BRAIN TUMOURS

The central nervous system of human body comprises of brain, spinal cord and their coverings. Tumor can develop in any of the above mentioned areas. The outcome of treatment is highly variable depending on the diagnosis whether benign or malignant. In benign tumors, patients can lead their lives in a normal way, whereas in malignant tumors, survival depends on grade of tumor. Higher the grade, lower the survival. Any tumor in the brain can be either primary (arising from the brain or its coverings) or secondary (metastatic lesion in the brain from primary cancer in some other part of body like lung, breast etc.). Secondary metastasis to brain is more common than primary brain tumor. Of all primary tumors, gliomas (GBM- glioblastoma multiforme) are most common in adults. They are most malignant or rapidly spreading tumors. The second most common tumors are meningiomas, which arise from the coverings of the brain. Meningiomas are relatively benign brain tumors with better prognosis and disease free survival. WHO (World health organisation) has classified brain tumors in 4 grades. Grade I and II tumors have better prognosis while grade III and IV have poor prognosis.

BREAST CANCER

As people rightly say “think before you pink!”. Breast cancer incidence has increased significantly in recent years. It is estimated that one in every eight women has a chance of developing breast cancer. Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in women & second leading cause of death after lung cancer in women of age group 35 to 54 years. It can also occur in men, though incidence is rare.

PROSTAT CANCER

The prostate gland is a walnut shaped solid organ of male reproductive system that surrounds the male urethra below the base of urinary bladder & lies in the front of the recturm. It is the most prevalent cancer in elderly age group men & 2nd most common cause of death due to cancer

STOMACH CANCER

Stomach cancer is the second leading cause of cancer related deaths worldwide. It is more common in men as compared to women.

CERVICAL CANCER

In the developing countries like India, this is the most common malignancy seen in women of age group 45 to 55 Years.

LUNG CANCER

Lung cancer is the most common malignancy and also a leading cause of death worldwide, both in men and women.

CANCER PREVENTION

Cancer prevention is action taken to lower the chance of getting cancer. By preventing cancer, the number of new cases of cancer in a group or population is lowered. Hopefully, this will lower the number of deaths caused by cancer. Many things in our genes, our lifestyle, and the environment around us may increase or decrease our risk of getting cancer. Scientists are studying many different ways to help prevent cancer.

At least one-third of all cancer cases are preventable. Prevention offers the most cost-effective long-term strategy for the control of cancer. Tobacco use is the single greatest avoidable risk factor for cancer mortality worldwide, causing an estimated 22% of cancer deaths per year. Although 1 billion people worldwide already smoke and more will start, individuals who stop smoking reduce their smoking related cancer risks effectively. A balanced public health strategy is therefore needed that not only prevents young individuals from starting to smoke, but also helps adults stop smoking. Although the beneficial effects of smoking cessation were first observed for lung cancer, evidence is now available that smoking cessation has similar effects of reducing risk for the other main tobacco-related cancers like cancer of kidney, urinary bladder, oral cavity, esophagus, stomach and pancreas. Compared with smokers who continue to smoke, the increase in lung cancer mortality is lower for individuals who quit smoking by age 50 years and even lower for individuals who quit smoking by age 30 years. Never smokers have the lowest cumulative lung cancer mortality. Among ever smokers, the estimated cumulative risks of death from lung cancer by age 75 years are 16% for men who continue to smoke cigarettes, 6% for men who stop smoking by age 50 years, and 2% for men who stop smoking by age 30 years. The pattern is similar among women. In other words, the earlier an individual stops smoking, the lower the risk of lung cancer.

The risk of various types of cancer including cancer of the breast, colon, lung, kidney and liver increases with the amount of alcohol you drink and the length of time you’ve been drinking regularly. If you choose to drink alcohol, do so only in moderation.

Dietary modification is another important approach to cancer control. There is a link between overweight and obesity to many types of cancer such as oesophagus, colorectum, breast, endometrium and kidney. Diets high in fruits and vegetables may have a protective effect against many cancers. Excess consumption of red and preserved meat may be associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer.

Regular physical activity and the maintenance of a healthy body weight, along with a healthy diet, will considerably reduce cancer risk. National policies and programmes should be implemented to raise awareness and reduce exposure to cancer risk factors, and to ensure that people are provided with the information and support they need to adopt healthy lifestyles. As a general goal, include at least 30 minutes of physical activity in your daily routine and if you can do more, even better. Try a fitness class, rediscover a favourite sport or meet a friend for daily brisk walks.

Infectious agents are responsible for almost 22% of cancer deaths in the developing world and 6% in industrialized countries. Viral hepatitis B and C cause cancer of the liver; human papilloma virus infection causes cervical cancer; the bacterium Helicobacter pylori increases the risk of stomach cancer. In some countries the parasitic infection schistosomiasis increases the risk of bladder cancer and in other countries the liver fluke increases the risk of cholangiocarcinoma of the bile ducts. Preventive measures include vaccination and prevention of infection and infestation.

Occupational cancers are concentrated among specific groups of the working population, for whom the risk of developing a particular form of cancer may be much higher than for the general population. More than 40 agents, mixtures and exposure circumstances in the working environment are carcinogenic to humans and are classified as occupational carcinogens. That occupational carcinogens are causally related to cancer of the lung, bladder, larynx and skin, leukaemia and nasopharyngeal cancer is well documented. Mesothelioma (cancer of the outer lining of the lung) is to a large extent caused by work-related exposure to asbestos. About 20–30% of the male and 5–20% of the female working-age population (people aged 15–64 years) may have been exposed to lung carcinogens during their working lives, accounting for about 10% of lung cancers worldwide. About 2% of leukaemia cases worldwide are attributable to occupational exposures.

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation, and in particular solar radiation, is carcinogenic to humans, causing all major types of skin cancer, such as basal cell carcinoma (BCC), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and melanoma. Avoiding excessive exposure to sunlight, use of sunscreen and protective clothing are effective preventive measures. UV-emitting tanning devices are now also classified as carcinogenic to humans based on their association with skin and ocular melanoma cancers.

Regular self-examinations and professional screening for various types of cancers such as cancer of the skin, colon, prostate, cervix and breast can increase your chances of discovering cancer early, when treatment is most likely to be successful. Some types of cancer can be found before they cause symptoms. Checking for cancer (or for conditions that may lead to cancer) in people who have no symptoms is called screening. However, not all types of cancer have screening tests and some tests are only for people with specific genetic risks. Screening programme available for early detection of breast cancer includes annual mammography, annual clinical breast examination and monthly breast self examination for women of 40 years of age and above. This can reduce breast cancer mortality by upto 35%. Screening for cancer cervix should begin by 3 years of onset of a woman’s sexual life or at 21 yrs of age. This is performed by annual Pap smear examination. If Pap shows atypical/abnormal cells, biopsy should be performed to rule out cancer. Treatment of early lesions is very inexpensive compared to the management of invasive cancer. There are several outpatient treatment options available for treating pre-cancerous lesions of cervix. They include conization, cryotherapy and electro-cautery. Implementation of cervical cancer screening program in developed nations has significantly reduced cancer mortality. Screening for colorectal cancers should begin at the age of 50yrs by annual fecal occult blood test & colonoscopy once in every 5 years. For individuals who have family history of colorectal cancer, colonoscopy should be performed once in every 1-2 years beginning at the age of 25yrs. This approach has shown survival benefits in many studies. Screening for prostate cancer should begin from the age of 50 yrs by annual serum PSA and digital rectal examination. Early detection of organ confined prostate cancer gives excellent cure rate with local radiotherapy.

Genetic counselling of family members of cancer patients, who are at risk of having genetic abnormalities which can lead to cancer in future, plays an important role in prevention and early detection of cancer. Cancers known to have genetic predisposition include hereditary colorectal cancer, hereditary breast cancer, retinoblastoma, ovarian cancer and testicular tumors.

Take cancer prevention into your own hands, starting today. The rewards will last a lifetime.

CAREGIVER ROLES

There are many different ways to help someone with Cancer—and it takes a team.

DIETORY GUIDELINES

People with cancer often need to follow diets that are different from what they think of as healthy. For most people.