Why Should Smoking Be Abolished From Your Life: Cancer Spotlight
According to a survey by WHO, approximately 120 million Indians are smokers, which makes up about 12% of the world’s total population of smokers. Not only is that an alarming state, but it is also a significant concern for the overall health of the nation. There is no doubt smoking poses a threat to the one smoking. But, it is also a substantial threat to the people exposed to the smoke.
According to a survey by WHO, approximately 120 million Indians are smokers, which makes up about 12% of the world’s total population of smokers. Not only is that an alarming state, but it is also a significant concern for the overall health of the nation. There is no doubt smoking poses a threat to the one smoking. But, it is also a substantial threat to the people exposed to the smoke.
Despite these facts and the proper distribution of knowledge about the risks of smoking through government channels, many habitual smokers still light one up now and then.
Before their lives go up in smoke because of their habit, this blog is here to talk about why quitting smoking is a meaningful lifestyle change in the fight against cancer.
Smoking Causes and Aggravates Cancer Smoking is a risk factor for cancer as well as one of the primary causes of cancer. It is a leading reason behind various types of cancer, including lung cancer, breast cancer, and liver cancer. Even colon cancer has a deep-set link to the habit of smoking. But how?
Cigarettes are made with a combination of chemicals that, when burnt together, create in cancer-causing elements, also known as carcinogens in the body. These carcinogens destroy the inner lining of the lungs and spread in the body through the bloodstream.
Smoking Effects on the Female Body
A research conducted in the previous decade revealed to the field of medicine that smoking actively increased the incidence of breast cancer in women by about 30% in comparison to women who do not smoke. Amongst this demographic, the women that were the most at risk were these:
● Women who began smoking before the age of 20
● Women who began smoking at least 5 years before their first pregnancy
● Women who have smoked for a period time
● Women who smoke more than cigarettes in a day
The Benefits of Quitting Smoking
There are numerous benefits of quitting smoking that can be broken down in time intervals that a person has gone without smoking.
● 20 Minutes: Heart rate and blood pressure go down.
● 12 Hours: Carbon Monoxide levels in the blood returns to normal.
● 2 Weeks to 3 Months: Blood circulation and lung function return to normal. The risk of heart attack is also reduced.
● 1 to 9 Months: Coughing problems are gone, and breathing becomes easier.
● 1 Year: Risk of coronary heart diseases is reduced by at least 50%.
● 2 to 5 Years: Cancer risk for mouth, throat, oesophagus, and bladder reduced by 50%, while the risk of stroke becomes similar to that of a non-smoker.
● 10 Years: Lung cancer risk reduced by 50%, while the kidney and pancreatic cancer risk also goes down significantly.
● 15 Years: The risk of coronary heart diseases is reduced to the level of a non-smoker.
How to Quit?
That is one of the most important questions that smokers ask every time they have the will to quit. The first thing that needs to be done is to get a plan in place. Then, as per this plan, the person can either quit on their own or get help from one of our renowned cancer doctors, like Dr Vinay Vyas at Medipulse Hospital, the leading institute for cancer treatment in Jodhpur. Smoking is a curse for the life of people who actually want to live but are carelessly smoking their life away. If you are a smoker or know someone who smokes, make sure to share this blog with them to enlighten them.
How Effective Is Vegan Diet For Cancer Patients
Cancer is one of the major threats to human health in the current time. Characterized by the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in the human body, cancer creates tumour tissue that affects the growth of other healthy cells by hijacking their nutrition. Cancer cells can also travel to other parts of the body and create tumours, facilitating the overall growth of cancer in the body. One of the most concerning factors about cancer, however, is the increasing incidence rate of the diseases in the current world.
Cancer is one of the major threats to human health in the current time. Characterized by the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in the human body, cancer creates tumour tissue that affects the growth of other healthy cells by hijacking their nutrition. Cancer cells can also travel to other parts of the body and create tumours, facilitating the overall growth of cancer in the body. One of the most concerning factors about cancer, however, is the increasing incidence rate of the diseases in the current world.
A study showed a stark difference in the percentage of people at risk of cancer in between 2 generations. Between people born after 1930 and after 1960, the lifetime risk of developing cancer increased for men from 38.5 to 53.5 respectively, and for women, it went from 36.7 to 47.5, respectively. This means that half the people under the age of 65 right now are at a risk of developing cancer at least once in their life. Corroborating with this change is the fact that diet of people has changed drastically during this period. The patterns of eating have changed significantly among this population. So is there a direct correlation between cancer and diet & lifestyle?
Understanding Lifestyle and Cancer
The most common thing that is seen in patients is that a certain change in lifestyle takes place during and after treatment. There are a number of research projects taken up by some of the leading and renowned medical institutions around the world that underline a number of important findings towards cancer in the world. A few of them are the following:
● Animal product consumption has been a major reason for the increase of at least 12 types of cancer in the world. This is because over consumption of animal products like meat and dairy can cause an increase in production of insulin, insulin-like growth factor, and sex hormones, all of which are strongly linked with the risk of cancer.
● Cooking meat at high temperatures produces a variety of carcinogenic compounds that are then directly consumed by humans.
● Environmental pollutants, especially the ones that can cause cancer are abundantly present in animal products. The reason being, these pollutants accumulate on the tissues and then spread throughout the body, irrespective of the body belonging to a dairy animal or a human.
● Including fruits, vegetables, and legumes into the diet brings in more antioxidants and fibre, both of which are known to be essential in not only reducing the risk of incidence in high-risk cases but also help in fighting cancer itself.
While the world has traditionally been divided into 2 schools of thought (vegetarian and non-vegetarian), the idea of the 3rd way of living life came into existence; Veganism.
Is Vegan Diet Helpful in Cancer?
The main concept of a vegan diet is abstaining from the consumption of any animal products. Be it meat or dairy products, veganism is all about abstaining from both in order to be fully free of anything that comes from or is obtained from animals. In doing so, the food begins to be including more of “cancer-fighting” elements, like berries, greens, whole grains, nuts, and seeds.
To support the argument, a research conducted in the year 2014 concluded that out of the 60,000 people under observation, the 2,246 vegans had a 19% lower chances of cancer incidence, even when personal differences like age, gender, and body-mass index were taken into consideration. So in all manners of this argument, the final conclusion that has been drawn by a number of studies and personal experiences is that not only vegan diet can help in reducing the risk of cancer incidence, but also can go a long way in ensuring that a cancer patient can live happily after diagnosis and during treatment.
All this goes in hand with the common knowledge that the leading cause of cancer in this world, more than any other factor, is genetics. A healthy lifestyle and proper dietary habits can significantly reduce cancer incidence in people at high risk of cancer as per their genetics. For the best opinion on this, talk to the best cancer doctor in jodhpur , Dr Vinay Vyas at Medipulse Hospital. Dr Vinay is the Senior Consultant at the Department of Oncology at Medipulse Hosital Jodhpur. Schedule an appointment or visit for the best consultation on cancer.
Understanding Chemotherapy: A Guide for Cancer Treatment
In a human body, normally, the cells grow in an orderly way; however, some cells keep on growing in an uncontrolled fashion. The unchecked growth may result in the development of lumps called a tumour. If the tumour is malignant, it is termed as cancer. Since the discovery of the actual cause behind cancer, many treatments and surgeries were used to cut the tumour tissues in different body parts; however, the success rate remained low.
In a human body, normally, the cells grow in an orderly way; however, some cells keep on growing in an uncontrolled fashion. The unchecked growth may result in the development of lumps called a tumour. If the tumour is malignant, it is termed as cancer. Since the discovery of the actual cause behind cancer, many treatments and surgeries were used to cut the tumour tissues in different body parts; however, the success rate remained low.
Beginning of Chemotherapy
Until the 1940s, there was no instance of the existence of a systematic procedure for the treatment. The actual breakthrough was achieved when surgeons developed a new method of cancer treatment, after the discovery of X-ray and anaesthesia. It was only in the later years of the 20th century that the first successful documentation of chemotherapy took place. Nitrogen was used for treating the condition of lymphoma in a patient, which marked the beginning of chemotherapy.
Chemotherapy is considered as a breakthrough in cancer treatment. Over the years, new chemotherapy drugs were discovered which resulted in successful treatment of numerous kinds of cancer. It has now become one of the principal modes of treatment of cancer patients.
What is Chemotherapy?
Chemotherapy, simply put, is the use of different drugs to kill cancerous cells. The procedure stops and slows down the growth of cancerous cells in the human body. Nowadays, chemotherapy has three prime applications:
It is curative for a few malignancies like leukaemia and germ cell malignancies
Plays a palliative role for metastatic epithelial malignancies
Plays a crucial role in resected epithelial malignancies
Understanding chemotherapy may help individuals cope better with the situation and assist them in making a decision about the treatment.
How is it Administered?
Chemotherapy can be given in numerous ways
By mouth
By introducing the drug directly into the affected tissue
With the help of a Catheter
Through a Needle
What is the Duration of Chemotherapy?
The duration of chemotherapy varies according to the stage and type of cancer. It also depends on how an individual’s body responds to the drug. Therefore, it can be given for a few days, few weeks, or a long-term. Your doctor will tell you about the course of treatment after scrutinising your reports.
Is Chemotherapy Painful?
Chemotherapy does not cause any discomfort generally; however, some medications may cause mild burning sensations.
If a person experiences any pain, coolness, unusual burning sensation, s/he must immediately tell the doctor. Moreover, if there is any redness or tenderness over the injection site, the doctor must be contacted immediately.
What are the Common Side Effects of Chemotherapy?
Chemotherapy may produce different side-effects in different patients but not all. The possible side effects are:
Hair Loss
Muscle Weakness
Loss of Appetite
Nausea and Vomiting
Ulcers
Dry and Tired Eyes
Increased Risk of Bruising
Diarrhoea or Constipation
Chemotherapy is widely used because it destroys cancer cells and reduces the chances of reoccurrence. It can also be used as a supportive treatment to shrink cancer and increase the success of the primary treatment.
However, depending on the conditions a cancer patient may have to undergo different treatment. You can avail the health checkup packages in Jodhpur at lower rates. Medipulse has a dedicated department for cancer care with a team of experienced doctors, who can guide the patients with the appropriate treatment. The doctors have treated thousands of patients with varying stages of cancer successfully.