Cancer will become number one killer by 2010, according world cancer report issued by World Health Organization. Heart diseases are now causing highest number of medical deaths in the world. People from poor and developing countries will suffer more due to changing diet habits, smoking and poor health care and non-availability of proper screening procedures. Cancer in 2010 will cause more deaths the combined death toll of AIDS, T.B and Malaria. Lung cancer due to smoking is the major reason for rising cancer deaths as mortality rate is very high in lung cancer. Cervical cancer is the major cause for cancer deaths in women in developing nations due to lack of screening to detect cancer in early stage and lack of vaccination against HPV. Cancer deaths are falling in developed nations due to proper health facilities, decline in smoking habit, regular screening, vaccination against HPV and Hepatitis, better cancer awareness and affordability to take cancer treatment. Adoption of Western habits like eating junk food, lack of exercise and increase in bad habits like smoking and alcoholism are leading causes for increase in cancer in developing nations like India and China. Cancer statistics: 1. About 12 million new cancer cases will be diagnosed in this year. 8 million people will die due to cancer in 2008. 2. About 27 million new cancer cases will be diagnosed by 2030, according to World Cancer Report. 17 million deaths occur due to cancer. 3. Lung cancer has highest mortality rate among all major cancers. Cancer and Smoking: 40% of smokers are living in India and China out of 1.3 billion smokers in the world. Smoking causes lung cancer which kills more people than any other type of cancer. Governments of developing nations should provide free screening procedures to all women to prevent deaths from diseases like cervical cancer and breast cancer. They should do mass scale vaccination against Hepatitis and HPV. … [Read more...]
Colon Cancer screening: New guidelines
American Cancer Society recommended two new screening tests for Colon cancer i.e. Virtual Colonoscopy (CTC) and Simple stool examination along with existing tests like Sigmoidoscopy. These new guidelines were released after extensive research and discussions among various medical departments like Oncology, Radiology and Gastroenterology. These new tests are mainly to detect precancerous lesions like polyps. Doctors’ recommendations for screening: These tests are useful for detection of polyps and cancer. 1. Colonoscopy - every 10 years. 2. Sigmoidoscopy - every 5 years. 3. Double-contrast barium enema or virtual colonoscopy - every five years. 4. Faecal occult blood test – every year. 5. Stool DNA testing. 6. Faecal immunochemical test – every year. Who are at risk? 1. Those who have a family history of colon cancer.2. Above 50 years. Colon cancer statistics: Colon cancer kills around 50,000 Americans per year and it is the second leading cause of cancer deaths in United States. Around 0.15 million colon cancer cases are detected a year. Click here to know more about these Colon Cancer guidelines. … [Read more...]
Overuse of CT scans can cause cancer
Overuse of CT scans will increase risk of cancer due to excessive exposure to radiation. According to a research article in the "New England Journal of Medicine", this cancer risk is very high in children due to sensitive tissues in them. According to Columbia University scientists, 2% of cancers are due to this excessive exposure to radiation in the coming days. As per researchers, 30% of diagnostic tests recommended by doctors are unnecessary. But due to increase in legal suits by patients, physicians are not wanting to take undue risks and recommending as many tests as possible. According to a study, 20 million adults and 1 million children are undergoing unnecessary CT scans annually. 62 million scans were done on US citizens in 2006 of which 4 million were on children. 30% of these scans are unnecessary which is alarming. MRI and ultrasound are comparatively safer than CT scans as they have less radiation exposure. But CT scans are the best diagnostic method to detect cancer as they produce 3-dimensional images of the organs. Physicians should be extra cautious in recommending CT scans for children. They should evaluate other diagnostic options before recommending CT scan. You can read more information on this research report in the November issue of New England Journal of Medicine. … [Read more...]
Cancer Diet: low fat foods reduce ovarian cancer risk
Health foods like fruits and vegetables which are low in fat and high in fiber will help postmenopausal women in reducing ovarian cancer risk, according to Women’s Health Initiative dietary study. Women who reduced fat content in their diet have reduced ovarian cancer risk by 40%. This is a complete contrary finding to the WHEL trial (published in the Journal of American medical Association) which found no relation between no relation between diet and breast cancer. This randomized control study was done on 48,835 postmenopausal women over 8 years. The research study was published in the Journal of National Cancer Institute. Low-fat diet reduces ovarian cancer risk by decreasing estrogen production. Ovarian cancer statistics:Ovarian cancer is a rare one which affects 1 in 60 women but it is very difficult to diagnose in the early stage. It is a very serious disease which kills 55% of patients within 5 years. According to American Cancer Society estimates, 22,430 women will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer in 2007 of which 15,280 women will die of it. Ovarian cancer prevention: Currently, use of birth control pills is the only way to reduce ovarian cancer risk and removal of ovaries is the major treatment. Birth control pills will reduce cancer of ovaries by 60%. Pills and fiber diet combination will reduce ovarian cancer risk by more than 80%. Genetic mutation is another major ovarian cancer cause. If women can take these simple modifications in their diet, they can be free of this deadly disease. … [Read more...]
Taxotere approved for head and neck cancer by FDA
French Pharma Company Sanofil-Aventis’s Taxotere (Docetaxel) got US FDA (Food and Drug Administration) approval for treating head and neck cancer. FDA approved Docetaxel for treating locally advanced head and neck cancer prior to chemotherapy and surgery. Taxotere is used in combination therapy along with cisplatin and 5-fluouracil for treating unresectable advanced squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck. Its usage before chemotherapy/radiotherapy and surgery improve the survival chances of patients. The drug was approved by FDA based on the TAX 324 trial results (Phase 3 randomized). Adding Taxotere to combination therapy will reduce death risk by 30%, according to trials. Side effects of Taxotere: Febrile Neutropenia is the most common side effect. Dizziness, alopecia and diarrhea are other common side effects of Taxotere therapy. Head and neck cancer statistics: More than 0.6 million people are diagnosed with head and neck cancer each year. Head and neck cancer is responsible 0.35 million deaths annually. Head and neck cancer is a group of many related Diseases that mostly begin in the cells that line the mucosal surfaces in the head and neck area such as the mouth, tongue, tonsils and throat. Taxotere is currently approved in the America and Europe for treating breast cancer, prostate cancer, head-neck cancer, gastric cancer and lung cancer. Sanofil-Aventis is the third largest drug maker in the world. … [Read more...]
Cancer deaths will rise in elderly patients
Number of cancer patients aged 65 or above would double by 2030, according to World Health Organization. New cancer cases may increase from 10.9 million in 2002 to about 16 million in 2020. Cancer deaths would rise from 6.7 million in 2002 to 10.3 million in 2020. 30% of these cancer deaths are in elder patients aged above 75. Lack of awareness about latest developments in cancer research and treatment options making elder patients are worst sufferers. Another major reason for these deaths is lack of proper treatment. Cancer patients aged above 65 generally not adhere to complex cancer regimes. Memory problems and lack of social support are the reasons behind this non-compliance. Most of these old patients live in socially isolated atmosphere. These patients can’t bear the cost of treatment especially in developing countries. Change in lifestyle habits of people from developing countries is another reason behind this cancer time bomb. Increases in smoking, alcoholism and junk food consumption are triggers for this rise in cancer cases. Governments need to allocate more budget on health expenditure and provide free treatment for patients aged above 65. People from developed countries are utilizing advanced cancer treatments in preventing cancer deaths. But people of developing nations unable to utilize these drug regimes due to lack of awareness and money. According to some reports, 30 African and Asian countries do not even have radiotherapy machines. It is waste to expect quality care in these countries. … [Read more...]
Cancer cases are on rise in Asian countries
Cancer cases are increasing in Asian countries due to increased adaptation of western habits like eating junk foods, smoking and alcoholism even in females. According to some studies, there will be 60% increase in cancer incidence in Asian countries. Increased industrialization (pollution), low literacy rates and poor health care standards are other major reasons for increased cancer rates. Screening tests for cancer are rarely done in poor Asian countries due to low quality of health care. Rising economic standards and globalisation added fuel to the fire. Cancer statistics: 45% of cancer deaths are reported from Asia-Pacific countries. If proper measures are not taken, this will rise to 70% by 2020. China alone accounts for 20% new cancer cases and is the 2nd most cause of medical deaths in China. Due to increased screening and preventive measures, cancer deaths are in decline in Western countries. According to World health organisation (WHO), 40% CANCERS are preventable by good diet habits, exercise and stay away from smoking. Smoking is the major reason for these deaths with Lung Cancer is the number one cancer in Asian countries followed by stomach and liver cancers. Hepatitis B Viral infection is the major reason for liver cancer. Human Papilloma virus (HPV) is another cancer causative factor. How to control cancer incidence and prevent cancer deaths? 1. Lack of screening facilities like Mammogram and Pap smear in poor Asian countries. 2. Increase in smoking and Alcoholism in Asian countries especially China and India.3. Non-availability of vaccines against HPV and Hepatitis B in poor countries.4. Poor health care standards and economic standards.5. Expensive chemotherapy is not affordable to poor Asians.6. Low illiteracy levels there by lack of health education.7. Asian Governments need to spend more money to raise health care standards.8. Governments should ban smoking in public places and in movies and relative ads in other popular mediums. Don’t forget 40% cancer cases are preventable. … [Read more...]
Breast Cancer Statistics
Incidence of Breast Cancer: In 2006 alone, an estimated 212,920 new cases of breast cancer are diagnosed in American women. Worldwide, more than a million women are diagnosed with breast cancer every year, accounting for 1/10th of all new cancers and 23% of all female cancer cases. Breast cancer incidence is high in developed countries compared to developing countries of Africa and Asia. Change in life style and diet habits are the major reasons for increase in Breast cancer cases. Aside from non-melanoma skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in women. Breast cancer is the number one cause of cancer death in Hispanic women. It is the second most common cause of cancer death in white, black, Asian/Pacific Islander, and American Indian/Alaska Native women. In 1975, the incidence (the number of new cases) of breast cancer was 107 per 100,000 for white women and 94 per 100,000 for black women. In 2003, the number of new cases per year had risen to 129 per 100,000 for white women and 121 per 100,000 for black women The number of new cases of breast cancer in males per year increased from 43 in 1983 to 84 in 2002. The average age of first diagnosis was 60 years for a woman and 66 years for a man in 2002. Each year almost 44,100 cases of breast cancer are diagnosed in the UK, 43,760 female cases and around 335 cases diagnosed in males. The incidence of breast cancer in Japan is much lower than in the USA or the UK. But the incidence of breast cancer in Japanese women living in the USA is the same as for the general population of American women. So, Lifestyle and diet habits play major role than geographical area. Mortality: Breast cancer causes more than 12,500 deaths each year in the UK. Top 10 causes of death of women in United States: 1. Heart diseases. 2. Brain Stroke. 3. Lung Cancer 4. Respiratory Diseases. 5. Alzheimer’s disease.6. Breast Cancer 7. Diabetes Mellitus 8. Accidents9. Influenza and Pneumonia 10. Colorectal Cancer With simple modification to our life style and diet habits, we can decrease the incidence of the Breast cancer. With Mammogram and regular self checkups, we can decrease the mortality rate of Breast Cancer. … [Read more...]
February 4: World Cancer Day
The International Union against Cancer (UICC) and its member’s organizations in over 80 countries are dedicating World Cancer Day 2007 to detect and prevent cancer in the adults by targeting children. More than 90 million people may die due to cancer in the next 10 years if necessary preventive measures are not taken. World cancer day is an annual event is being observed on February 4th every year. Theme for World cancer day 2007 is “Today’s Children, Tomorrow’s World”. It aims to spread awareness about problems due to changing dietary habits and a path breaking vaccine for cervical cancer. The annual World Cancer Day (WCD) on 4 February 2007 marks the anniversary of the first World Summit against Cancer held in Paris on 4 February 2000 where the Millennium Charter of Paris 2000 was launched. Cancer Statistics: Globally more than 10 million people are diagnosed with cancer every year and it is estimated that there will be 15 million new cases every year by 2020. Cancer causes more than 6 million deaths every year worldwide. Lung cancer and Breast cancer account for 1.3 and 0.5 million deaths respectively. Cancer is the second highest cause of death in children between the ages of 1-14 years. As per official statistics, more than 1, 60,000 children are newly diagnosed with cancer each year. Fortunately, childhood cancers are twice curable than adult cancers. 25-40 age group accounts for 25% of all cancer patients. Solid organ tumors, which occur in this age group are usually genetic in nature and depending on the grade and behavior of the tumor it is observed that prognosis is poor. Stage-1 cancer in a 50-year old is 90% curable, but a similar cancer in a 30-year old is around 70% curable. Worldwide, cervical cancer is a leading cause of cancer deaths for women. According to the FDA there are 470,000 new cases and 233,000 deaths each year. Every 1 in 12 women worldwide are suffering from breast cancer. New age women are reluctant to breast feed their babies is the major factor behind this increase in breast cancer cases. Cancer Prevention: More than 40%of cancer cases are preventable. Smoking and Obesity are the two main preventable causes. Environmental pollution and some viral infections like human papilloma virus are the other preventable causes. Changing diet habits towards fast foods and high calorie diet is gradually raising cancer cases in the high socio-economic groups. Tobacco use is the most common cause of preventable cancer deaths. Tobacco use alone accounts for some 1.5 million cancer deaths per year. More than 70% of cancer deaths occur in low income group people as they do not have necessary financial resources to undergo screening tests and use costly drugs. Vegetarian diet and fruits play a major role in preventing cancer. Stay away from fast foods, smoking and prevent the cancer. Cervical Cancer Vaccine: Gardasil, the first vaccine developed to prevent cervical cancer, precancerous genital lesions and genital warts due to human papillomavirus (HPV) strains 6, 11, 16 and 18 which account for 70% of all cervical cancers. The vaccine is approved for use in females 9-26 years of age. Cervarix is an investigational vaccine that protects against 2 strains of HPV (16 and 18) that cause cervical cancer. This vaccine from GlaxoSmithKline is waiting for approval. Please comment on this article. … [Read more...]
Colon Cancer – Causes and Symptoms
Colon cancer is the cancer of the large intestine. It is the second most cancer in incidence and third most cause of cancer deaths in the western world. 5 million people are dying each year around the world. In United states of America alone, 0.15 million new cases are being diagnosed each year. It is a preventable diseases. Change in the diet habits is the mojor factor behind increased number of colon cancer cases. Causes of Colon Cancer: 1. Diet rich in fat content and Non-vegetarian diet. Fast foods is one of the major reason for increases cancer cases. Increase in red meat and decrease in fruits in the diet is the chief contributing factor. 2. Benign Polyps - If diagnosed early, we can prevent colon cancer cases. 3. Genes: 18% of chance of acquiring colon cancer in the first degree relatives. Risk increases with age especially after 55 years. 4. Alcohol drinking and Tobacco smoking. Signs and Symptoms of colon cancer: 1.Passing of blood in the stools. Change in bowel habits. 2. Constipation 3. Increased frequency of Diarrhoea 4. Anaemia 5. Pain in the abdomen and Abdomenal discomfort. 6. Weight Loss without specific reason. The above all signs and symptoms may appear at the same time or some of them may appear. With increased use of screening tests, early diagnosis of colon cancer cases is rising in the western world. … [Read more...]
