Myths, Symptoms And Signs Of Cancer

Some myths, symptoms & signs that shouldn’t be ignored
Having any of these does not mean that you have cancer. Many other things cause these signs and symptoms, too. If you have any of these symptoms and they last for a long time or get worse, please see a doctor to find out what's going on.

Sudden weight loss: Most people with cancer will lose weight at some point. When you lose weight for no known reason, it's called an unexplained weight loss. An unexplained weight loss of  4-5 kg or more may be the first sign of cancer. This happens most often with cancers of the pancreas, stomach, esophagus (swallowing tube), or lung.

Fever: People with cancer will have fever at some time, especially if the cancer or its treatment affects the immune system. This can make it harder for the body to fight infection. Less often, fever may be an early sign of cancer, such as blood cancers like  leukemia or lymphoma.

Extreme tiredness: Extreme tiredness that doesn't get better  even with rest. It may be an important symptom as cancer grows. But it may happen early in some cancers, like leukemia.  Some colon or stomach cancers can cause blood loss that's not obvious. This is another way cancer can cause fatigue.

Pain may be an early symptom with some cancers like bone cancer or testicular cancer. A headache that does not go away or get better with treatment may be a symptom of a brain tumour. Back pain can be a symptom of cancer of the colon, rectum or ovary. Most often, pain due to cancer means it has already spread  from where it started.

There may be other causes for each of these, but it's important to see a doctor about them as soon as possible, especially if there's no other cause you can identify, the problem lasts a long time, or it gets worse over time. Some other common symptoms are change in bowel habits,  sores that do not heal, white spots on the tongue, lump in breast or other parts of the body, Indigestion or trouble in swallowing.

Myths busted
Myth: All breast cancers can be detected on a mammogram.
Fact: No screening test is perfect, and mammography is no exception. Factors like age or breast density can influence the look of breast tissue on a mammogram, making cancers more or less difficult to recognise. In general, screening mammograms are less effective in younger women because they tend to have denser breasts. About 25 % of cancers in women ages 40 to 49 aren’t picked up by mammogram, compared with about 10% in women older than 50.

Myth: Your chance of getting breast cancer decreases with age.
Fact: Women above 50 years of age are at more risk of getting breast cancer.  Over 80% of new breast cancers diagnosed each year are in women age 50 or older.

Myth: Mammograms are unsafe and ineffective.
Fact: Screening mammograms are the international gold standard for detecting breast cancer early. Mammograms can usually find lumps 2 or 3 years before a woman or her health care provider can feel them.

Myth: Radiation exposure during a mammogram can cause cancer.
Fact: Mammograms require  small doses of radiation. The risk of harm from this amount of radiation exposure is extremely low, and the benefits outweigh the risk involved. Furthermore, there has never been a case of breast cancer caused from radiation exposure during a mammogram. So, there are no chances of getting cancer because of mammogram.

Myth: Pregnant woman can't get breast cancer.
Fact: This is not true. Breast cancer is actually the most common cancer in pregnant women. When women are pregnant or breastfeeding, their breasts are naturally more tender and enlarged, which may make it harder to find a lump or notice any other changes. 
                

Palliative care
Palliative care in cancer patients involves not only treating symptoms of disease and side effects of the treatment at the earliest but also to provide physical, social and spiritual care to patient. It is usually given by a specialised medical team which comprises of the oncology physician, oncology nurse, allied physicians and other support staff along with the caregiver of the patients.

What to do

• Understanding the diagnosis & the stage of the disease by the patient and his attendants.
• To know about the possible treatment options.
• Awareness of the side effects of the treatment.
• Understanding of the expected changes in lifestyle associated with the disease and treatment.
• Arrangement of finances required for the treatment and palliative care.
• Keeping the medical and life insurance policies of the cancer patient alive.
• Adoption of the process of rehabilitation and recovery after treatment.
• To understand the stress of the caregiver and provide resolution to his issues.
• Provision of a support system for the patient and his family to cope for the loss of a loved one.
• Integration of palliative care as integral part of treatment of cancer patients.

5 common cancers in women and men
According to the latest data published in 2018, the total number of new cancer cases in India is 1157294. A total of 22,58,308 people are suffering from cancer and are alive. The number of cancer deaths in India is 7,84,821.

The most common cancers among males in India is Lip & oral cavity, lung, stomach, colorectal and esophagus.
The most common cancers among women in India are Breast, Cervix, ovary, Lip & oral cavity, colorectal cancers.

common in children
LEUKEMIA: It is the most common type of cancer in children. It can be either ALL (Acute lymphocytic leukemia) or AML (Acute myeloid leukemia). Symptoms associated with leukemias are fatigue, weakness, bone and joint pain, pale skin, bleeding or bruising, fever and weight loss.

LYMPHOMAS: It is a cancer of the immune system cells, lymphocytes. It is mainly of two types: Hodgkins Lymphoma and Non Hodgkins Lymphoma.
The common symptoms are enlargement of lymph nodes, most commonly in the neck, armpit and groin, low grade fever, loss of appetite and weight, fatigue, night sweats.  

CNS & SPINAL CORD TUMOURS: Brain tumours are more common than spinal tumours. Most of the brain tumours occur in the central part of the brain called the brain-stem and posterior part called cerebellum. These are associated with frequent headaches, vomiting, nausea,  visual symptoms like diplopia or blurring, gait disturbances, difficulty in balancing and coordination.

Retinoblastoma: This is a tumor of the eye. It  is usually seen in early childhood between the age of 2 to 6 years and is characterised by an unusual appearance of the eye. The pupil of the eye appears to be white or pink and not black.

 THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.                                    PS- THOSE INTERESTED IN RECIPES ARE FREE TO  VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                                           https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com/       
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7 Foods That Should Never Cross Your Lips

Clean eating means choosing fruits, vegetables, and meats that are raised, grown, and sold with minimal processing. Often they're organic, and rarely (if ever) should they contain additives. But in some cases, the methods of today's food producers are neither clean nor sustainable. The result is damage to our health, the environment, or both. 

So we decided to take a fresh look at food through the eyes of the people who spend their lives uncovering what's safe—or not—to eat. We asked them a simple question: "What foods do you avoid?" Their answers don't necessarily make up a "banned foods" list. But reaching for the suggested alternatives might bring you better health—and peace of mind.

1. Canned tomatoes

The problem: The resin linings of tin cans contain bisphenol-A, a synthetic estrogen that has been linked to ailments ranging from reproductive problems to heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. Unfortunately, acidity (a prominent characteristic of tomatoes) causes BPA to leach into your food. Studies show that the BPA in most people's body exceeds the amount that suppresses sperm production or causes chromosomal damage to the eggs of animals. "You can get 50 mcg of BPA per liter out of a tomato can, and that's a level that is going to impact people, particularly the young," says the Dr. 
The solution: Choose tomatoes in glass bottles (which do not need resin linings),. You can also get several types in Tetra Pak boxes.
Budget tip: If your recipe allows, substitute bottled pasta sauce for canned tomatoes. Look for pasta sauces with low sodium and few added ingredients, or you may have to adjust the recipe.

2. Corn-fed beef

An expert gives us the scoop:
The problem: Cattle evolved to eat grass, not grains. But farmers today feed their animals corn and soybeans, which fatten up the animals faster for slaughter. But more money for cattle farmers (and lower prices at the grocery store) means a lot less nutrition for us. A recent comprehensive study  found that compared with corn-fed beef, grass-fed beef is higher in beta-carotene, vitamin E, omega-3s, conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), calcium, magnesium, and potassium; lower in inflammatory omega-6s; and lower in saturated fats that have been linked to heart disease. "We need to respect the fact that cows are herbivores, and that does not mean feeding them corn and chicken manure," says the expert.
The solution: Buy grass-fed beef, which can be found at specialty grocers, farmers' markets, and nationally at Whole Foods. It's usually labeled because it demands a premium, but if you don't see it, ask your butcher.
Budget tip: Cuts on the bone are cheaper because processors charge extra for deboning. You can also buy direct from a local farmer, which can be as cheap as $5 per pound. 

3. Microwave popcorn

A senior scientist gives us the scoop:
The problem: Chemicals, including perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), in the lining of the bag, are part of a class of compounds that may be linked to infertility in humans, according to a recent study. In animal testing, the chemicals cause liver, testicular, and pancreatic cancer. Studies show that microwaving causes the chemicals to vaporize—and migrate into your popcorn. "They stay in your body for years and accumulate there," says a Dr., which is why researchers worry that levels in humans could approach the amounts causing cancers in laboratory animals.
The solution: Pop natural kernels the old-fashioned way: in a skillet. For flavorings, you can add real butter or dried seasonings, such as dillweed, vegetable flakes, or soup mix.
Budget tip: Popping your own popcorn is dirt cheap.

4. Non-organic potatoes

A farmer gives us the scoop:
The problem: Root vegetables absorb herbicides, pesticides, and fungicides that wind up in soil. In the case of potatoes—the nation's most popular vegetable—they're treated with fungicides during the growing season, then sprayed with herbicides to kill off the fibrous vines before harvesting. After they're dug up, the potatoes are treated yet again to prevent them from sprouting. " Try this experiment: Buy a conventional potato in a store, and try to get it to sprout. It won't," says a farm director. "I've talked with potato growers who say point-blank they would never eat the potatoes they sell. They have separate plots where they grow potatoes for themselves without all the chemicals."
The solution: Buy organic potatoes. Washing isn't good enough if you're trying to remove chemicals that have been absorbed into the flesh.
Budget tip: Organic potatoes are only $1 to $2 a pound, slightly more expensive than conventional ones.

5. Farmed salmon

Dr. talks about contamination in fish, gives us the scoop:
The problem: Nature didn't intend for salmon to be crammed into pens and fed soy, poultry litter, and hydrolyzed chicken feathers. As a result, farmed salmon is lower in vitamin D and higher in contaminants, including carcinogens, PCBs, brominated flame retardants, and pesticides such as dioxin and DDT. According to the specialist, the most contaminated fish come from Northern Europe, which can be found on American menus. "You could eat one of these salmon dinners every 5 months without increasing your risk of cancer," says the expert, whose 2004 fish contamination study got broad media attention. "It's that bad." Preliminary science has also linked DDT to diabetes and obesity, but some nutritionists believe the benefits of omega-3s outweigh the risks. There is also concern about the high level of antibiotics and pesticides used to treat these fish. When you eat farmed salmon, you get dosed with the same drugs and chemicals.
The solution: Switch to wild-caught Alaska salmon. If the package says fresh Atlantic, it's farmed. There are no commercial fisheries left for wild Atlantic salmon.
Budget tip: Canned salmon, almost exclusively from wild catch, can be found for as little as $3 a can.

6. Milk produced with artificial hormones

a scientist gives us the scoop:
The problem: Milk producers treat their dairy cattle with recombinant bovine growth hormone (rBGH or rBST, as it is also known) to boost milk production. But rBGH also increases udder infections and even pus in the milk. It also leads to higher levels of a hormone called insulin-like growth factor in milk. In people, high levels of IGF-1 may contribute to breast, prostate, and colon cancers. "When the government approved rBGH, it was thought that IGF-1 from milk would be broken down in the human digestive tract," says the sceintist. As it turns out, the casein in milk protects most of it, according to several independent studies. "There's not 100% proof that this is increasing cancer in humans," he admits . "However, it's banned in most industrialized countries."
The solution: Check labels for rBGH-free, rBST-free, produced without artificial hormones, or organic milk. These phrases indicate rBGH-free products.
Budget tip: Try Wal-Mart's Great Value label, which does not use rBGH.

7. Conventional Apples

a farm-policy research group that supports organic foods, gives us the scoop:
The problem: If fall fruits held a "most doused in pesticides contest," apples would win. Why? They are individually grafted (descended from a single tree) so that each variety maintains its distinctive flavor. As such, apples don't develop resistance to pests and are sprayed frequently. The industry maintains that these residues are not harmful. But the researcher counters that it's just common sense to minimize exposure by avoiding the most doused produce, like apples. "Farm workers have higher rates of many cancers," he says. And increasing numbers of studies are starting to link a higher body burden of pesticides (from all sources) with Parkinson's disease.
The solution: Buy organic apples.
Budget tip: If you can't afford organic, be sure to wash and peel them. But he personally refuses to compromise. "I would rather see the trade-off being that I don't buy that expensive electronic gadget," he says. "Just a few of these decisions will accommodate an organic diet for a family." 

THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        PS- THOSE INTERESTED IN RECIPES ARE FREE TO  VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                                           https://gseasyrecipes.blogspot.com/                                                                                                                                                                             FOR INFO ABOUT KNEE REPLACEMENT, YOU CAN VIEW MY BLOG-                                                                                                                             https:// kneereplacement-stickclub.blogspot.com/                                                                                       FOR CROCHET DESIGNS                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 https://gscrochetdesigns.blogspot.com