Signs that spell cancer

By Dr. Vikas Goswami 

CANCER the word itself is a dangerous one which in literal terms means a group of more than 100 diseases in which cells begin to grow out of control or a disease where abnormal cells begin to grow in an uncontrolled way. According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI) which is part of the US Department of Health and Human Services (USDHHS), every 13th new cancer patient in the world is an Indian. India is also witnessing a steep rise in cancer cases and significantly, more and more people are falling prey to this life threatening disease. 

Let’s look at the following few signs that spells cancer: 

1. Sudden weight loss: 

you are a gym freak or following any diet that leads you to weight loss then its fine but without working out if you are experiencing the unexpected or sudden weight loss then it is indeed a matter of concern. It might put you at the risk of developing cancer of pancreas or stomach. 

2. Skin problems or developing lumps on body: 

Everything shows on our face from hormonal imbalance to indigestion. It might appear in the form of skin rashes or moles or skin warts.  But if you are getting rashes too frequently, or are experiencing any lumps on your body like on chest, under arms, on breast, legs. It might be cysts, do get yourself checked immediately. 

The Pioneer

3. Constant indigestion:  

Heart burning or indigestion is common and even if you observe a long-term change in your bowel function such as persistent diarrhoea or constipation, it may be a

Diabetes raises risk of Cancer

By Dr. Vikas Goswami 

Diabetes and Cancer both are prevailing diseases in India which are increasing globally. Diabetes as we all know is a chronic disease caused when either pancreas do not produce enough insulin or the cells in the body that do not respond properly to the insulin. There are three types of diabetes Type 1 corresponds to first condition and Type 2 corresponds to the second condition and Gestational Diabetes formed during pregnancy. 

While on the other hand Cancer means a group of more than 100 diseases in which cells begin to grow out of control or a disease where abnormal cells begin to grow in an uncontrolled way. Diabetes is also a deadly disease which gives rise to many other diseases as well in your body. One of them we can say would be Cancer. 

A study conducted in Australia in 2014 by National Diabetes Service Scheme (NDSS) says that people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes are diagnosed with more of some types of cancer and are more likely to die from cancer than people without diabetes. 

It is also found that females with type 1 diabetes  were at the increased risk of cancers of the pancreas, liver, esophagus, thyroid, brain, and lung, as well as ovarian and

Air Pollution can cause cancer

By Dr. Vikas Goswami 

DNA

Every year after Diwali, India suffers air pollution problems. It is so obvious that air pollution triggers major health issues in adults as well as children.  The most recent data from the Global Burden of Disease Project indicate that in 2010, 3.2 million deaths worldwide resulted from air pollution, including 223,000 from lung cancer. 

As we know that heavy smog has covered up various cities these days and this smog contains dangerous chemicals like carbon monoxide, sulphur dioxide, manganese dioxide, zinc oxide, nitrates etc. Chemical pneumonitis is the irritation of the lungs or we can say it created breathing difficulty due to inhaling above mentioned few chemical fumes or breathing in and choking on certain chemicals. Chemicals from firecrackers and presented in the smog will penetrate deeper into the lungs which further may lead to stiffness of the lungs, which decreases the ability of the lungs to get oxygen to the body. If left untreated, this condition may ultimately lead to respiratory failure, lung cancer or even death.  

Yes, you heard it right, air pollution is associated with an increased risk of lung cancer. Most of us think about the risk associated with lung cancer is through smoking cigarettes, but little did we know that air pollution can also causes lung cancer. Actually everyone

Protect your lungs this Diwali

By Dr. Vikas Goswami 

Diwali is the festivals to spread joy, happiness, and share and increase relationship bond. But people spread worst kind of air and noise pollution making this festival a nightmare for many. The fire crackers busted during this month produces the nastiest kind of gases in air and intoxicating the air we breathe. 

Fire crackers are the major part of Diwali celebration. Crackers like gola bomb, anar, chakris, phuljharis, even rockets contains heavy metals and pollutants like copper, cadmium, sulphur, aluminium and barium, which not only harming the environment but also giving major health hazards, The toxicity spread by these crackers in the air is not only dangerous for those suffering from pulmonary diseases, but it also causes breathing problems in others. It also causes irritation in the eyes, nose, throat and causing skin allergies; asthma and other respiratory issues and major changes in lung-cell structure causing life taking disease Cancer. 

What happens is when crackers are lit, they produce different oxides of heavy metals like sulphur, barium, cadmium etc as mentioned above too; which are harmful for lungs and gets absorbed into the circulation and affect other organs of the body. So, every year we suggest people not to burst crackers for their health sake. Diwali is such a beautiful festival, instead of crackers lit candles, diyas, electrical lights. 

Following are the few important measures to be taken during diwali: 

1. It is advisable for children and the elderly persons or people with lung or heart disease and are especially sensitive should stay indoors and

October is Breast Cancer awareness month

By Dr. Vikas Goswami 

As we know that October is Breast Cancer awareness moth so, here are few tips to reduce the risk of breast cancer. 

1. Indulge yourself in household chores: Being active reduces a woman's risk of breast cancer. From cleaning the house to decorating it, indulge yourself in such activities. Also take time out to exercise as it reduces the number of fat cells, which are responsible for the release of hormones such as oestrogen and testosterone. This can reduce breast cancer risk by at least 20%..  

2. Breastfeeding is very important: Women who breastfeed their babies for about a year or so cut downs the risk of developing breast canc er by atleast 5% than those who don't breast-feed at all. It is an analysis of cancer statistics by the World Cancer Research Fund found. The longer a woman breast-feeds, the lower her chances of getting the disease.   

3. Refrain yourself from alcohol: Regularly drinking alcohol increases your risk of developing breast cancer and the more drinks you have

Kidney Cancer: get to know it’s ill effects

By Dr. Vikas Goswami

Kidneys are of bean shaped, first sized organs located below the rib cage in the back of the abdomen. It performs following functions: 

• Maintains fluid balance  
• Controls blood pressure  
• Removes waste products  

Kidney cancer is among the 10 most common cancers in both men and women. It is very uncommon in people younger than age 45. This risk is higher in men than in women.

Get yourself examined if you found to feel

Fatigue	High blood pressure	Blood in the urine
Swelling of ankles and knees	A lump or mass at the side or back	Pain or pressure in the side or back
Unexplained fever	Anaemia	Enlarged lymph nodes

 Who are at the risk of kidney cancer: 

• Those who smoke 
• Heavy alcohol drinking 
• Obese people 
• If you have any family history of kidney cancer 
• Exposure to radiation 
• Long term usage of certain medication also puts you at the risk of kidney cancer 

How to prevent kidney cancer: 

• Quit smoking and drinking 
• Maintain healthy lifestyle by exercising and eating balanced diet 
• Avoid exposure to chemicals that leads to cancer 
• Open up with your doctor 

Treatment options: 

• Surgery 
•  Radiation therapy 
• Chemotherapy 
• Immunotherapy 

Please go through these media clippings to understand more about it.

Navbharat Times

Punjab Kesari

Hindustan

Nai Dunia

Prolonged sitting puts you at the risk of Cancer

By Dr. Vikas Goswami 

Nobody really knows till that sitting for longer period of time may puts you at the risk of deadly disease called Cancer. Basically everyone is working with a desk job which requires your concentration at your computer or laptops. But the latest research by the American Institute for Cancer Research (AICR) shows a direct link between sitting for prolonged hours and chaotic cell growth. The exact medical connections are still being studied, but doctors presume that approximately 80,000 cancer cases each year can be attributed to inactivity from long hours spent at a desk. 

Strange we never thought so. People who are mostly sitting are majorly at risk and even those who work out regularly are not excluded from the risks of cancer. 

But why sitting causes cancer? 

A person approximately spends 16 hours in a day of activity which includes office work, travelling and real physical workout; out of which 30 minutes of physical work out constitutes of only 3% to 4% of the day’s workout. The other 15½ hours puts you to cancer risk significantly. 

Cancer risk increases even further when long periods of sitting idle lead to obesity or weight gain and obese people are more prone to cancer. A desk bound job causes increased inflammation, which contributes to cancer risk. 

Let’s have a look at some of the preventive measures to curb cancer growth:  

Being obese puts you at the risk of cancer

By Dr. Vikas Goswami 

Obesity is a condition in which a person has an abnormally high and unhealthy proportion of body fat. Obesity is diagnosed by a number called the Body Mass Index (BMI), which calculates the amount of body fat. Your BMI is calculated from your current height and weight. The higher the BMI the more body fat a person has. 

According to a study published in the noted Lancet, India is just behind US & China in this global hazard list of top 10 countries with the highest number of obese people. India is truly under siege: junk food, alcohol & sedentary lifestyle are leading us to silent self destruction, making one in every Indian men & women either obese or overweight. Experts believe obesity has to do with the lifestyle issues of the major population in urban India. The urban populace has easy access to high-calorie packaged foods such as burgers, chips and colas. Moreover, people in cities follow a sedentary lifestyle. Little or no physical activity and a predilection for gizmos such as video games, computers are to blame. 

Extra fat in the body can have harmful effects, like producing hormones and growth factors that affect the way our cells work. This can raise the risk of several diseases, including cancer. The higher the BMI, the higher the risk of cancer. 

A recent study conducted by WHO's International Agency for Cancer on Research (IARC), reveals that excess body weight puts you at the risk of various types of cancer such as

Liquid biopsy: The new wave in treatment of cancer

By Dr. Vikas Goswami 

Biopsies can be difficult and painful for cancer patients, but it is very important to precisely diagnose the disease and determine the best course of treatment. 

Many researches have been done in the past and recently researchers of University of California reported that a new blood-based "liquid biopsy" could be a revolutionary alternative. Liquid biopsy can accurately detect mutations in cancer DNA; in Liquid biopsy the blood is drawn from a patient's arm to analyze DNA that tumors typically shed into the bloodstream. It provides valuable information for doctors using targeted therapies to treat cancer. 

In India, the most common types of cancer are lung cancer, breast cancer and prostate cancer. It's been known for decades that tumors release their DNA into the bloodstream, particularly in advanced cases where cancer has spread to other parts of the body. The question has always been whether this can serve as an alternative to a biopsy for diagnosis and for the assignment of appropriate targeted therapy and it’s been found that genetic analysis of blood-borne cancer DNA very accurately detected cancer-causing mutations that were also found in tumor tissue samples collected for research. 

The overall result says that the liquid biopsy revealed possible treatment options for more than 63 percent of patients tested during research, including FDA-approved drugs as well as eligibility for clinical trials. The cost of a liquid biopsy could be

Hepatitis and its perils

By Dr. Vikas Goswami

Hepatitis virus can give you Liver cancer as well. Hepatitis B is primarily spread through sexual contact and blood transfusion. People in India can get their tattoo from anywhere even on roadsides they use used needles by which chances of blood transfusion are high and thereby increasing the chances of Hepatitis. The main reason for the increase in liver cancer is the number of people who have hepatitis B and hepatitis C, two viruses that can infect the liver and lead to cancer. 

Hepatitis as we all know is the inflammation of the liver and proves to be deadly in the long run if ignored. According to the World Health Organization, there are 400 million people worldwide who are living with Hepatitis B or C. Globally, every year 1.4 million people die from viral hepatitis. There are five viruses that can

5 Most widespread cancers in India

By Dr. Vikas Goswami 

CANCER in the most literal term means a group of more than 100 diseases in which cells begin to grow out of control or a disease where abnormal cells begin to grow in an uncontrolled way. According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI) which is part of the US Department of Health and Human Services (USDHHS), every 13th new cancer patient in the world is an Indian. India is also witnessing a steep rise in cancer cases and significantly, more and more people are falling prey to this life threatening disease. 

Large number of ageing population, unhealthy lifestyles, use of tobacco and tobacco products, unhealthy diets, lack of diagnostic facilities, etc. are some of the factors that can be attributed to the increase in the number of cancer deaths. The biggest problem behind the rising numbers is that most Indians don't suspect they may have cancer, or simply they IGNORE the warning signals. Let’s see what are the top 5 common cancers that are prevailing in India: 

1. Breast Cancer: A cancer that forms in the cells of the breasts. Women who have menstruated early, with late or no pregnancies, late menopause, which have not breast fed their babies, are particularly at risk. Also, if you have any family history of breast cancer when your mother, sister, nani or masi has detected then you have a higer risk of developing it too.  If you notice any lump in the breast or abnormal swelling then please do not ignore it, immediately go for the screening tests. 

2. Lung Cancer: Lung cancer is one of the most common form of cancer worldwide. Symptoms of developing lung cancer can be chronic cough, blood in sputum, change in voice , weight loss or distant symptoms like bone pain or seizure etc.  The most common cause of lung cancer is smoking, tobacco consumption, urban pollution, chulha cooking in villages. 

3. Cervical Cancer: Cervical cancer develops in women who menstruate early, marry early, having sex with multiple partners; many children and poor anti natal care, as well

Warning signs that every woman should know about Ovarian Cancer

By Dr. Vikas Goswami 

Ovarian cancer is a type of cancer that begins in the ovaries. Women have two ovaries, one on each side of the uterus. Ovaries produce eggs which helps a woman to become pregnant. Ovary cancer is one of the most common cause of death among women with gynecological cancers. The most common reason for such high mortality is a late diagnosis of this disease. The disease has been labeled as Silent killer as the symptoms don't manifest till the disease has spread considerably or because the symptoms masquerade so much that it is often ignored by the patient and dismissed at the primary care physician. 

Early diagnosis is of utmost importance in ovary cancer cases but unfortunately effective screening policies have not yet been made. So, the awareness is one important tool that is also needed from a woman’s point of view. Ovarian cancer often goes undetected until it has spread within the pelvis and abdomen. 

Let’s look for the following symptoms or warning signals of ovary cancer: 

1. Progressive abdominal bloating or heaviness 
2. Loss of appetite or quickly feeling full when eating 
3. Discomfort in lower abdomen 
4. Pain during sexual activity 
5. Change in bladder or bowel habits such as constipation 
6. Low back pain  

The suspicion for something threatening should be high if / or when to see a doctor:   

1. If the symptoms are new to a lady in the past 1 year    

OR  

10 ways to lower the risks of lifestyle disease called Cancer

By Dr. Vikas Goswami 

Cancer is indeed a lifestyle disease. Many studies has been conducted in the past and they all proves that environment and lifestyle factors such as toxic chemicals and radiation are the main causes of cancer disease. Cancer is defined as a disease that causes cells in the body to change and multiply out of control, disrupting the normal function of a particular organ or organs. 

Your lifestyle habits especially your diet as in what you eat plays a multitude of roles in the development of cancer. The first is exposure to ingested substances that initiate cancer (carcinogens). The second is exposure to substances in the diet that can either enhance or inhibit the growth of the cancerous cells. These include compounds that influence our immune system as well as those that have a direct effect on cancer cells. 

Let’s discuss few ways to combat cancer by changing our diet and exercise rules: 

1. First of all target Plant based diets. Eat generous amounts of vegetables and moderate amounts of fruit try including vegetables, fruits, salads, beans and cereals in your diet. They have cancer fighting agents in the form of antioxidants, phytochemicals and micronutrients. Have a combination of each and every fruits or vegetables like Tomatoes, watermelon, oranges, papaya, spinach, cabbage, berries, grapes, mangoes etc. Also consider juicing to easily ingest several servings without feeling too full. For example if you want to eat an apple; eat without its skin on as these days apple is coated with wax to make it more shinning. Some studies have proven that consumption of fruits and veggies of 5 portions in a day can combat 14 types of cancer. 

2. Consume omega-3 fatty acids either through foods or supplements. The foods that are rich in this healthy type of fat are walnuts and flax seed, and cold-water fish like salmon and sardines. These have anticancer properties that can fight very well with cancer. 

3. Eat more and more yogurt. The yogurt contains the good bacteria that produces metabolites which is known to prevent cancer in their gut and were also better able to metabolize fats, which could help lower the risk of cancer 

4. Reduce meat consumption as meat lacks fiber and other nutrients that have been shown to have cancer-protective properties. Meat has fat in abundance, which is often of very high levels of saturated fat. High-fat diets have been linked to higher rates of cancer and saturated fat is particularly dangerous. Finally, depending on how it is prepared, meat can develop carcinogenic compounds. Even if you want to eat then choose leaner meats like chicken or fish. 

5. Try cancer fighting foods like ginger, garlic, onion, turmeric, coriander they all have cancer fighting properties. 

6. Stay hydrated; no matter what

All you need to know about Throat cancer

By Dr. Vikas Goswami 

Cancer as we all know is a set of diseases in which abnormal cells grows, multiplies and divide uncontrollably in the body. These abnormal cells form malignant growths which are called tumors. Throat cancer refers to the cancer of the voice box, the vocal cords, and other parts of the throat, such as the tonsils and the oropharynx. 

Throat cancer is cancer that forms in tissues of the pharynx i.e the hollow tube inside the neck that starts behind the nose and ends at the top of the windpipe and larynx which is also called voice box. Larynx and pharynx cancers are the third most common cancers diagnosed in Indian males after lung and oral cavity cancer. More than 60,000 cases of throat cancer are diagnosed every year. 

You can certainly decrease the risk of throat cancer by not chewing tobacco, by quit smoking or limits the consumption of alcohol. 

What are the symptoms of developing throat cancer?         

• A cough 
• Pain or difficulty in swallowing 
• Ear pain 
• Changes in your voice, such as hoarseness 
• A sore throat 
• Sudden weight loss 
• A lump in the neck are the common symptoms of throat cancer. 

Do check with the cancer specialist doctor if you notice any of the above symptoms. 

What are the risk factors? 

• Throat Cancer is usually caused by excessive use of tobacco or consumption of alcohol. Men are more prone to throat cancer as compared to women. Tobacco is by far the most common cause of throat cancer. Both smoking and ‘smokeless’ tobacco (tobacco chewing) increases the risk of throat cancer. Heavy alcohol use and diet low in fruits or vegetables are the other factors associated with the development of throat cancer. 

• Throat cancer has also been linked to other types of cancers. In fact, some people diagnosed with throat cancer are diagnosed with esophageal, lung, or bladder cancer at the same time. This is typically because cancers often have the same risk factors, or because cancer that begins in one part of the body can spread throughout the body in time. 

Diagnosis of Throat cancer 

Your cancer specialist doctor will start by recording your medical history, asking about any symptoms you may be experiencing and conducting a thorough physical examination. If you’ve been experiencing symptoms such as a sore throat, hoarseness, and persistent cough

Are you at the risk of Lung cancer?

By Dr. Vikas Goswami   

Lung cancer is one of the most common form of cancer worldwide. Symptoms of developing lung cancer can be chronic cough, blood in sputum, change in voice , weight loss or distant symptoms like bone pain or seizure etc.  The most common cause of lung cancer is smoking.   

In India apart from cigarette smoking other forms of smoking like bidi , hukka, chewing tobacco in various forms  is part of culture.  

Cigarette smoking is increasing in younger age . Risk of lung cancer is up to 30 times higher in long term smokers compared with lifetime non smoker.   

Smoking cessation decreases risk of lung cancer. Lung cancer chances decrease by 25 to 90% by abstinence of more than 15 years.  The risk nevertheless is more than a non smoker. Adults who quit smoking on a long term basis can gain 5-10 years of life.   

If cessation is not possible even a reduction of smoking also helps in reducing the number of cigarettes to half decrease the chance of lung cancer by 25%. Surprisingly up to 20% of lung cancer can happen in non/never smokers.    

The primary reasons are:    

1) Passive Smoking : Relatives and close associates of a smoker who inhale smoke exhaled by the smoker or room smoke are at increased of lung cancer esp. people who have inhaled passive smoke on long term basis like children, this form of exposure is called as second hand smoke.   

2) Environmental pollution: WHO (World Health Organization) has labeled pollution especially the vehicular exhaust and industrial emission as carcinogen. That means people living in polluted cities are constantly exposed to cancerous agents- there is no escape.   

3) Asbestos : Asbestos means a highly heat-resistant fibrous silicate mineral that can be woven into fabrics, and is used in brake linings and in fire-resistant and insulating materials.  It’s exposure leads to lung cancer. It is used in industry (textile shipping, insulation, construction). The workers of such industry are at increased risk of developing lung cancer.  This product is banned in various countries but asbestos industry continues to thrive in India.   

4) Radon exposure:  This colorless and invisible gas is naturally occurring in nature. It has a tendency to accumulate in the basements of buildings.  Those working for long hours

Living with Myeloma

By Dr. Vikas Goswami 

Do you often feel tired, feel fatigue or exhausted thirsty or pale all the time or have chronic backache ? It could be a form of cancer called Multiple Myeloma. Unlike other forms of cancer there are not much ready figures are available that how many people in India are suffering from such cancer. This usually affects people over 40 years of age. 

Multiple myeloma is a rare form of blood cancer which is also known as Kahler’s disease. Myeloma is a cancer of a special type of white blood cells known as plasma cells. These plasma cells are part of the immune system formed in the bone marrow which fights infections. When the plasma cells become cancerous, they populate the bone marrow thereby crippling the immune system, causing infections and other symptoms. 

Signs and symptoms of Myeloma are: 

• fatigue,  
• sudden weight loss,  
• Bone pain, especially in your spine or chest 
• Nausea 
• Constipation 
• loss of appetite 
• Mental fogginess or confusion 
• Frequent infections 
• Weakness or numbness in your legs 
• Excessive thirst 

Factors that may increase your risk of multiple myeloma which includes: 

• Increasing age: Your risk of multiple myeloma increases as you age, with most people diagnosed in their mid-60s. 
• Men are more likely to develop the disease than are women. 

As you can see the symptoms of myeloma are very vague nondescript, this leads to delays in diagnosis and misdiagnosis. 

The causes of multiple myeloma and thereby

Expert Views about Holi in popular dailies

Dr. Vikas Goswami’s quotes have appeared in popular English and Hindi dailies on Holi special. Dr. Vikas gave his advice on playing holi with toxic colors and its ill effects. Read them here..

Amar Ujala

Sunburn can cause skin cancer

By Dr. Vikas Goswami 

Many people love to be in sun whether in winters or on a beach holiday unaware about its causes. Too much exposure in sun causes wrinkles and ageing spots on the face. Tanned skin is very much IN these days which are obtained from exposure to sun but many of us don’t know that it increases the risk of skin cancer. 

Over exposure to the UV which is ultraviolet rays from the sun is the main cause of skin cancer. A UV ray also is responsible for sunburns. Sunburn is a clear sign that the DNA in your skin cells has been damaged by too much of UV radiation. Getting painful sunburn, just once every 2 years, can triple your risk of melanoma skin cancer. You cannot feel the heat of UV rays as the heat from the sun comes from infrared rays, which can’t burn you. This is why people cannot distinguish between the burn and the warmth of sun. The UV radiation from the sun is the number one cause of skin cancer, but UV light from tanning beds is just as harmful. Exposure to sun during the winter months puts you at the same risk as exposure during the summertime. 

When you get a sunburn your skin turns red and might and even sore . this sore can be downright painful. In fact, it can hurt a lot when you move. Exposure to ultraviolet light also can cause your skin to bruise and tear more