Tag: cancer victims india

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

Breast-Cancer-Info

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.

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.

Blood Cancer - Leukemia

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!