Cancer

Cuddles Foundation is one of the few NGOs in India that provides holistic nutritional support to impoverished children so that they can survive the trauma of cancer. In an interview founder-member Purnota Dutta Bahl stresses the need to fight malnutrition to save lives.  How important is nutrition in the fight against childhood cancer? 50,000 children are diagnosed with cancer every year in India. Only 22% of these even make it to the hospital for treatment. 4 out of 10 children…

There are several treatment options for controlling leukemia based on status and severity. Several prognostic features, such as the patient's age and overall health are taken into consideration before deciding a particular treatment regimen. The five major approaches to the treatment of leukemia are: Radiation Therapy Chemotherapy Immunotherapy Targeted therapy Stem Cell Transplantation Surgery (in specific cases only) Radiation Therapy  Radiation therapy is one of the many tools used to…

Diagnosing leukemia Physical Exam: During a physical exam, a doctor may look for lumps (formed by accumulation of abnormal cells in the skin). Also known as Choloromas or Skin rashes. A thorough medical history will be taken and the patient can report a family history of leukemia or any symptoms or risk factors. Blood Tests: Blood tests, like a complete blood count (CBC) can detect leukemia. A CBC determines the number of white blood cells, red blood cells and platelets. It can also count…

What are the types of leukemia? There are several classification systems for classifying leukemia. However, based on degree of disease progression, the two major forms are acute and chronic. Acute leukemia is fast-growing and can overwhelm the body within a few weeks or months. The new cells, called blasts (immature WBCs) cannot perform normal physiological functions. Due to longer life span, these cells continue to rise in circulation. Chronic leukemia in contrast progresses slowly. The blood-…

During the treatment of leukemia, it is important to manage the side effects of the treatment and maintain a healthy lifestyle to the extent possible. Read tips on how to manage the various aspects of a healthy and balanced diet, ensure enough nutrition, regular exercise to ensure oxygen supply to cells.  If the treatment includes Chemotherapy, there will be certain side effects. Here are some tips on managing the side effects of Chemotherapy.  Join a support group that you can speak…

Preventing Leukemia Since the causes of leukemia are not known, it is difficult to define clear preventive measures. The best you can do is reduce impact of risk factors of Leukemia. Some types of leukemias can be prevented by avoiding high doses of radiation, smoking, tobacco use, chemical substances like benzene and certain chemotherapeutic agents used for other cancers.   

What are the causes of leukemia? The exact cause of leukemia is unknown. Different kinds of leukemia are believed to have different causes. Environmental and heriditary factors seem to play a role. Some are inherited and some are non-inherited factors.  Risk factors of Leukemia Exposure to radiation.  Atomic bomb survivors in Japan had a signifiant risk, even to fetuses exposed during intitial months.Risks associated with CT scans and X-rays is not yet known. Previous treatments…

What are the signs and symptoms of leukemia? Blood clotting is poor - Incompletely matured white blood cells crowd out blood platelets, which are crucial for blood clotting. Hence patient may bruise or bleed easily and heal slowly. He may also develop petechiae (small red or purple colour spots on the body, caused by minor haemorrhage). Immune system affected - The patient's white blood cells, which are crucial for fighting against infection, may be suppressed or not working properly.…

What is Leukemia? Blood is a specialised organ that differs from other organs in that it exists in fluid (liquid) state. It makes up approximately 7% to 10% of normal body weight and amounts to 5 to 6L of volume. Blood is made up of  three types of cells and certain cellular fragments floating in a liquid called plasma. Red Blood Cells (RBCs) or Erythrocytes are responsible for carrying oxygen to various parts of the body while the White Blood Cells (WBCs) or Leukocytes help with the body’…

Gayathri Ananthakrishnan, Chief Executive, IndianProstateCancerFoundation shares her hope. The history of mankind and the world has been intertwined with the outbreak of epidemics and diseases . Their impact changed the lives of generations and the evolution of medical science. But through it all, the human spirit has prevailed and fought on with hope and with new armour to its armamentarium. Vaccines, antibiotics , anaesthetics, radiotherapy, chemotherapy and invasive…