Cancer

Driven by the evidence, not by rhetoric or anecdote, we describe what the reality of research actually shows to be true. Myth 1: Cancer is a man-made, modern disease While it’s certainly true that global lifestyle-related diseases like cancer are on the rise, the biggest risk factor for cancer is age. Myth 2: Superfoods prevent cancer Blueberries, beetroot, broccoli, garlic, green tea… the list goes on. Despite thousands of websites claiming otherwise, there’s no such thing…

People who eat a high-protein diet during middle age are more likely to die of cancer than those who eat less protein, a new study finds. However, for people older than 65, a moderate protein intake may actually be beneficial, and protect against frailty, the researchers said. The researchers looked at more than 6,000 people ages 50 and older, and followed them for 18 years. They found that people ages 50 to 65 who ate a diet rich in animal proteins during middle age were more…

Death stared at me up close this year, says cancer survivor Minakshi Ray. What did that teach her about life? As I sit back and take stock of how 2014 treated me, I would say, it was a mixed bag. There have been losses and gains. I don't mean material losses or gains, rather I will remember the year in terms of the emotional journey. Following my battle of survival against breast cancer, my perspective on life has changed completely. The biggest realisation that has dawned…

What is ovarian cancer Ovarian cancer is cancer that develops in one or both the ovaries. It can then spread to other parts of the body. Cancer in the ovaries can also be a secondary cancer, the result of metastasis from a primary cancer elsewhere in the body. 7% of ovarian cancers are due to metastases while the rest are primary cancers that occur in the ovaries itself. Cancer occurring primarily in breast or in gastrointestintinal tract most often tend to metastasise to the ovaries. Ovarian…

India and South-east Asia has high incidence of anaemia. Family practitioner Dr Gita Mathai tells you all you need to know about this often-silent threat that can pose many complications.  What is anaemia? Anaemia (or Anemia) is a generic term for low haemoglobin in the blood from any cause. It is not a disease by itself. It can occur in different forms and be caused by many factors.  Anaemia is diagnosed when the haemoglobin value checked in the laboratory is…

Ananda Shankar Jayant talks of what inspired and gaver her strength to deal with Breast Cancer, its treatment, its aftermath "I realized then that I, who thought I had complete control of my life, had control of only three things: My thought, my mind -- the images that these thoughts created -- and the action that derived from it.  And I found that in my dance, my dance, my strength, my energy, my passion, my very life breath. But it wasn't easy. Believe me, it definitely wasn't easy…

By nutritionist Kohila Govindaraju Being overweight has been linked with the increased risk of breast cancer, endometrial (uterus), and colorectal cancer. So keep your BMI at 25 or less with these foods that reduce your waist and your cancer risk: Fruits, vegetables, wholegrains and pulses are rich in vitamins and minerals, boosting your immune system. Go for dark coloured beans (rajma, brown beans, green beans, black-eyed beans) and brightly coloured vegetables and…

Stages of prostate cancer There are 4 stages of Prostate Cancer In stage I-Cancer is found in the prostate only                                     In stage II-Cancer is more advanced than in stage I, but has not spread outside the prostate.                                      In stage III-Cancer has…

More than half of bladder cancers in the US are the result of smoking, and 90 per cent of smokers with the disease are aware of the connection, according to a new study. "Bladder cancer is actually the second most common smoking-related cancer, second only to lung," said lead author Dr. Jeffrey C. Bassett of Kaiser Permanente Southern California in Anaheim. Although previous studies had suggested that few people understood the connection between bladder cancer and tobacco, this new study found…

Minakshi Ray talks about her experience – the weird and the wonderful - while being treated for breast cancer.  I was scheduled for my first chemotherapy session on April 17, 2013. Even though I believe “ignorance is bliss” sometimes, and I dared not search for information on side effects on the all-pervasive Google, it was difficult to shield myself from information overload on the matter from sources primary, secondary and tertiary! Full of apprehension, I checked…