Cancer

Dr Radha Goyal, Deputy Director of Indian Pollution Control Association (IPCA), New Delhi, shares the research on how the carcinogenic elements in the air we breathe are lethal in more senses than one. The current pollution levels in our country, particularly in Delhi/NCR – how threatening is it for lung cancer cases? The latest urban air quality database released by the World Health Organization (WHO) reconfirms that most Indian cities are becoming death traps because of very high air…

The most important factor in medical emergencies is to not panic, think calmly and act quickly and effectively. Mariyam Raza Haider, 26, recounts an emergency due to side effects of chemotherapy for her father's treatment of oral cancer and the lessons she learnt from it. This concludes the two-part series. One of the biggest concerns when taking care of a cancer patient on chemotherapy is the bout of side effects. The most common side effects of any form of chemotherapy are — nausea,…

Mariyam Raza Haider, 26, gives a first person account of how she makes her father’s chemotherapy cycles for aggressive oral cancer as easy and comfortable as possible. This is the first of a two-part series. Chemotherapy, despite being one of the most rigorous medical treatments, demands a pretty simple administration regime. More often than not, cancer patients spend a few hours at the hospital’s daycare, get the chemo drugs through intravenous catheters, and are then discharged. Most side…

Pancreatic is known for not presenting any symptoms early on, making it one of the most difficult cancers to catch in early stages. Symptoms when they do show depend on the exact location and type of cancer. Symptoms are also non-specific and can be quite ambiguous. Symptoms can be due to other gastrointestinal conditions and often seem to come and go. These include: Abdominal and back pain; is usually worse after eating or while lying down. Sitting forward may seem to provide relief.…

The following are the standard treatment protocols for pancreatic cancer. The combination of treatment choices would depend on the specific case and the staging of the cancer. Chemotherapy : can be given before (neoadjuvant) or after (adjuvant) surgery to shrink the tumor. It can also be used to destroy cancer cells that may have spread. It can be given along with radiation called chemoradiotherapy. One or multiple drugs may be given in combination for better efficacy. Commonly used drugs for…

In most cases, due to late diagnosis of Pancreatic Cancer, the mean survival period is less than 6 months. In such cases, management of Pancreatic Cancer should include: Palliative chemotherapy helps reduce the symptoms of pancreatic cancer thus improving the quality of life for the patient. Be sure to discuss side-effects with your Oncologist before starting. Pain management with opioid analgesics, nerve blocks and morphine (at later stages). Relief of duct blockages using a stent during ERCP…

In order to diagnose Pancreatic Cancer and to determine the staging of Pancreatic Cancer, the following tests are used by medical professional  Blood test: To check on liver and kidney functioning. Tumor marker: Blood drawn to check levels of CA 19-9. Note: not all pancreatic cancers produce this marker! Ultrasound: Abdominal ultrasound is required to check pancreas and surrounding organs. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS): This is an ultrasound guided endoscopy (insertion of a thin tube with a…

There is no way to prevent pancreatic cancer but certain lifestyle changes may help lower the risks of pancreatic cancer. These include: Quit all form of tobacco use. Lose excess body weight. Exercise daily to stay fit. Lower or limit alcohol use. Avoid workplace exposure to chemicals that are known carcinogens.  

The exact cause of most Pancreatic cancers is still unknown but there are established risk factors that greatly increase the likelihood of getting cancer in the pancreas. Most risk factors affect or alter the DNA of the cells that causes abnormal growth of cells; such DNA mutations can also be due to inherited genes. The most common type of pancreatic cancer is Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Risk factors of Pancreatic Cancer: Tobacco use: this includes both smoking and smokeless…

What is Pancreatic Cancer The pancreas is a 6 inch long organ seated behind the stomach in the upper abdomen. The pancreas is responsible for producing digestive enzymes and hormones such as insulin and glucagon. When cells in the pancreas grow uncontrollably forming a tumor, it is termed Pancreatic Carcinoma. The pancreas is divided into head, body and tail. Cancer can grow anywhere in the pancreas. 60-70% of all tumors occur in the head; 20-25% in the body or tail, and rest are spread…