In simple terms; cancer is the overgrowth of cells without control.
This contradicts how normal cells react; as normally cells follow an orderly path that consists of growth; division and programmed cell death. Programmed cell death is called apoptosis, and when this process breaks down, cancer begins to form. Unlike normal cells, cancer cells do not experience apoptosis; instead they continue to grow and divide. This leads to a mass of abnormal cells that grow without control. There are various types of cancers and the causes differ. I will mention some of the general causes of cancer: (A) GENETICS AND CANCER The family history, inheritance and genetics play an important role in some childhood cancers. Having close relatives in the family can increase the chance of developing cancer. For example; breast cancer and cancer of the ovaries. Genes are the basic carriers that have all the information of your hair colour and skin colour. There are two types of genes: cancer suppressor genes and cancer causing genes. Proto-oncogenes are the "good" genes that normally control what kind of cell it is and how often it divides. When a proto-oncogene mutates (changes) into an oncogene, it becomes a "bad" gene that can become permanently turned on or activated when it is not supposed to be. When this happens, the cell grows out of control, which can lead to cancer. (B) CARCINOGENS A carcinogen is something that can help to cause cancer. Tobacco smoke is a powerful carcinogen. But not everyone who smokes gets lung cancer. Carcinogens are chemicals that can act or help to increase your chance of getting cancer. Carcinogens are present in processed foods drinks, polluted air etc. The list of chemicals in carcinogens is ever increasing. ( C) AGE Most types of cancer become more common as we get older. This is because the changes that make a cell become cancerous in the first place takes a long time to develop. There has to be a number of changes to the genes within a cell before it turn into a cancer cell. These changes can happen by accident when the cell is dividing. It can also happen because the cell has been damaged by carcinogens where the damage has been passed on to newer cells when that cell divides. The longer we live, the more time there is for genetic mistakes to happen in our cells. ( D) IMMUNE SYSTEM People who have problems with their immune systems are more likely to get some types of cancer. This group includes people who:
The types of cancers that affect these groups of people fall into 2 overlapping groups: 1) Infectious causes: They can help cause some cancers but this does not mean that these cancers can be caught like an infection. Viruses: What happens is that the virus can cause genetic changes in cells that make them more likely to become cancerous. Examples of cancers caused by viruses are: a) cervical cancer and other cancers of the genital or anal area that are caused by the Human papilloma virus (HPV). b) some lymphomas c) primary liver cancer: Hepatitis B and C viruses Bacteria: Bacterial infections have not been thought of as cancer causing agents in the past. But studies have shown that people who have helicobacter pylori (H pylori) infection of their stomach develop inflammation of the stomach lining, which increases the risk of stomach cancer. 2) Lymphomas: chronic infections or transplanted organs can continually stimulate cells to divide. This continual cell division means that immune cells are more likely to develop genetic faults and develop into lymphomas.
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Depending on the symptoms that patients display, doctors propose the respective diagnostic tools. Correctly and accurately diagnosing cancer is vital for the prevention of unnecessary anxiety and the welfare of patients and their families. Several techniques have emerged to aid diagnosis and monitor the development of tumours. 1) Imaging Since some “lumps” cannot be physically felt, imaging of the area of concern is often carried out. For example, if an abnormal mass is growing deep within the breast tissue, it might not be felt upon physical examination. Hence, mammograms, i.e. X-ray examination of the breasts, are often suggested to pick up tumours in its early stages. http://www.med.unc.edu/radiology/clinical-services/breast-imaging - image source 2) Endoscopy This minimally invasive technique allows an expert to “look” at some hollow structures in the body- this requires an instrument that videos the insides of an organ in real time. This is often used to look at the lungs, alimentary canal (including mouth, esophagus, stomach, and intestines), urinary tract and female reproductive system. http://drbcshah.com/endoscopy/ - image source 3) Biopsy If a patient reports an abnormal lump or undefined growth, eg in breasts or the neck, a sample/section of this mass will be surgically removed to be studied. This sample is referred to as biopsy, which will be studied by specialists using microscopes. http://www.webmd.boots.com/prostate-cancer/default.htm - image source 4) Cytology
In lieu of the invasive technique of biopsy, single or groups of cells can be studied. Although this diagnostic tool causes lesser side effects and is easily obtainable, these groups of cells may not be representative of the whole tumour. Hence, biopsies tend to be more accurate and reliable. Tumour specific markers, which represent tumour cells, are then searched for in the cells extracted. These cells can be obtained from bodily fluids: urine samples aid the diagnosis of prostate cancer. Alternatively, cells can be scraped from organs, eg cervix, alimentary canal and lungs, using a spatula. 5) Histological staining To further understand the nature of biopsy specimens, specialists can stain the samples using, for example an H&E stain, which is equivalent to a dye. This “dye” stains cells in the samples allowing us to understand the severity of the cancer. Different dyes can be used in conjunction to provide a holistic understanding of the tumour. Part of cancer diagnosis is staging of the tumour. This is essential for physicians as it allows them to understand the magnitude of the tumour, its potential course of action and the administration of the right type of treatment. This is done based on the size of the tumour, the histological stains and the spread of the tumour. A grade is then assigned to the patient’s tumour. For example, with low grade tumours, surgical removal of the tumour might be sufficient for its eradication. Contrastingly, high grade tumours might require a more targeted treatment, several sessions of chemotherapy or certain types of drugs. What is TCM? Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is known more as a kind of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM), which is often used together with other conventional treatments to help patients feel better during the treatment. TCM is a holistic system of medicine including herbal medicine, acupuncture and moxibustion, tuina, dietary therapy, and qigong. There has been a long history of using TCM in treating various diseases including gastric cancer in China. Unlike the mainstream Western medicine, including surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy, which aim to kill tumor cells or relieve particular symptoms related to cancers, TCM treats patient as a whole rather than specific part with disease, and focus on balance the flow of energy in human body, which is known as Qi. Why TCM? Conventional treatment, such as surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy,works like a double-edged sword, which means not only tumour cells but also some normal cells will be damaged. Meanwhile, patients’ body will build up energy to fight against cancer as well. That is why patients are easy to get tired or infection during the treatment. So some patients may need suits of amour to protect their normal tissues. TCM can work as the amour by strengthening patients’ immunity, reducing side effects of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, or enhancing the effects of other treatments. What we can use to gastric cancer? -- Four gentlemen decoction In the theory of TCM, four gentlemen decoction (known as Si Jun Zi Tang in China) is a classical Chinese herb remedy for regulating spleen-stomach function, and exciting Yang Qi that generated and transformed from spleen. This essential recipe includes four Chinese herbs (images are shown above): 1. Ginseng Root (Ren Shen) - (Top Right) 2. Atractylodes Macrocephala (Bai Zhu) - (Bottom Right) 3. Licorice Root (Gan Cao) - (Top Left) 4. Poria, China root (Fu Ling) - (Bottom Left) TCM believes that these four herbs are mild in nature, just like noblemen with moderate virtue. So they are named as four gentlemen. More interestingly, they also have their own positions with different features in the formula (i.e. monarch, minister, assistant and guide, respectively). Cooperating with each other, the gentlemen decoction can restore the function of spleen and stomach, and to improve Yang Qi in patients’ bodies. Clinically, it is easy for patients with gastric cancer to become empty of nutrients (malnutrition), due to the cancer itself, as well as eating and digesting disorders. Furthermore, the stimulation from surgery will also get the situation worse, and damage patients’ immune function. In the theory of TCM, most of these patients are considered to be Qi deficient in spleen and stomach, which conforms to the indications of four gentlemen decoction. Basically, it is widely used in gastric disorders, such as chronic gastritis (CG), peptic ulcer, and chronic enteritis causing by spleen-stomach Qi deficiency, especially for patients present with pale face, poor appetite, white and thin tongue, weak pause, and easy to get tired. Recent studies have also illustrated its efficacy in promoting the recovery after surgery, prolong the overall survival of patients with advanced stage gastric cancer, as well as improving quality of life when integrated with chemotherapy. However, according to individual condition, adding or reducing some components can tailor the formula, e.g. Pinellia Rhizome (Ban Xia) for vomiting, or Ripe Fruit of Zhi Shi (Zhi Ke) and Tangerine Peel (Chen Pi) for distention and fullness in chest. Although four gentlemen decoction has been used safely for centuries, it still can be useless or even harmful if taken inappropriately, so consult a registered TCM doctor when you are considering it. Getting cancer is a long-term process, and it is the same for food therapy. As an important part of daily remedy, what to eat, how to eat and when to eat will all influence the health of our gastrointestinal tract. Here, we recommend ten types of healthy food that may help us keep fit and away from gastric diseases according to the principle of TCM. What is Chemotherapy?
Chemotherapy is one of the ways in which cancer is treated. It kills cancer cells by destructing them so they cannot divide, grow and spread. What is the purpose of chemotherapy? 1) To relieve symptoms and slow spread and shrink/lower it down – this is known as palliative chemotherapy
2) To cure cancer completely – curative chemotherapy. 3) To make other treatment methods more effective/better à for example in combination with radiotherapy. Radiotherapy will be discussed later. 5) To lower the chance/risk of the cancer returning again after radiotherapy/surgery. 6) It can be used to treat benign tumours which are not cancerous and are removable by surgery and are not likely to come back. This is called peri-operative chemotherapy and is given before and after surgery. How does chemotherapy work?
2) Treatment with a combination of medication. This is known as combined therapy. A chemotherapy regimen (schedule) commonly occurs where there is a specific number of cycles given over a period of time. What are the examples of chemotherapy? It usually made up of two drugs: 1) Fluorouracil (5-FU, Adrucil) 2) cisplatin (Platinol). There are newer drugs such as capecitabine (Xeloda), and oxaliplatin (Eloxatin) that equally work. Other types of drugs used are: Docetaxel (Docefrez, Taxotere), Paclitaxel (Taxol), Irinotecan (Camptosar), and Epirubicin (Ellence). How is chemotherapy commonly given/administered? The method in how chemotherapy will be given is dependent on the medication (s) one is given. One may have a combination of drip, tablets and injections.
Are there any other treatments for cancer? 1) Radiotherapy This is when they use radiation to kill abnormal/cancer cells. 2) Hormone therapy
3) Biological therapy
4) Radiofrequency ablation
Just to clarify; primary cancers is the first place where the cancer has started whereas secondary cancer is when cancer cells have spread to other organs forming a new tumour. For example; gastric to lung cancer. 5) Cryotherapy
God is the Ultimate Doctor of Doctors and by His permission; Farah’s palliative therapy that’s starting on 6th April 2014 God-Willing will successfully remove the symptoms and the cancer cells one after the other. GRAPES
A grape is a perennial and deciduous woody vine. Its berries can be eaten raw or be made into juice, jam, jelly, raisins, and others. Grapes are found in almost all parts of the world. Grapes contain phytochemicals such as resveratrol which has been positively implicated to inhibit any type of cancer. DRAGON FRUIT Dragonfruit is rich in phytoalbumin antioxidants which help carcinogenic free-radical formation in the body. It is also rich in fiber, calcium, phosphorus, and vitamins C and B2, as well as its helps excrete metal toxins from the body. CITRUS FRUITS Citrus fruits include orange, lemon, grapefruit, etc. This kind of fruits contains a large number of bioflavonoids, which can enhance the activity of certain enzymes in human skin, lung, stomach and liver, and change the fat-soluble carcinogenic substance into water-soluble, so as to make them not easy to be absorbed and can be expelled out of the body. At the same time, they can enhance the absorptive capacity of vitamin C by the human body. Vitamin C is an important cancer substance, which can enhance human immunity, prevent the formation of nitrosamines–a strong carcinogen. What’s more, it also has certain effect in the prevention and treatment of gastrointestinal cancer. A study published a few years ago in the journal Nutrition and Cancer, for instance, found that people who consume the highest amounts of flavonoids and proanthocyanidins, a subgroup of flavonoids, were 44 percent less likely to develop oral cancer, 40 percent less likely to develop laryngeal cancer, and 30 percent less likely to develop colon cancer compared to others. AVOCADO Avocados contain lutein, an anti-cancer carotenoid. Lutein lowers the risk of prostate cancer in men and protects eyes against fatal diseases like macular degeneration and cataracts. Another cancer-fighting component of avocado is glutathione that can significantly cuts the incidence of oral and pharyngeal cancer. Avocados are also rich in potassium, vitamins, and heart-healthy fats. STRAWBERRIES Anti cancer action is actually related to the polyphenols contained in the berries, rather than in their antioxidant potential, as is commonly assumed. A diet containing a high proportion of strawberries or raspberries (5% or more of total diet) in animals, has been found to significantly decrease the number of esophageal tumors triggered by NMBA, a known powerful carcinogen. Ellagic acid appears to prevent the activation of carcinogenic substances into cellular toxins, causing them to lose their ability to react with DNA and induce mutations capable of triggering the onset of cancer. In addition, strawberry also contains a kind of amine substance, which has good effect in the prevention of leukemia and other diseases related with blood. ACAI BERRIES Laboratory studies have shown that acai berries can kill off cancer cells. Extracts from the berries can induced the death of leukemia cells. Other beneficial contents of acai are its antioxidants (found to be twice than in blueberries), omega fatty acids, protein, vitamins A and C, iron, and fiber. NONI According to recent studies, noni has properties that may be beneficial in preventing cancer. The extract from the tropical plant indicates some anti-cancer properties useful for the immune system. Moreover, noni contains carbohydrates, dietary fibers, niacin, calcium, iron and potassium. GOJI BERRIES It has been found out that goji berries contain selenium, a trace mineral that acts an antioxidant which can neutralize free radicals that damage cells and cause cancer. Goji berries are also rich in other nutrients and phytochemicals like amino acids, carotenoids like beta-carotene and zeaxanthin, polysaccharides, antioxidants, calcium, potassium, iron, zinx, and riboflavin. MANGOSTEEN Mangosteen is anti-cancer and helps cancer prevention. Various studies have shown that phytoceuticals in Mangosteen (in some cases known to be its xanthones) have properties such as: anti-tumor (shrinks tumors), anti-leukemia, antifungal (critical for all cancer patients), antibacterial (to protect DNA), antioxidants (at least two dozen different kinds of xanthones are in the mangosteen fruit), antiproliferation, kills cancer cells and causes apoptosis (programmed cell death) for some types of cancer. This is a pretty impressive list of cancer credentials! Mangosteen also contains: catechins, polyphenols, minerals and vitamins. SOURSOP Soursop has anti-cancer characteristics and is best for all types of cancer. The fruit is also anti-stress, anti-bacterial, antifungal, anti-depressant, and anti-worms. POMEGRANATE Studies have reported that the fruits contain phytochemicals that can suppress aromatase, an enzyme which converts androgen into estrogen and which is associated with breast cancer. Furthermore, clinical trials have shown the pomegranate extracts can prevent prostate cancer in men. KIWI Kiwi contains plenty of vitamins, especially vitamin C, the content of which is 4 to 12 times as that of orange. Through the researches in recent years, it is confirmed that kiwi contains a kind of active ingredient, which can block the formation of carcinogenic “nitrosamines” in the human body. As a result, it has a good effect in preventing cancer. APPLE Apple peels contain as many as a dozen cancer-fighting chemical compounds, according to a study conducted. By Hafsa-Waseela. Let's keep it simple. In each of our bodies, we have millions of cells. These are the basic building blocks of all living things. They divide and grow under control to produce more cells. However, cells also have a limit to live; so when they grow old; they die and the new cells made replace them. This is the cycle. Why do we need more cells? To keep healthy. What's so special about cells? We need cells to take in nutrients (good things that our body needs) from food. These nutrients then change into energy and specialized functions are being carried out. Now, cancer occurs as a result of ABNORMAL cells. Cells that act in contrary to that of normal cells. They divide continuously without control and are capable of causing 'war' on other tissues i.e take over. This occurs via the blood and lymph systems. So why or how would cells go abnormal? This is due to the genetic material we have in the cells known as the DNA. When the DNA undergoes changes or is damaged, it results in mutations that affects how normal cells grow and divide. How? cells don't die when they should, new cells form when the body is in not of need to them. So the excess or the extra cells forms a bulk/mass known as a tumour. Not all cancers form tumours such as leukaemia. Not all tumours are cancerous. Tumours are classified/divided into two: 1) Benign tumours 2) Malignant tumours. What's the difference between benign and malignant? Benign can be removed surgically (with surgery) and in majority of the patient cases; they do not re-appear. They do not spread to other organs in the body. However; malignant tumours are cancerous and they declare war on other organs. The spread of cancer is known as metastasis. May Allah protect my dearest Farah and in sha Allah she will succeed in this trial. Ameen. |
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