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

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  

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