Awareness is the key to beat cancer

Mail Today: On World Cancer Day

By Dr. Vikas Goswami 

Let’s see some facts first:   

• Worldwide cancer is the leading cause of  death; accounted for 8.2 million deaths as per WHO statistics  
• Every year nearly 1.1 million new cases of cancer are reported. In all, the disease affects about 3.3 million people in India at any given point in time.
• Every 13th new cancer patient in the world is an Indian says a report by National Cancer Institute (NCI) which is part of the US Department of Health and Human Services (USDHHS).
• World Cancer Day falls on Febraury 4

Cancer as we all know is the most dangerous disease that has affected people from all over the world. In India, the biggest problem behind the rising number of cancer patients is that the most Indians don't suspect they may have cancer, or simply they IGNORE the warning signals. But, thankfully, today with the advancement in medical sciences and commitment from researchers and doctors, superior treatments have been developed resulting in success stories. 

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 

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. 

Look for these signs that spell cancer Sudden weight loss, Skin problems or developing lumps on body: Constant indigestion, constant pain or

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: