Understanding 2 most common types of Cancer in India

By Dr. Vikas Goswami 

As we all know that cancer is a dreaded disease. Even a pinch of doubt of cancer causes terror. But take heart today with such great advancements in technology most cancers are curable, if detected early. Below are the two most common type of cancer in India, let’s get to know few facts and get aware about it: 

1.  Lung Cancer   

Lung cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer worldwide.   

Symptoms of developing lung cancer are  

• 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 are:       

• Passive Smoking,  
• Radon exposure  
• Environmental pollution,  
• Chulha cooking in villages  
• Genetic factors  

The numbers in India, lung cancer constitutes 6.9% of all new cancer cases and 9.3% of all cancer-related deaths in both sexes; it is the commonest cancer and cause of cancer-related mortality in men.

Target age group   

It occurs mainly in older people. About two out of three people diagnosed with lung cancer are 65 or older; less than 2% are younger than 45.   

Cut the Risk by

•  Quit smoking and reduce exposure to pollution 

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

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