Cancer

What tests do you need to have done 1.  Personal and family history The doctor will ask about your medical history and whether or not any close relatives were diagnosed with prostate cancer. He or she may also ask about certain symptoms that might indicate prostate disease (including cancer). Waking during the night to urinate, frequent need to urinate, or difficulty starting or stopping while urinating may indicate that your prostate is enlarged. These symptoms suspect but do not raise…

Symptoms Early prostate cancer often does not cause signs or symptoms. When signs of prostate cancer do occur, they may include: Urinating more often, especially at night Difficulty starting urinating or holding back urine Not being able to urinate Weak or interrupted flow of urine Painful or burning urination Painful ejaculation (release of semen through the penis during orgasm) Blood in the urine or semen Frequent pain or stiffness in the lower back, hips or upper thighs Other late symptoms…

Can prostate cancer be prevented: Proactive Screening Prostate screening can help identify several non-cancerous conditions that can become uncomfortable if left untreated. It is also currently the only known method of detecting prostate cancer during its early silent stages, when more treatment options are available. Speak to your doctor about this. Current recommendations from respected authorities are:                        …

Are you at risk of developing prostrate cancer Prostate cancer is unusual because it does not behave the same way in all men.  Sometimes the cancer will spread rapidly throughout the body and cause death.  More often it causes few, if any, symptoms for many years, and the man is more likely to die from other health issues than prostate cancer. Because of this, the lifetime risk of a man being diagnosed with prostate cancer is 16% (1 in 6) while the lifetime risk of dying from prostate…

Prostate cancer,also known as carcinoma of the prostate,is a malignant tumour in the prostate, a gland in the male reproductive system. The prostate is a walnut-sized gland located between the bladder and pelvic floor in men. The urethra (tube that carries urine from the bladder to exit the body) passes through the middle. The prostate is also the sex gland that produces the milky white fluid that helps carry and nourish sperm. Most prostate cancers are slow-growing; though some may grow…

A poem by Rita Banik, Founder, RACE to rein-in-cancer The never uttered word CANCER  The word that fills our heart with grief  Turns our feet cold with fear The word that haunts and shatters … How long shall we go on fearing? How long shall we keep running away? The more we run, the faster it chases  The faster you erase the quicker it re-appears! Now cancer invokes anger in me The anger that returns  Every time someone is diagnosed   Every time cancer takes a life…

By Dr Raghuvirsinh Solanki, Consultant plastic and Oncoreconstructive Microsurgeon. Are all breast cancer patients, who have had their breast removed, eligible for reconstruction? All patients wishing to undergo breast reconstructive surgery are eligible for reconstruction provided medical fitness and stage of cancer allows it. We do not offer reconstruction in advanced stages usually as it delays adjuvant treatment. What are the different types of reconstruction…

Ovarian cancer survivor, Meghna, 30, tells you why. Here, she shares her experience – symptoms and treatment – and her learnings. Please tell us a bit about your condition.  I have a rare form of ovarian cancer called Granulosa Cell Tumour (GCT). These are classified as stromal tumours originating from the sex cord. GCT accounts for about 2-3% of all ovarian cancer cases. I was staged 1a (12x7cm tumour removed intact). When were you diagnosed?  I was diagnosed in…

Food and Nutrition Cancer and cancer treatments can be harsh on the body. Lack of appetite, weight loss and muscle wasting are common during cancer and treatment. Healthy food choices that are high in calories and proteins can boost cell growth, weight gain and improve recovery. Here are some tips for good nutrition that can be followed while treatment is ongoing: Eat small  and frequent snacks Eat every few hours Include lots of leafy greens and vegetables in the diet (but make sure they…

The options depend on the type of cancer, how far it has spread, age, lifestyle and the health status of the patient. There is no single treatment for cancer and doctors often combine different types of treatment. Surgery - Surgery is the oldest known method of treating cancer. Surgery is quite effective if the cancer has not spread or metastasised. Surgery is often combined with other forms of therapy, like radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Chemotherapy - Chemotherapy is generally used when the…