Q; what is worse than a dead dog on your piano?
A;A diseased pussy on your organ.
joke
A Lady;I heard you guys don't wear any inners?
Scottish Man; Touch and see,
She touches; Oh, that's gruesome.
Man; Try it again, it grew some more.
Scottish Man; Touch and see,
She touches; Oh, that's gruesome.
Man; Try it again, it grew some more.
Joke
1 Lady; Last Night, I came thrice.
2nd Lady; Ha, that's nothing, I came Like eight-ten times!
1st; Oh,that guy must be good.
2nd; You mean with 1 guy?
2nd Lady; Ha, that's nothing, I came Like eight-ten times!
1st; Oh,that guy must be good.
2nd; You mean with 1 guy?
Tackling Cancer - what you need to know
Cancer is probably the most well-known disease in the world. There are around 13 million new cases every year, with this number expected to rise to 22 million by 2030.
Different countries have very different cancer rates. This is partly because the risk is affected by lifestyle. Knowledge of the disease has advanced in recent decades but scientists are always battling to improve treatments.
BBC Health Correspondent Jane Dreaper explains more on the global fight to tackle cancer.
Man begins Windsor to Ottawa walk to end cancer
Mike Duhacek has watched his mother battle cancer for nearly three years.
It’s a disease that claimed the lives of two of his grandparents and when he discovered that one in three Canadians will be diagnosed with it, he decided to fight back.
For each one of the over 75,000 Canadians who will die of cancer this year, Duhacek is pledging to take 10 steps on their behalf in a walk across Ontario that he’s hoping will symbolize struggle, perseverance and ultimately burying cancer.
“I have a lot of frustration from watching both my grandparents fight the disease and both pass away from it and then with my mother going through three cancer surgeries and seeing what it actually does to people,” said the 36-year-old from Milton, Ont.
“I wanted to take that frustration and put it into something positive so I came up with dragging something around that depicts cancer, and what better depicts cancer than the actual word cancer?”
Written in large wooden letters, the word cancer is displayed on the side of a sled that he will be dragging behind him on his province-wide trek. The total weight of the sled is about 125 pounds.
“I want to take the word cancer and drag it behind me in the worst conditions, showing it no mercy and making it suffer like it does to so many people,” said Duhacek, whose walk begins at 7 a.m. today at the University of Windsor and should end in about a month in the nation’s capital.
“Once I get to Ottawa, I will actually physically bury the word in the ground where I think it belongs.”
Duhacek said he chose February specifically because it’s the month with the best chance for the worst kind of weather conditions.
Duhacek said he chose February specifically because it’s the month with the best chance for the worst kind of weather conditions.
“I hope it’s cold, I hope it’s blowing snow, I hope it’s freezing rain. I know that it’s going to be tough, and I want it to be tough. I think this journey represents that people can struggle but then can persevere, so that’s why I chose the winter for the walk,” Duhacek said.
“I just want to try and symbolize in a small way and give my sincere respect to anybody fighting the disease as well as any family members because I just see what a grueling disease it is.” It doesn’t just affect the person who gets it, but family members too, he said. “It spreads right through the family and to watch that suffering is not fun.”
Duhacek is dedicating the walk to all cancer patients and their families, and particularly his mother, Liz Crocket, who was first diagnosed with cancer in the spring of 2010.
“I’m going to help my son Mike bury cancer, before it buries me,” his mother wrote in a blog post on her son’s website, HelpMeBuryCancer.org.
After years of on and off chemo and radiation, a blood transfusion, physiotherapy and three surgeries, Crocket posted on Jan. 28 that her surgeon told her she was cancer-free.
She said it has been a journey she could not have walked without her family by her side.
“Our family’s not unique, we’re not special, we’re just an ordinary family who has cancer and there’s a lot of families out there that are experiencing the same feelings that we are,” Crocket said Saturday. She said she’s so proud of her son.
“Everyone says to me, ‘You must be so proud,’ but I think the word proud doesn’t quite describe it. I’m beyond proud.”
Dahucek hopes to raise a total of $250,000 for the Canadian Cancer Society, and has already raised $13,000.
“Having such an overwhelming amount of support before I even take a step speaks volumes,” said Dahucek.
He plans to be as visible as possible to the public on his walk, hitting as many urban centres he can along the way to raise awareness and collect donations.
Donations can be made through his website, HelpMeBuryCancer.org, where he will also be keeping a daily blog of his journey. More information can also be found on his Facebook page called Help Me Bury Cancer.
Since the spring, Dahucek has been training, which has included dragging 125 pounds behind him through his hometown. He has even practised resistance training by tying a harness to his waist and pulling his brother-in-law’s tractor.
He plans to walk about eight hours each day, burning 500 calories every hour while dragging the heavy sled. He said he’s aiming to walk 40 to 50 kilometres a day, but understands he may not always make that goal because he intends to stop along the way to talk to people who have also been affected by cancer.
“We need to do something to eradicate this disease,” he said.
He said he’s prepared as he can be for the challenge that starts today.
“I feel excited, I feel anxious, I feel ready, I feel focused,” said Duhacek. “And I’m ready to make a difference.”
Fungus find sparks infection worries in new cancer centre
One thousand patients of the Olivia Newton-John Cancer and Wellness Centre may be at risk of infection after fungal spores created by a water leak were detected in clinics last month.
But in an effort to dry the water-affected areas using fans, the spores and dust were blown through, exposing people to possible infection.
The Austin Hospital, of which the Olivia Newton-John centre is part, is making contact with the 1000 people who have been in the affected areas between January 17, when the leak occurred, and Friday.
The hospital's director of infectious diseases, Lindsay Grayson, said that there was only a "small potential" that people would become sick.
"This poses a theoretical risk only to patients who have weakened immune systems," he told ABC Radio.
He said the areas affected were the day oncology and the day outpatients clinics.
"I would be amazed if even one [patient] got an infection from this," Professor Grayson said.
The leak occurred on January 17, and in one of the twice-weekly air quality tests on January 24, the results of fungal culture testing were eight to 10 times higher than expected, he said.
Patients particularly vulnerable were those whose white blood-cell counts were low, such as leukaemia patients, he said.
Not one patient had yet become ill but if they were to, it would not happen until next week, Professor Grayson said. Typical symptoms include coughing and fever.
Professor Grayson said "very detailed cleaning" had occurred over the weekend and he was confident that the centre was now clean.
Anyone who believes they may have been affected can phone The Austin hospital on 9496 5000.
Govt to include cancer treatment under NHIS
WORRIED by the growing cases of cancer in the country, the Federal Government is perfecting plans to include cancer screening and treatment as part of the services offered by the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) and make the scheme mandatory.
The Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, in an exclusive interview with The Guardian Sunday ahead of the World Cancer Day today, said: “The main thing that will help us is when the NHIS is made mandatory. It will help us raise enough money to include cancer as part of the diseases that are treated under the scheme.
“Cancer drugs are very expensive. We are discussing with companies to come into the country and establish industries. We plan to encourage them by granting them incentives and bulk purchase of the drugs for the cancer centres,” he said.
Meanwhile, the World Health Organisation (WHO) survey for World Cancer Day released yesterday warned that more than half of all countries worldwide are struggling to prevent cancer and provide treatment and care to patients.
According to the WHO survey, this means that currently, many of the countries do not have functional cancer control plans that include prevention, early detection, treatment and care.
It said there is an urgent need to help countries reduce cancer deaths and provide appropriate long-term treatment and care to avoid human suffering.
Chukwu said the government also plans to acquire mobile cancer vehicle that will move from state to state to offer free cancer screening.
He added that the Federal Ministry of Health has developed some centres to offer free cancer screening in the six geo-political zones. The centres include: Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Nassarawa State; FMC Guzo in Zamfara State; National Obstetric Fistula Centre Abakiliki in Ebonyi State; University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, Rivers State; Ondo FMC, Ondo and Gombe FMC, Gombe State.
He explained: “We presently have nine Federal Government hospitals with linear accelerator (for the treatment of cancer) and one private hospital, Eko Hospital. But we found one major constraint with human resources in medical physicist. We did not have enough medical physicists. They are the ones that calculate the dose of radiation and calibrate the machine to deliver the dose.
“We have begun to train medical physicists with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) curriculum. We have a $37 million agreement with IAEA to pay in five years, which we are trying to meet up. We have paid only $7 million in three years. We are working with them and have started training medical physicists.”
Chukwu said the government has been negotiating with the Global Alliance for Vaccine and Immunisation (GAVI) to make the three doses of cervical cancer vaccine available for Nigerian girls for only N1,600. He said the cervical cancer vaccination is yet to be included in the national immunisation schedule to avoid overloading the scheme, which is already being stretched by the polio eradication efforts.
The World Cancer Day is a yearly event initiated by the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) that urges people, organisations and government agencies around the world to unite in the fight against the global cancer epidemic. This year, the campaign focuses on improving general knowledge of cancer and dispelling misconceptions about the disease.
According to the WHO, cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide. 7.6 million people died from cancer worldwide in 2008 and every year, almost 13 million cancer cases are diagnosed. Already, more than two-thirds of cancer cases and deaths occur in developing countries.
Research suggests that currently, a third of all cancer deaths are due to modifiable risks including tobacco use, obesity, alcohol and infections. If detected early, many types of cancer such as breast cancer and cervical cancer can be successfully cured.
The recent WHO survey on national capacity for non-communicable diseases, which included responses from 185 countries, revealed major gaps in cancer control, planning and services control plans with a budget to support implementation.
It noted that less than 50 per cent of countries have population-based cancer registries, which are critical to capture high-quality information on the numbers and types of cancer cases so that effective national policies for cancer control can be developed, implemented and evaluated.
Recently, political commitments from world leaders to address cancer have gained steam, including discussions at the national level of funding cancer treatment and care by raising taxes on tobacco and alcohol, which are known risk factors for some cancers.
In another development, vaccinators have defied the prevailing security challenges in some parts of the country and most areas in Northern Nigeria to reach millions of children aged between zero and five with the Oral Polio Vaccine (OPV).
The Guardian reporters monitoring the on-going four-day National Immunisation Plus Days (NIPDs), which started on Saturday, February 2, 2013, report that the vaccinators employed by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) and trained with technical support from the United Nation Children Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organisation (WHO), are pressing hard to reach the 50 million children target.
It was reliably gathered that some trained vaccinators had left their duty posts because of the security challenges, while others have been working under the fear of being molested or attacked by radical groups. It was also gathered that there has been high acceptance of the vaccine by most communities.
It was learnt that vaccinators have been allocated to communities and settlements with necessary logistics to avoid missing eligible children and prevent the spread of the virus, especially at the border communities.
Joint vaccinating teams exist at border states of Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, Kwara, Niger, Kebbi, Sokoto, Katsina, Jigawa, Yobe, Borno, Adamawa, Benue, Cross River, and Akwa Ibom.
Ogun State flagged off its NIPDs lunch of pentavalent vaccine on Friday at Itori Health Centre, Itori in Ewekoro Local Council Area, with the hope to capture 4,679,394 under-five children across the state.
Executive Director of NPHCDA, Dr. Ado Gana Mohammed, told The Guardian yesterday that the immunisation campaign is going on as planned.
Oncologists call for standardised treatment
The Indian Council of Medical Research is evolving standards of care and treatment protocols for 34 common types of cancer.
Purvish Parikh, managing trustee, Indian Cancer Care Society, and president, Indian Society of Medical and Paediatric Oncology, said the guidelines for some specific conditions were already available on the ICMR website, and subcommittees were working to define treatment for other conditions. “There are about 1,200 qualified oncologists for a population of 1.2 billion people. As a result, 60 per cent of patients with cancer are actually being treated by non-oncologists — general practitioners, or other specialists. This is where protocols vary and so do treatment options.”
Evolving guidelines by an apex body such as the ICMR would facilitate the much-needed standardisation of care in these sectors, he added.
“Non-oncologists will have to be partners, and clued into the latest developments in the field of cancer care. For practicing oncologists, it is a way in which they can fine-tune treatment,” Dr. Parikh explained.
Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPG) in Oncology were evidence-based, consensus-driven management guidelines for the clinician/practitioner, said Anitha Ramesh, Professor of Medical Oncology, Sri Ramachandra University (SRU), here. These guidelines aimed at ensuring that all patients received treatment, services that were most likely to lead to optimal outcomes.
Each CPG usually included information on the incidence of the malignancy, diagnostic criteria, stage of disease, risk assessment, treatment plans and follow-up and also preventive and supportive services, she added. The pressing need to evolve a set of guidelines appropriate to the context was behind the SRU’s recent initiative to bring together oncologists from different parts of the country together to arrive at consensus on standards for various cancers. It was also a run-up to the World Cancer Day observed on February 4.
“Most of the CPGs are based on guidelines from the U.S. or Europe. It is high time to evolve recent guidelines in oncology and analyse their applicability to the Indian patient scenario,” Dr. Anitha Ramesh said.
By selecting certain patients for certain types of treatment, not only would the outcome for that patient be better, but useless treatment could be avoided, said Dr. Parikh. “Earlier, if the primary cancer was in the colon and it had spread to the liver, the trend was to write the patient off, start palliative care maybe. But now, with better, targeted chemotherapy, patients have gone on to live for three to five years. One group of patients has also been cured,” explained S. Ayyappan, Director, Madras Cancer Care Foundation.
“The whole approach in cancer is now organ conservation without compromising the survival of the patient. With bone cancer, the old treatment methodology was amputation of the limb, now, conservation of the bone, and limb is a key element of treatment,” he added.
While different networks of oncologists have taken the initiative to standardise treatment over a period of time, the ultimate goal is to take it to medical schools.
To that effect, the Indian Cooperative Oncology Network recently inked a memorandum with the Union Health Ministry to impart oncology training to 336 medical colleges in India, Dr. Parikh said.
This will be one of the answers, oncologists agree, as it will orient all medical practitioners of the existence of guidelines, familiarise them with the procedures, and also underline the need to constantly update oneself of the advancements in medical and surgical management of cancer.
Cancer care should reaches far and wide
Cancer still strikes fear, but it needn't as advances in technology and medicine have almost vanquished the big C. In urban areas, there's hope of early detection and cure, with specialized doctors available. But this is not so rural parts, where the crucial combination of doctors, medicine and technology is yet to reach, and awareness of the disease is low. What we need are branches of the Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology in every district, so that cancer care reaches far and wide and needn't traumatize patients and their families. The availability of cheaper medicines to fight the disease is also critical, for not everyone can afford expensive treatment.
Vaccine group funds cervical cancer immunisations for poor
LONDON (Reuters) - The GAVI global vaccines group is to help protect more than 180,000 girls in eight countries across Africa and Asia from cervical cancer by funding immunisation projects with vaccines from Merck and GlaxoSmithKline .
The non-profit GAVI Alliance, which funds bulk-buy vaccination programmes for poor nations, said on Monday that Ghana, Kenya, Laos, Madagascar, Malawi, Niger, Sierra Leone and Tanzania would be the first countries to get its support for cervical cancer protection pilot projects.
Merck's Gardasil and GSK's Cervarix vaccines are the world's only two approved shots designed to protect against the sexually transmitted human papillomavirus (HPV) that causes the vast majority of cervical cancer cases.
More than 85 percent of cervical cancer deaths occur in developing nations and 275,000 women die of the disease each year. This means cervical cancer now kills more women worldwide than childbirth, claiming a life every two minutes, GAVI said.
Experts say the annual worldwide cervical cancer death rate could rise to 430,000 by 2030 if no action is taken to protect more women from it.
"Introducing the HPV vaccine in developing countries is the start of a global effort to protect all girls against cervical cancer," GAVI chief executive Seth Berkley said in a statement.
A study published in 2011 found that since 1980 new cervical cancer case numbers and deaths have dropped substantially in rich countries - many of which have screening programmes and have also recently introduced HPV vaccinations - but risen dramatically in Africa and other poor regions.
PRICE NEGOTIATIONS
GAVI - backed by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the World Health Organization, the World Bank, UNICEF, donor governments and others - has been working with the vaccine manufacturers to secure the most affordable price for the shots.
Merck has said it is prepared to offer Gardasil to GAVI countries at a deeply discounted price of $5 per dose, meaning a three-dose course would cost $15. GAVI has previously described this as a "a good starting offer".
The pilot projects are designed to give countries a chance to test whether they can put in place the systems needed to roll out HPV vaccines nationally.
Unlike most other vaccines, which are given to babies and children under age five, HPV vaccines are designed to be given to girls aged nine to 13 in an effort to protect them before they are likely to become sexually active.
One major challenge to effectively delivering HPV vaccines is that many developing countries do not offer routine health services for girls in this age group. But GAVI said initial experience in offering HPV vaccines through schools in Africa, Asia and Latin America had been encouraging.
By 2015, GAVI says it hopes to help more than 20 countries immunise around a million girls with HPV vaccines through pilot projects, and by 2020 it hopes to have helped more than 30 million girls in over 40 countries to get the vaccine.
Mumbai couple in city to bust cancer myths
Seventeen years after his death, the loss of her son to cancer brings tears to Neera Rao’s eyes.
Her husband Prabhakar Krishna Rao and she live with the aim to spread as much information as they can about cancer to anyone who cares to listen.
The couple is now doing the rounds of hospitals in Chennai trying to find doctors who will understand their role.
IRREPLACEABLE LOSS
Their son died in the prime of his life, leaving behind a young wife and a toddler son. He was diagnosed with lymphoma and within five months, died of it, much to the shock of doctors who predicted that he would survive.
In his memory, Mrs. and Mr. Rao set up a non-governmental organisation, investing all their earnings in it. The Mumbai-based couple used their funds and expertise to develop Jeet Association for Support to Cancer Patients.
It has been a difficult task to make even oncologists listen to their suggestions, they say.
“Doctors in India do not have the time to talk to patients. I don’t blame them. At the Tata Memorial Centre in Mumbai, doctors see a hundred patients every day. Where will they find the time to speak to each of them?” says Mr. Rao, a textile technologist.
The couple has been publishing books on various types of cancer and nutritious food and selling them at a nominal cost at the support centre. They have sold over two lakh books netting Rs. 40 lakh. The money has helped fund treatment of over 1,200 patients at a cost of Rs. 80 lakh.
COPING WITH THE DISEASE
“We target only those hospitals that treat cancers,” Mr. Rao says. “There are so many questions they want to ask. The doctor may say it is secondary cancer but the patient may think of it as ‘second stage’. We explain to patients and their families what the doctor has said and the kind of treatment that has been advised. We act as a bridge between doctors and patients,” he says.
Their efforts at educating patients and their families paid off when the Tata Memorial Centre offered them a small space to meet with patients after they emerged from doctors’ rooms. Their personal experience helps them empathise with the patient.
“I am a non-medical person and I tell the patient that I cannot play doctor. I cannot tell a patient if treatment will be successful but I can lend support by educating the patient,” he says.
They are also looking for volunteers who can translate their books into Tamil. “We do not want to sell our publications through bookstores. We will sell them only in organisations dedicated to treating cancers,” Mr. Rao says.
The NGO has a band of volunteers, including the Raos’ daughter in Bangalore, who is taking forward the message.
Incidentally, this year’s theme for World Cancer Day that will be observed on Monday is dispelling myths about cancer. Madras Medical College organised a rally on Sunday and Vasantha Memorial Trust, an organisation headed by an oncologist, held a painting contest for schoolchildren to spread awareness about the illness.
Don't ignore early signs of cancer
Cancer is notorious for striking without symptoms, but many cancers come with early signs that are often ignored. As a result, the diagnosis is delayed and the cancer gets time to spread to other parts of the body, making treatment more toxic and expensive.
In such a scenario, delaying a visit to the doctor can further lower a person's chance of cure, warn cancer specialists.
Many cancers come with signs that are so ubiquitous that people tend to ignore them. It could just be persistent cough that refuses to respond to antibiotic treatment, shortness of breath, headache, lesions in the mouth,unexplained weight, appetite loss, gas, acidity, indigestion, excessive menstrual bleeding, alteration in bowel movements or changes in moles in the body.
"Often, these are just infections but you need to get tests done to rule out the possibility, more so if the symptoms recur and continue for more than a couple of weeks," said Dr Anupama Hooda, director, medical oncologist, Max Hospital's Cancer Centre.
If diagnosed early, cancers have high cure rate. In India, however, a majority of cancers are detected only after they have crossed the second stage, which makes treatment more difficult.
"About 70% of cancer cases reach hospitals in Stage Three or Four and only 30% come in Stage One or Two. It obviously affects the cure rate. In our cancer centre, we get 15,000 new cancer cases every year," said Dr Pramod Kumar Julka, head of the department, radiation oncology at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences.
If diagnosed early, the patient may not require multiple treatment modalities, which means if the tumour is small, only surgery will do or the course of chemotherapy will be shorter and milder and the number of sittings for radiation therapy will also be smaller.
According to the Delhi Cancer Registry, responsible for the collection, storage, analysis and interpretation of data on people with cancer, lung, prostate and head and neck cancers are the top three cancers found among the Capital's men. Among Delhi women, breast cancer is common followed by cancer of the cervix.
Emphasising heavily on prevention, doctors divide the measures in two groups: primary and secondary.
Primary prevention means following a healthy lifestyle and doing away with certain preventable causes of cancer such as to stop the use of tobacco. "Tobacco, in both smoke and smokeless forms, is known to cause oral cancer. Lack of exercise and in-take of high fat diet also contribute in triggering abnormal growth of cancer cells," added Dr Julka.
Early detection through regular screening comes under secondary prevention. "Self-examination for any lumps in breast or groin, ultrasound of abdomen and pelvis, PAP smear and complete blood count and lipid profile screening should be made an annual practice," said Dr Hooda.
"Often, these are just infections but you need to get tests done to rule out the possibility, more so if the symptoms recur and continue for more than a couple of weeks," said Dr Anupama Hooda, director, medical oncologist, Max Hospital's Cancer Centre.
If diagnosed early, cancers have high cure rate. In India, however, a majority of cancers are detected only after they have crossed the second stage, which makes treatment more difficult.
"About 70% of cancer cases reach hospitals in Stage Three or Four and only 30% come in Stage One or Two. It obviously affects the cure rate. In our cancer centre, we get 15,000 new cancer cases every year," said Dr Pramod Kumar Julka, head of the department, radiation oncology at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences.
If diagnosed early, the patient may not require multiple treatment modalities, which means if the tumour is small, only surgery will do or the course of chemotherapy will be shorter and milder and the number of sittings for radiation therapy will also be smaller.
According to the Delhi Cancer Registry, responsible for the collection, storage, analysis and interpretation of data on people with cancer, lung, prostate and head and neck cancers are the top three cancers found among the Capital's men. Among Delhi women, breast cancer is common followed by cancer of the cervix.
Emphasising heavily on prevention, doctors divide the measures in two groups: primary and secondary.
Primary prevention means following a healthy lifestyle and doing away with certain preventable causes of cancer such as to stop the use of tobacco. "Tobacco, in both smoke and smokeless forms, is known to cause oral cancer. Lack of exercise and in-take of high fat diet also contribute in triggering abnormal growth of cancer cells," added Dr Julka.
Early detection through regular screening comes under secondary prevention. "Self-examination for any lumps in breast or groin, ultrasound of abdomen and pelvis, PAP smear and complete blood count and lipid profile screening should be made an annual practice," said Dr Hooda.
Plan to tackle cancer among indigenous
The National Indigenous Cancer Network (NICaN) will undertake indigenous cancer research as well as help deliver support to communities.
"The mortality rate among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with cancer is about 30 per cent higher than that of non-indigenous people", said NICaN co-ordinator Gail Garvey, who launched the centre on World Cancer Day in Sydney on Monday.
She said the agency was mainly an online network, which would provide evidence-based information on cancer among indigenous people, and "get researchers around Australia on the same page".
"We know that indigenous people are less likely to get surgery and other ... treatment, so we're trying to investigate some of the reasons why."
She said that until now, cancer had been a low priority on the indigenous health agenda, despite the disease being the second leading cause of death among indigenous people.
NICaN will also play an important role in educating indigenous people about cancer.
"Myths and cancer in the community go hand-in-hand. Many believe it's a death sentence," Ms Garvey said.
Adelaide Saylor, a 46-year-old indigenous woman from Brisbane, was diagnosed with breast cancer two years ago.
"I didn't know much about cancer because it was never spoken about in my mob, even though four of my aunties were diagnosed with cancer," she said.
"I think it was lack of knowledge of what was out there and what treatments and support there are."
Ms Saylor said NICaN's most important aspect, is that it will create a platform where Aboriginal people feel comfortable to talk about cancer.
World Cancer Day: How meat can be murder
When you consider the efforts to fight cancer, the image that most readily springs to mind might be the graphic warning labels added to cigarette packets sold in the UK and other countries, which have helped curb smoking and its associated health risks. Similar warnings should be placed on meat and dairy products for the same reason. Unlike foods from plants that enhance our health, meat and dairy products have the same hazards as cigarette smoking, including increased risks of strokes, heart disease and cancer.
According to Cancer Research statistics, nearly 425,000 cases of cancer were diagnosed across the UK in 2010, the most recent year of complete statistics – and more than 150,000 Britons died from the disease that same year. The World Health Organisation has determined that dietary factors account for at least 30 per cent of all cancer in Western countries and up to 20 per cent in developing countries.
Processed meat, such as bacon, sausage, ham, and the like, is so strongly linked with bowel cancer – the second-largest cause of cancer death in the UK – that no one should ever eat it, according to a recent report by the World Cancer Research Fund and the American Institute for Cancer Research, based on a systematic review of more than 1,000 papers on bowel cancer carried out at Imperial College London.
Countries with a higher intake of fat, especially fat from animals, such as meat and dairy products, have a higher incidence of breast cancer. Analysis of data from almost 15,000 male physicians found that men who consumed red meat at least five times per week had a higher risk of developing prostate cancer than men who ate red meat less than once per week. Other studies have concluded that meat consumption may increase the risk of kidney and pancreatic cancer.
A number of explanations have been advanced to link meat and cancer risk. In some cases, meat contains carcinogenic compounds formed during processing or cooking. In addition, the high fat content of meat and dairy products boosts hormone production, which increases the risk of hormone-related cancer, such as breast and prostate cancer.
If this information leads you to think of your fork as a powerful weapon, you're on the right track: it can defend you against cancer. It all depends on how you choose to load it.
Plant foods are rich in fibre, which speeds the passage of food through the colon, effectively removing carcinogens and changing the type of bacteria present in the intestine to reduce the production of carcinogenic acids. Vitamin C, an antioxidant found in citrus fruits and many vegetables, maylower risks for cancer of the esophagus and stomach by neutralising cancer-causing chemicals formed in the body and blocking the conversion of nitrates to carcinogenic nitrosamines in the stomach.
Carotenoids, the pigments that give fruits and vegetables their colors, have also been shown to help protect against lung cancer and may help prevent cancer of the bladder, mouth, larynx, esophagus and breast as well. Vegetables such as cabbage, broccoli, kale, turnips, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts contain flavonoids and indoles, thought to have anti-cancer activities. The soya foods enjoyed by many vegans contain anticarcinogens, including lignans and phytoestrogens.
Results from the UK cohort of the landmark European Prospective Investigation Into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) study found prominent differences between British meat-eaters and vegans. Vegans had less than halfthe mean intake of saturated fatty acids of participants who ate meat as well as the highest intakes of fibre, vitamin C and vitamin E.
Small wonder, then, that studies in England and Germany have shown thatvegetarians are about 40 per cent less likely to develop cancer compared to meat-eaters.
Quitting smoking remains an important way to reduce cancer risks, but giving meat, eggs and dairy products the boot is just as vital. Consider this information food for thought.
According to Cancer Research statistics, nearly 425,000 cases of cancer were diagnosed across the UK in 2010, the most recent year of complete statistics – and more than 150,000 Britons died from the disease that same year. The World Health Organisation has determined that dietary factors account for at least 30 per cent of all cancer in Western countries and up to 20 per cent in developing countries.
Processed meat, such as bacon, sausage, ham, and the like, is so strongly linked with bowel cancer – the second-largest cause of cancer death in the UK – that no one should ever eat it, according to a recent report by the World Cancer Research Fund and the American Institute for Cancer Research, based on a systematic review of more than 1,000 papers on bowel cancer carried out at Imperial College London.
Countries with a higher intake of fat, especially fat from animals, such as meat and dairy products, have a higher incidence of breast cancer. Analysis of data from almost 15,000 male physicians found that men who consumed red meat at least five times per week had a higher risk of developing prostate cancer than men who ate red meat less than once per week. Other studies have concluded that meat consumption may increase the risk of kidney and pancreatic cancer.
A number of explanations have been advanced to link meat and cancer risk. In some cases, meat contains carcinogenic compounds formed during processing or cooking. In addition, the high fat content of meat and dairy products boosts hormone production, which increases the risk of hormone-related cancer, such as breast and prostate cancer.
If this information leads you to think of your fork as a powerful weapon, you're on the right track: it can defend you against cancer. It all depends on how you choose to load it.
Plant foods are rich in fibre, which speeds the passage of food through the colon, effectively removing carcinogens and changing the type of bacteria present in the intestine to reduce the production of carcinogenic acids. Vitamin C, an antioxidant found in citrus fruits and many vegetables, maylower risks for cancer of the esophagus and stomach by neutralising cancer-causing chemicals formed in the body and blocking the conversion of nitrates to carcinogenic nitrosamines in the stomach.
Carotenoids, the pigments that give fruits and vegetables their colors, have also been shown to help protect against lung cancer and may help prevent cancer of the bladder, mouth, larynx, esophagus and breast as well. Vegetables such as cabbage, broccoli, kale, turnips, cauliflower and Brussels sprouts contain flavonoids and indoles, thought to have anti-cancer activities. The soya foods enjoyed by many vegans contain anticarcinogens, including lignans and phytoestrogens.
Results from the UK cohort of the landmark European Prospective Investigation Into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) study found prominent differences between British meat-eaters and vegans. Vegans had less than halfthe mean intake of saturated fatty acids of participants who ate meat as well as the highest intakes of fibre, vitamin C and vitamin E.
Small wonder, then, that studies in England and Germany have shown thatvegetarians are about 40 per cent less likely to develop cancer compared to meat-eaters.
Quitting smoking remains an important way to reduce cancer risks, but giving meat, eggs and dairy products the boot is just as vital. Consider this information food for thought.
Scientists decode how high sugar levels raise cancer risk
LONDON: Scientists have identified a key molecular mechanism through which high blood glucose raises cancer risk in obese people anddiabetics.
The diabetic population has up to double chances of suffering pancreatic or colon cancer among others, according to well sustainedepidemiological studies.
Scientists led by Dr Custodia Garcia-Jimenez at the University Rey Juan Carlos in Madrid have uncovered a key mechanism that links obesityand diabetes with cancer. They found that high sugar levels increase activity of a gene widely implicated in cancer progression.
Garcia Jimenez's laboratory studied how cells in the intestine respond to sugars and signal to the pancreas to release insulin, the key hormone that controls blood sugar levels.
Sugars in the intestine trigger cells to release a hormone called GIP that enhances insulin release by the pancreas.
In a study published in Molecular Cell, Garcia Jimenez's team showed that the ability of the intestinal cells to secrete GIP is controlled by a protein called beta-catenin, and that the activity of beta-catenin is strictly dependent on sugar levels.
Increased activity of beta-catenin is known to be a major factor in the development of many cancers and can make normal cells immortal, a key step in early stages of cancer progression.
The study demonstrated that high (but not normal) sugar levels induce nuclear accumulation of beta-catenin and leads to cell proliferation.
"We were surprised to realise that changes in our metabolism caused by dietary sugar impact on our cancer risk. We are now investigating what other dietary components may influence our cancer risk. Changing diet is one of easiest prevention strategies that can potentially save a lot of suffering and money," Garcia said.
"Previously we were unsure about how increased blood sugar found in diabetes and obesity could increase cancer risk," Colin Goding, Professor of Oncology at the University of Oxford, UK said in a statement.
"This study identifies a key molecular mechanism through which high blood glucose would predispose to cancer. It opens the way for potential novel therapies aimed at reducing cancer risk in the obese and diabetic populations," Goding said.
The diabetic population has up to double chances of suffering pancreatic or colon cancer among others, according to well sustainedepidemiological studies.
Scientists led by Dr Custodia Garcia-Jimenez at the University Rey Juan Carlos in Madrid have uncovered a key mechanism that links obesityand diabetes with cancer. They found that high sugar levels increase activity of a gene widely implicated in cancer progression.
Garcia Jimenez's laboratory studied how cells in the intestine respond to sugars and signal to the pancreas to release insulin, the key hormone that controls blood sugar levels.
Sugars in the intestine trigger cells to release a hormone called GIP that enhances insulin release by the pancreas.
In a study published in Molecular Cell, Garcia Jimenez's team showed that the ability of the intestinal cells to secrete GIP is controlled by a protein called beta-catenin, and that the activity of beta-catenin is strictly dependent on sugar levels.
Increased activity of beta-catenin is known to be a major factor in the development of many cancers and can make normal cells immortal, a key step in early stages of cancer progression.
The study demonstrated that high (but not normal) sugar levels induce nuclear accumulation of beta-catenin and leads to cell proliferation.
"We were surprised to realise that changes in our metabolism caused by dietary sugar impact on our cancer risk. We are now investigating what other dietary components may influence our cancer risk. Changing diet is one of easiest prevention strategies that can potentially save a lot of suffering and money," Garcia said.
"Previously we were unsure about how increased blood sugar found in diabetes and obesity could increase cancer risk," Colin Goding, Professor of Oncology at the University of Oxford, UK said in a statement.
"This study identifies a key molecular mechanism through which high blood glucose would predispose to cancer. It opens the way for potential novel therapies aimed at reducing cancer risk in the obese and diabetic populations," Goding said.
Drop in cervical cancer cases in city over past two decades
According to data from Mumbai Cancer Registry analysed by doctors at Tata Memorial Hospital (TMH), Parel, the incidence of cervical cancer in the city is on the decline. The incidence of cervical cancer in Mumbai has dropped from 19 per 1,00,000 people in 1988 to 10.2 in 2009.
Cervical cancer affects the lower part of the uterus, and is classified by doctors as most preventable of all cancers as it can be easily detected in pre-cancerous stages.
At present there are six cancer registries in the country under the national cancer registry program of the Indian Council of Medical Research. These centres record new cases of different types of cancer from various sources. Epidemiologists at TMH analysed the data from these registries, which show a lowered incidence of cervical cancer in urban cities including Banglore, Bhopal, Chennai, Delhi and Mumbai.
Early marriage, greater number of child births and the sexually transmitted disease human papillomavirus (HPV) are major reasons for cervical cancer. Experts say that 80% of cervical cancers are a result of HPV.
"Owing to awareness about the condition and changing family norms, the incidence is on a decline in urban areas," said Dr Rajesh Dikshit from Tata Memorial Hospital's epidemiology department. Another reason for the decline in incidence, doctors added, is the increased screening for cervical cancer.
"We conduct PAP smear tests for our patients to detect cervical cancer. It is easy to detect as the cervix can be examined for pre-cancerous lesions which cannot be done for cancers of the uterus or the ovaries," said Dr Duru Shah, gynaecologist, who runs a clinic in Peddar road.
However the rural registry indicates no change in the incidence of the disease.
West Bengal has half of India's cancer patients
Kolkata: With near about five lakh cancer patients, West Bengal accounts for half of the country's total cancer cases, a senior doctor said on Sunday. "West Bengal has five lakhs cancer patients. 70,000 cases of cancer are detected every year in the state out of which 35,000 die annually due to cancer," Medical Director, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Cancer Research Institute Ashis Mukhopadhyay said.
He said lungs cancer is more prevalent among men and cervical cancer among women. In urban areas, breast cancer is more prevalent. "Every 25 women out of 100 suffer from breast cancer," he said.
He said quitting smoking and alcohol consumption and steps to control pollution can help prevent cancer.
Target therapy cancer's bane
NEW DELHI: It was January 28, 2008, when Rashi (name changed) was diagnosed with breast cancer. Five years hence, she is not onlyalive but is also fighting the dreaded disease every day. But she is not scared anymore. Like her, many feel cancer is no longer synonymous with death.
Top oncologists say the development of new diagnostic tools, precision radiation methods, surgical options and targeted therapies has brought about this change. "Target therapy, in particular, is the biggest discovery in this field. It involves identification of the molecule responsible for a particular type of cancer and administration of drugs to control it. We started this therapy at our centre about two years ago and it has helped improve the survival rate by more than 20%-30%. The best part is that patients can take these medicines at home and there are minimum side-effects," said Dr P K Julka, professor and head clinical oncology at Bhim Rao Ambedkar Institute Rotary Cancer hospital (BRAIRCH), AIIMS. He said the therapy is being used successfully for the treatment of certain types of breast, lung, kidney and blood cancer, among others.
Dr Harit Chaturvedi, senior oncologist at Max Hospital, Saket, said targeted cancer therapies work for terminal cancer as well as during initial stages. If diagnosed early, the chances of curing cancer are high. According to experts, most cases in India are detected in the second or third stages, making treatment difficult and less successful.
"It is administered with or without chemotherapy, depending on the case. The therapy is still evolving. In future, we might have targeted therapies for most of the cancers, and patients will be able to live with simple oral medication as it is with diabetes and hypertension," said Dr G K Rath, head of the BRAIRCH.
He said many cancers are preventable. "Cases of cervical cancer are coming down across the country due to improved hygiene and better sanitation. Quitting smoking and checking tobacco use can help reduce the incidence of oral cancer. Many cancers have been linked to infections," said Rath.
In 2008, about 1.13 million deaths occurred due to cancers in the WHO's South-East Asia Region (SEAR), of which India is a part. Lung and oral cancers are the most common cancers among men in South-East Asia Region, while cervical and breast cancers are the leading cancers among women.
Top oncologists say the development of new diagnostic tools, precision radiation methods, surgical options and targeted therapies has brought about this change. "Target therapy, in particular, is the biggest discovery in this field. It involves identification of the molecule responsible for a particular type of cancer and administration of drugs to control it. We started this therapy at our centre about two years ago and it has helped improve the survival rate by more than 20%-30%. The best part is that patients can take these medicines at home and there are minimum side-effects," said Dr P K Julka, professor and head clinical oncology at Bhim Rao Ambedkar Institute Rotary Cancer hospital (BRAIRCH), AIIMS. He said the therapy is being used successfully for the treatment of certain types of breast, lung, kidney and blood cancer, among others.
Dr Harit Chaturvedi, senior oncologist at Max Hospital, Saket, said targeted cancer therapies work for terminal cancer as well as during initial stages. If diagnosed early, the chances of curing cancer are high. According to experts, most cases in India are detected in the second or third stages, making treatment difficult and less successful.
"It is administered with or without chemotherapy, depending on the case. The therapy is still evolving. In future, we might have targeted therapies for most of the cancers, and patients will be able to live with simple oral medication as it is with diabetes and hypertension," said Dr G K Rath, head of the BRAIRCH.
He said many cancers are preventable. "Cases of cervical cancer are coming down across the country due to improved hygiene and better sanitation. Quitting smoking and checking tobacco use can help reduce the incidence of oral cancer. Many cancers have been linked to infections," said Rath.
In 2008, about 1.13 million deaths occurred due to cancers in the WHO's South-East Asia Region (SEAR), of which India is a part. Lung and oral cancers are the most common cancers among men in South-East Asia Region, while cervical and breast cancers are the leading cancers among women.
On this World Cancer Day, let's Control-Alt-Delete cancer
Today cancer is among the more discussed issues in our daily lives and it is quite possible that we have all lost someone close because of it. We often get emotional when in the climax of a movie Shah Rukh Khan dies due to cancer, we wrote hundreds of status messages on Facebookin solidarity with cricketer Yuvraj Singh when he was putting all his efforts in defeating cancer and how can we forget thousands of tributes on Twitter to the co-founder of Apple and technological visionary Steve Jobs, who died after a long battle with cancer.
To some people cancer is more than pain, falling hair, weakness, lumps in the body, nausea or vomiting. Actually what they are experiencing is fear, anger, grief, regret, anxiety and depression or just a simple but harsh message that they are nearing the end of life as no treatment can really help stop their cancer and they have only a short time left with them to live.
No, you don't need to feel sorry for them and they don't need your sympathy but what they need is your love, understanding and support.
They should be allowed to live like a normal human being as cancer will not change their relation with us nor will they be transformed totally. Even if their chances of survival are diminishing, what we can do is to try to fulfil their wishes in a way that they should not feel as if the same treatment is given because they are dying. Whatever life is left they have the right to live with dignity and a feeling of fulfilment.
One should avoid such gestures like becoming over-sympathetic and giving condolences, sharing their half cooked stories about cancer which definitely will make their pain and fears unbearable. What they deserves is positive stories which will certainly boost their morale, fill them with a feeling of optimism and self-confidence to defeat cancer, otherwise if it seems that the journey is difficult they can't be left alone to their destiny.
As per data of the Union for International Cancer Control, approximately 47% of cancer cases and 55% of cancer deaths occur in less developed regions of the world. The situation is predicted to get worse: by 2030, if current trends continue, cancer cases will increase by 81% in developing countries. By 2030, 60-70% of the estimated 21.4 million new cancer cases per year are predicted to occur in developing countries.
Do you remember the small advice of the air hostess, "Put on your own oxygen mask before assisting others". Once you have your things on the path, you are then able to help others. Your healthy lifestyles can substantially reduce risks of getting cancers that are caused by responsible factors such as alcohol, unhealthy diet and physical inactivity. By self awareness, balanced improved diet, physical activity and maintaining a healthy body weight could be preventive measures against cancer.
This year World Cancer Day theme is to dismiss damaging myths and misconceptions about cancer, under the tagline Cancer — Did you know? Let's make a point to generate more awareness and dispel all the myths related to cancer.
A few of the myth and facts are:
1. Myth: Cancer is just a health issue. Truth: Cancer is not just a health issue. It has wide reaching social, economic, development and human rights implications.
2. Myth: Cancer is a disease of the wealthy, elderly and developed countries. Truth: Cancer is a global epidemic, affecting all ages and socio-economic groups, with developing countries bearing a disproportionate burden.
3. Myth: Cancer is a death sentence . Truth: Many cancers that were once considered a death sentence can now be cured and for many more people their cancer can now be treated effectively.
4. Myth: Cancer is my fate. Truth: With the right strategies, at least 30% of cancer cases can be prevented based on current knowledge.
All of us including individuals, policy makers, non-profits and healthcare professionals need to understand that many cancers can be prevented through appropriate lifestyle change. Early detection of cancer always increases the chances for successful treatment. Also one should understand that cancer is not the only cause of end of life and like other causes can be beaten/defeated with optimistic approach, and necessary medical and social support.
To some people cancer is more than pain, falling hair, weakness, lumps in the body, nausea or vomiting. Actually what they are experiencing is fear, anger, grief, regret, anxiety and depression or just a simple but harsh message that they are nearing the end of life as no treatment can really help stop their cancer and they have only a short time left with them to live.
No, you don't need to feel sorry for them and they don't need your sympathy but what they need is your love, understanding and support.
They should be allowed to live like a normal human being as cancer will not change their relation with us nor will they be transformed totally. Even if their chances of survival are diminishing, what we can do is to try to fulfil their wishes in a way that they should not feel as if the same treatment is given because they are dying. Whatever life is left they have the right to live with dignity and a feeling of fulfilment.
One should avoid such gestures like becoming over-sympathetic and giving condolences, sharing their half cooked stories about cancer which definitely will make their pain and fears unbearable. What they deserves is positive stories which will certainly boost their morale, fill them with a feeling of optimism and self-confidence to defeat cancer, otherwise if it seems that the journey is difficult they can't be left alone to their destiny.
As per data of the Union for International Cancer Control, approximately 47% of cancer cases and 55% of cancer deaths occur in less developed regions of the world. The situation is predicted to get worse: by 2030, if current trends continue, cancer cases will increase by 81% in developing countries. By 2030, 60-70% of the estimated 21.4 million new cancer cases per year are predicted to occur in developing countries.
Do you remember the small advice of the air hostess, "Put on your own oxygen mask before assisting others". Once you have your things on the path, you are then able to help others. Your healthy lifestyles can substantially reduce risks of getting cancers that are caused by responsible factors such as alcohol, unhealthy diet and physical inactivity. By self awareness, balanced improved diet, physical activity and maintaining a healthy body weight could be preventive measures against cancer.
This year World Cancer Day theme is to dismiss damaging myths and misconceptions about cancer, under the tagline Cancer — Did you know? Let's make a point to generate more awareness and dispel all the myths related to cancer.
A few of the myth and facts are:
1. Myth: Cancer is just a health issue. Truth: Cancer is not just a health issue. It has wide reaching social, economic, development and human rights implications.
2. Myth: Cancer is a disease of the wealthy, elderly and developed countries. Truth: Cancer is a global epidemic, affecting all ages and socio-economic groups, with developing countries bearing a disproportionate burden.
3. Myth: Cancer is a death sentence . Truth: Many cancers that were once considered a death sentence can now be cured and for many more people their cancer can now be treated effectively.
4. Myth: Cancer is my fate. Truth: With the right strategies, at least 30% of cancer cases can be prevented based on current knowledge.
All of us including individuals, policy makers, non-profits and healthcare professionals need to understand that many cancers can be prevented through appropriate lifestyle change. Early detection of cancer always increases the chances for successful treatment. Also one should understand that cancer is not the only cause of end of life and like other causes can be beaten/defeated with optimistic approach, and necessary medical and social support.
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