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,…
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Anxiety disorders can be disabling and dangerous, if left untreated or suppressed. Smriti Sawhney, an experienced Clinical Psychologist, emphasises the importance of identifying anxiety triggers early and nipping it in the bud either on your own or with professional help before it becomes irrational and cripples your daily routine. An estimated 264 million people in the world are living with anxiety disorders. That is a lot of people, but not everyone is seeking help to treat their anxiety.…
Nearly 42 million people in India suffer from thyroid diseases. Thyroid dysfunction can play havoc with your life and normal functioning, if left uncontrolled. Dr. Manoj Chadha, Consultant Endocrinologist at Hinduja Healthcare Surgical, helps us understand the various complications of thyroid disorder and the importance of early detection and management. What are the 5 common thyroid problems and disorders? Hypothyroidism [Decreased function of thyroid gland] Hyperthyroidism [Overfunction of…
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…
