human body may treat some particles of tattoo pigment as foreign material in your skin and may result in small knots or bumps
  • MRI complications – In certain cases, while undergoing MRI scans there might be swelling or burning in the Tattoo

Moreover, the long-term effects of using a Tattoo ink is still unknown, as there has been no research on the safety of tattooing by any government regulatory agency.

You can lower your risk by taking a few simple precautions:

  • Get your Tattoo done at a licensed store where health and safety rules are followed
  • Watch out for used needles and ask the tattoo artist to use new needle each time
  • Ensure disposable gloves is used and proper hand hygiene is followed before and after getting a tattoo.
  • Equipment must be properly cleaned and sterilized
  • Cover your fresh Tattoo with sterile gauze or a bandage

Before getting a Tattoo, get yourself mentally prepared for it. Don’t pressurize yourself to get tattooed just for the sake of fashion or emotional expressions. Do your research, take precautions and proper safety measures before you decide to get inked!

What you must know about Leukemia – a type of Blood Cancer

In India, cancer is one of the leading causes of deaths and nearly 13 per cent of all deaths caused every year are due to Cancer.

While there are more than 100 types of Cancer that have been discovered till now, a common type of Cancer which is prevalent these days is Blood Cancer.

In Blood Cancer, the rapidly multiplying cancerous cells attack different aspects of the circulatory system. The most commonly known Blood Cancer is Leukemia, which affects blood and blood-forming tissue of the bone marrow. In Leukemia, our body produces a large number of abnormal cells.

The average rate of Leukemia incidence in India is still lower than that of other developing countries. Yet in the past five years, there has been a 30 per cent rise in the number of victims affected by Leukemia in Delhi.

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For a better understanding, it is important to distinguish between Normal Blood Cells and Leukemia Cells.

Difference between Normal Blood Cells and Leukemia Cells

Our blood is made up of a fluid called plasma and three types of cells with specific functions. These cells are:

  1. White Blood Cells – Fight infections
  2. Red Blood Cells – Carry oxygen to different parts of the body
  3. Platelets – Form blood clots that prevent bleeding

Bone marrow is a soft spongy tissue found in some of the bones in the body, such as the hip and thigh bones, where blood cells are formed.

In Leukemia, a person’s body produces too many abnormal white cells that are also called Leukemia Cells. It is, therefore, also called cancer of white blood cells. These abnormal white cells keep dividing continuously. Moreover, these cells don’t die when they become old or damaged which begins to impact important functions performed by our blood cells.

Chronic and Acute Leukemia

Leukemia can be classified into two types – Chronic and Acute Leukemia – depending on how quickly it develops and progresses.

In Acute Leukemia, new Leukemia cells are born rapidly and these cells are unable to do the job of normal white blood cells. A person with Acute Leukemia feels tired most of the time, gets bruised and infected easily than normal.

Chronic Leukemia develops slowly and these cells work like normal white blood cells. In this type of Leukemia, symptoms may go unnoticed since the person doesn’t feel sick at all in the beginning. One may get to know about it only after a blood test.

Causes and Symptoms

The exact cause for most of the Leukemia cases is still unknown. However, some factors that increase the chances of its occurrences include exposure to high level of radiation, high exposure to certain chemicals like benzene, smoking etc.

Many-a-time, people are unable to identify its symptoms. these include –  fever, night sweats, frequent infections, weakness and fatigue, frequent headaches, decreased appetite and weight loss, easy bruising of the skin etc.

Diagnosis

Leukemia can be diagnosed with a simple blood test by examining samples of your blood and bone marrow. Other than the blood test, following tests are recommended too:

  • Bone marrow biopsy
  • Lymph node biopsy
  • Lumbar puncture

There are many tests related to Leukemia available at Oncquest Laboratories at affordable prices. Oncquest Laboratory is well-equipped with state-of-the-art facilities and specialist doctors to diagnose Leukemia at the right time, for better prevention!