ARTICLES ON cancer-care

There are many women who won’t experience any typical symptoms and they will be known to have asymptomatic breast cancers. In such cases, the disease can metastasize meaning it will spread to other parts of the body and the treatment options become more invasive. Breast cancer is one of the common cancers that the majority of women suffer from. Even though breast cancer cases are rising at a rapid rate in the country, there is a lack of awareness regarding it. Moreover, there are many myths surrounding breast cancer and many women are embarrassed and afraid to speak about it openly. Now you will also be shocked to know that breast cancer may be present without any symptoms. Yes, you have heard us here. It can be called asymptomatic breast cancer. There are many women who will not experience any typical symptoms and they will be known to have asymptomatic breast cancers. In such cases, the disease can metastasize meaning it will spread to other parts of the body. Metastatic breast cancer is detected in the advanced stages where the treatment options are not much. Screening for Breast Cancer Did you know? Timely screening is the need of the hour to help you to detect this cancer early. Thus, women above 30 must speak to the doctor for a clinical breast exam that needs to be done on an early basis. Also, don’t forget to do breast self-examination from the age of 18 years and X-ray mammograms as suggested by the expert from the age of 40 years. Likewise, other tools such as breast ultrasound, MRI breast, CT, and PET scans can help in the detection of malignancies if any in the breast. The treatment will be initiated once the diagnosis is confirmed with a radio-pathological confirmation. When performing a self-examination, the ‘look’ and ‘feel’ are the two most important factors to consider. Any lumps in the breast, changes in contours, dimpling or bulging of the skin, swelling or nipple inversion, and any nipple changes such as position changes should be looked for. Any fluid discharge, especially if blood-tinged, or secretions from the breast should be regarded as a warning sign and should be reported to your healthcare professional immediately. Treatment of Breast Cancer It is based on the type, stage, and location of the tumor. One will be asked to opt for surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, and hormone therapy by the doctor. The doctor will decide what suits you the best. If detected early, one can save the breast and get breast cancer surgery done and have a good healthy, and hearty life. Dr. Aditi AgarwalConsultant Onco surgeon & general surgeonWockhardt Hospitals, Mira Road To book an appointment call: +918108101104 Source: https://www.india.com/health/asymptomatic-breast-cancer-how-to-diagnose-the-unaware-symptoms-of-this-tricky-cancer-5725288/

According to the World Health Organisation, by the end of 2020, there will be 7.8 million women living with breast cancer globally. Breast cancer in men is unheard of and is frequently underreported because it is regarded as a “woman’s disease.” Not only does it affect men physically, but breast cancer in men also leads to emotional distress due to the stigma attached to the disease. “Breast cancer is considered to be an exclusive disease of females, and so patients often ignore male breast cancer. It can also be confused with gynecomastia (male breast enlargement), leading to a delay in diagnosis. Such factors, combined with cancer underreporting in India, result in a gross underestimation of male breast cancer load in our country,” Dr. Deepak Jha, told The Sunday Guardian. Explaining the reasons for several underreported cases, Dr. Meenu Walia, added, “The reasons for underreporting are primarily due to unawareness and stigma. Their masculinity is often questioned when men are diagnosed, so the stigma and inhibition increase manifold.” There is no specific official record of the number of male breast cancer cases. Despite the fact that men account for one out of every 10 breast cancer cases, 73% of men go undiagnosed for cancer symptoms. Most of the cases are diagnosed between 60-70 years, but the cases and symptoms can occur early too. “The incidence of breast cancer in men is almost 1%; therefore, the awareness level is very bleak. Breast tissue in men isn’t well developed, making it a rudimentary organ. However, because of the hormonal environment of the breast tissue in men, the chances of cancer are lower, but there has been a slow surge of cases over the last decade,” Dr. Meghal Sanghavi, a breast cancer surgeon at Wockhardt Hospital in Mumbai Central, told this paper. Dr. Rohan Khandelwal, added, “Until now, the awareness wasn›t there, so the patients weren›t coming forward. As more doctors share their findings, awareness is gradually growing, and male patients, at least in major cities, are not hesitant.” Experts have also spoken about several stigmas related to this. Dr. Saphalta Baghmar, “For instance, men with breast cancer are less masculine, treatment of male breast cancer is different from female are some common stigma.” Dr. Baghmar clarified that the treatment is no different as the procedure includes breast cancer surgery, hormone therapy, chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and radiation therapy. Male breast cancer is caused by a variety of factors, including age, genetic mutation, family history of breast cancer, men who have had radiation therapy to their chests or drugs containing estrogen that was previously used to treat prostate cancer, liver disease, overweight and obesity, and so on. Though India doesn’t have a structured screening program for breast cancer in women, due to increasing awareness, many women have been coming forward. Speaking about encouraging men for breast cancer check-ups, as men frequently disregard symptoms even when they appear, Dr. Anagha Zope, said, “Self-discovery lumps are a primary form of detection among men with breast cancer, and advocating self-breast examination will be a better form of screening. Clinical breast examinations during annual health check-ups should be offered to all men.” Dr. Meghal SanghaviBreast Cancer SurgeonWockhardt Hospital, Mumbai Central To book an appointment call: +918291101001 Source: https://www.sundayguardianlive.com/news/breast-cancer-men-go-underreported-say-experts

Prostate Cancer- one of the most common cancers in male is also the one which is diagnosed mostly when it is already quite late. As the cancer is not having early signs and symptoms, the diagnosis often gets delayed having an adverse affect on heaths of patients.  Dr. Uday Chandankhede, Consultant- Uro-Onco Surgeon, Wockhardt Hospitals in Nagpur informs about the disease under hospital’s- Patient Education Initiative.  The prostate is a gland in the male reproductive system. It is about the size of a walnut and surrounds part of the urethra (the tube that empties urine from the bladder).  Prostate cancer is the second most common cause of cancer in males worldwide as well as the most common cause of cancer-related death. There is a steady rise in its incidence in India, which puts it as the 9th most prevalent cancer. The incidence of the disease increases after 40 years of age, and most people are diagnosed between 60 and 70 years of age. Unfortunately, prostate cancer usually has no early warning signs, so it can remain unnoticed for quite some time. For this reason, screening for prostate cancer is so important for all men. It is recommended to have a simple screening procedure after 50 years of age with measurement of blood prostate-specific antigen levels (PSA), and if indicated, a rectal examination of the prostate, with your doctor. The screening age is 45 years for those with a family history of prostate cancer and other types of cancer treatment in India. Early in the course of the disease, a patient may not have any symptoms or may have mild symptoms similar to benign prostatic obstruction, such as increased frequency of urination during the day, night, and slower urine flow. When these symptoms go unnoticed, patients may develop metastatic disease, which means cancer has spread to other organs. In advanced stages, patients will have blood in the urine, urinary retention, perineal pain, backaches, and other bony pain. In this scenario, a complete cancer cure is not possible. In our country where the proper awareness regarding health issues is lacking, most of the patients are diagnosed in the late stages where the treatment options are limited with chemotherapy and hormonal therapy. The complete cure of early-stage cancer can sometimes be achieved with surgery or radiation therapy or both is required in some scenarios.   For prevention of prostate cancer, eat a healthy diet full of vegetables and fruits, exercise regularly, and avoid excessive fat, red meat, alcohol, and smoking. Last but not the least, screening for prostate cancer in case of lower urinary tract symptoms and age more than 50 years, family history of prostate cancer, and age more than 45 years. Dr. Uday ChandankhedeConsultant- Uro-Onco SurgeonWockhardt Hospitals, Nagpur Source: https://thelivenagpur.com/2022/02/16/prostate-cancer-why-is-screening-so-important/

BREAST cancer refers to a state wherein some cells start to grow and multiply abnormally. These cells grow at a faster pace as opposed to the healthy cells and then start to affect other body parts. Being the second most common form of cancer in women after skin cancer, the good news about breast cancer is that it’s recovery and survival rates have improved remarkably in the past few years owing to timely detection and treatment. While there are a number of myths that surround breast cancer treatment, symptoms and diagnosis, the most popular one is that this condition only affects women. Turns out, breast cancer can affect men as well. Although a rare occurrence in men, it is important to watch out for the signs and symptoms of this condition in both men and women. This Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we connect with experts to learn more about the difference between breast cancer in men and women. Dr Kanchan Kaur, spoke about the symptoms of breast cancer in women and explained how painless lumps often get missed as a major tell-tale sign. She went on to define how it is not very different from breast cancer in men, however, the occurrence is so rare that people often ignore the possibility as well. “The one biggest myth that we face as clinicians is when some patients may feel a lump, however, since it is painless, they think it is not related to cancer. People must understand that any change in the breast, such as nipple discharge, change in shape or size of the breast, redness on the surface that fails to get treated with a routine course of antibiotics given by the physician must always be checked by an oncologist.” “Another myth that we, as oncologists, come across, is how breast cancer is a disease of women even though it has been proven that men can get breast cancer. If we see 100 cases of breast cancer, 99 may be women but one can be a man. The symptoms of breast cancer in men are similar to those in women. The most common being a lump in the breast (which is often painless). The sad side of the story is that since there is such low awareness around breast cancer in men, they are more likely to get diagnosed at a much later stage since no one suspects breast cancer in them,” she added. Dr Garvit Chitkara, explained what breast cancer is and shed light on the statistics in India and survival rate of patients. As explained by Dr Chitkara, following are the common symptoms and signs of breast cancer: Painless lump in the breast or armpit, change in breast shape, dimpling in the breast skin, abnormal nipple discharge and nipple retraction or ulceration. Dr Rohan Khandelwal, spoke about breast cancer in men and explained where and how the same starts forming. “The common misconception about gynecomastia (male breast cancer) is the thinking that since men do not have breasts, they can’t get breast cancer. However, in truth, we all have breast tissues. Usually, men have broader chests (bigger than normal) due to fat, but sometimes men can also develop breast gland tissues. Breast cancer can generate in any area of the breast. In men, it’s generally found near the nipple. Breast cancer can develop anywhere from breast bone to the armpit or even the collarbone region. Early detection, timely examination, healthy life management can improve the prospect of survival in breast cancer patients,” he said. Dr Meghal Sanghvi, Consultant Surgical Oncologist at Wockhardt Hospital (India) described the symptoms of breast cancer in men, the risk factors involved and also shared some tips for women with respect to breast cancer management. “Breast cancer in men is rare — only one percent of cases occur in men. However, its signs remain the same for both sexes — for instance painless breast lump, blood discharge from nipple, axillary lump or swelling, breast eczema and skin redness or any ulcer over the breast or on the nipple. The risk factors for men and women include genes and family history of breast cancer and radiotherapy. For women, history of ovarian cancer in the family, early menses, late menopause and long term continuous hormonal therapy could add to the risk of getting breast cancer. Obesity, alcoholism and smoking are also major risk factors. “Immediate precautions for women can be regular self-breast examination after the age of 30, annual mammographies above 40 and clinical breast examination once a year by a qualified breast surgeon. For men, screening is not recommended. And factors which reduce the risk of getting breast cancer are breast feeding your child for six months, eating a balanced diet, maintaining an ideal body weight, and avoiding drinking and smoking,” Dr Sanghvi concluded. Source: https://www.timesnownews.com/health/article/breast-cancer-awareness-month-breast-cancer-in-men-and-women-mammograms-cancer-cancer-in-women/821003

Are You Suffering From Ovarian Cancer? Here we brief you about the causes, symptoms, risk factors, early diagnosis, and treatment of it. Read on to know more about this, and tackle it at the right time. Women, do you often encounter pelvic or abdominal pain? Are you feeling bloated? Is there a loss of appetite? Then, you must instantly consult a doctor as these could be the symptoms of ovarian cancer. Ovarian tumours may be benign or malignant. Ovarian cancer can be termed as a malignant tumour, on or within a woman’s ovary. Are you aware? Dr Atul Narayankar, Consultant Medical Oncology, Wockhardt Hospital, Mira Road explains that it starts in the female reproductive organs that produce the eggs or ova (i.e. the ovaries), and can spread to the pelvic organs and later to other abdominal organs and lungs as well. Causes of Ovarian Cancer Women having family members who have had ovarian cancer, are at a greater risk of developing the condition. Do you know that BRCA 1 and BRCA 2 genes – if inherited, may invite this condition?Women in the peri-menopausal and postmenopausal age group of 40 to 70 years commonly suffer from ovarian Cancers. However, it may present in the younger age group, especially amongst patients with a genetic predisposition. Those women who reach puberty early or have no children had their first child late, and those who achieve late menopause have a greater chance of developing ovarian cancer than others.Exposure to specific environmental agents such as talc, pesticides, and herbicides may contribute too. Symptoms of Ovarian Cancer Did you know? Pelvic or abdominal pain, vaginal bleeding, pain after sex, bloating, urgent or frequent urination, and even loss of appetite or feeling full that to can be the symptom of ovarian cancer quickly. Moreover, you must see to it that if these symptoms persist or worsen, then it is the need of the hour that you visit your gynecologist for cancer screening. Get diagnosed with the underlying disease and seek appropriate treatment. Diagnosis of Ovarian Cancer There is no standard screening technique to detect this type of cancer treatment in India. TVUS is the test that tends to use sound waves to look at the uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries by putting an ultrasound probe into the vagina. Even a pelvic examination coupled with an ultrasound examination, a blood test for cancer-related markers, and a biopsy, usually done by a gynecologic oncologist, can be helpful. Treatment of Ovarian Cancer Likewise, the treatment will also depend on the size and location of the tumour. During the first stage, surgery is the mainstay of the treatment. In the second and third stage, the addition of chemotherapy to surgery will be recommended reducing the chances of disease relapse.In the advanced fourth stage, one can be given palliative care with chemotherapy in addition to newer targeted therapies to control and manage the disease.Different types of targeted therapies work distinctively, but can change the way cancer cell grows, divides, or tends to interact with other cells. Speak to your doctor about prompt treatment for you, and get going. Source: https://www.onlymyhealth.com/ovarian-cancer-causes-symptoms-diagnosis-treatment-1601706138

The definition of Oncology is the study of cancer and its treatment in medical science.  Cancer develops in the body and spread to various organs. The initial site of the tumour is called the primary site of the cancer and further the spread of cancer leads to the secondary manifestations of the disease. Cancer cells are abnormal cells that grow uncontrollably forming a mass called a tumour. Normally cells are making up the human body structure and divide and grow accordingly. But any abnormal trigger or genetic predisposition can causes these cells to alter their growth. Cancerous tumour can be either benign or malignant and can grow and spread to other parts of the body. Cancer may also spread through the bloodstream to distant parts of the body. These parts may include the bones, liver, lungs, or brain. Some types of cancer do not form a tumour like leukaemia’s, lymphoma, and myeloma. Who is an oncologist and types of oncologists?  An oncologist is a doctor who treats cancer and manages the patient care once a diagnosis is made of the same  What are the types of specialities under oncology? The main field of oncology has three major areas for treatment of tumours: Other branches which can come under oncology are What does an oncologist do in the treatment of cancer? The role of the oncologist is to supervise a patient’s care from right from the diagnosis of cancer and throughout the course of the disease. What is the basic role of the oncologist? The oncologist’s role includes the following: The oncologist will explain the cancer diagnosis and its stage to the patient and will plan course of treatment modalities after providing the patient with all relevant treatment options and the recommendations. He plays a vital role in Delivering high-quality, compassionate care and assists the patient in managing  cancer-related pain and other symptoms or treatment side effects of the treatment regime. At Wockhardt hospitals the department on oncology treats the patient through a multidisciplinary team approach where there is a team of oncologists .A person with cancer is often treated by a team of oncologists who specialize in different areas of oncology. This team approach at our units of Wockhardt hospitals includes is helpful a combination of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. The team also includes supportive staff, nursing staff, pathology and referrals from other specialities for accuracy and efficiency of the treatment. What are Types of Cancers in oncology? Four main types of cancer are in oncology: What are modalities in Oncology treatment? In the branch of oncology the onco team will devise a treatment plan by the oncologist? Treatment options for your type and stage of cancer. Some of these options may include: Treatment through Surgery in Surgical Oncology where the removal of the tumour and surrounding tissue is carried out. The goal of the surgical oncologist is to diagnose cancer, find its location, remove the tumour following prerequisites (after understanding whether it is operable or not) and ascertaining its spread.  The end result would be to restore the body’s appearance or function. 1) Surgical Oncology can be used for diagnosis of certain cancer through the biopsy procedures carried out through the surgical procedure which could be with an incisional biopsy or excisional biopsy.  The importance of staging can be find out through surgery which ascertains the Staging surgery is performed the size of the tumour and its spread (lymph nodes). 2) In surgical oncology removal of the tumour can be done for primary or curative treatment for the tumour. In conventional surgery, the oncosurgeon makes large incisions through skin, muscle, and sometimes bone. Today less-invasive techniques may speed recovery and reduce pain afterwards.  Types of minimally invasive surgery like laparoscopic minimal invasive surgery, cryosurgery and laser surgery are often now implemented in oncosurgery. Radiation therapy in Radiation oncology: In Radiation oncology, High-energy radiation through rays are given on tumour site to destroy cancer cells, in this type of treatment is called radiation therapy. In this type of oncology treatment specific number of treatments given over a set period of time. The goal of the radiation oncologist would be that the radiation destroys the cancer cells and slow down the growth of the tumour, without harming nearby healthy tissue. This type of therapy is given after the main treatment to target any remaining cancer cells and to shrink the tumour size. Types of radiation therapy in radiation Oncology include: External-beam radiation therapy is the most common type of radiation treatment. It delivers radiation from a machine located outside the body on the target site. Internal radiation therapy also known as brachytherapy. Radioactive material is placed into the cancer itself or into the tissue surrounding it to through implants. Chemotherapy in Medical oncology: Chemotherapy is the use of drugs to destroy cancer cells. It works by keeping the cancer cells from growing and dividing to make more cells. The main goal of chemotherapy is to get rid of all the cancer and keep it from recurring. Chemotherapy can be either standard chemotherapy, traditional chemotherapy, or cytotoxic chemotherapy.  Medical Oncologists use Chemotherapy to delay or slow down cancer growth. In medical oncology chemotherapy given to the patient depends upon, dose, and treatment schedule depends on many factors such as type of cancer, size, general health of the patient, side effects In medical oncology chemotherapy is given through: Intravenous (IV) chemotherapy or arterial, Oral chemotherapy, Injected chemotherapy, topical chemotherapy. Other treatments protocols in Medical Oncology: – Hormone therapy. These treatments change the amount of hormones in your body. Hormones are chemicals your body makes naturally. They help control the activity of certain cells or organs. Doctors use hormone therapy because hormone levels control several types of cancers. – Targeted cells of gene therapy – Immunosuppressant Palliative care is an important aspect of cancer treatment and focuses on focuses on preventing, managing, and relieving the symptoms of cancer and the side effects of cancer treatment. It also provides comprehensive support to people living with cancer