RGHS vs Chiranjeevi Health Insurance

The Rajasthan government headed by the chief minister Mr Ashok Gehlot introduced two health schemes for the citizens of Rajasthan in 2021. These schemes have great potential and offer unprecedented opportunities for healthcare to the citizens of the state. Both of these schemes have similarities and differences. So, let’s take a closer look into the similarities and differences between these two schemes and how you can benefit from each.

Similarities between Chiranjeevi and RGHS scheme

Both of these schemes are offered to and only the citizens of Rajasthan. The Chiranjeevi scheme can be availed by temporary residents of Rajasthan as well under certain provisions. Temporary residents can not avail themselves of the RGHS scheme of Rajasthan.

Both these schemes offer cashless medical health facilities at any of the registered hospitals under the scheme up to 5 lakh rupees. Both these schemes offer cashless medical facilities to beneficiaries at almost all the government and private hospitals in the state.

The registration process for both of these schemes is performed online.

 These are some of the similarities between the two schemes. Now, let’s take a look at the different benefits and differences between each of these schemes.

Chiranjeevi Health Scheme

The Chiranjeevi health scheme introduced by the state government of Rajasthan is a health scheme for all the citizens of the state. Regardless of their financial standing, each citizen of the state is entitled to cashless healthcare facilities up to 5 lakh rupees for various illnesses and health problems. The coverage includes and is not limited to the care and treatment of patients suffering from COVID-19 and black fungus. Other than that, this scheme also beneficiaries below the poverty line to avail hemodialysis services under medical treatment. Diagnostic tests, as well as patient care up to 15 days after their discharge from the hospital, are also covered under the Chiranjeevi health scheme. This scheme can be availed as many times as a beneficiary needs in a year with no limitations except for the coverage limit of 5 lakh rupees.

Rajasthan Government Health Scheme (RGHS)

The RGHS was introduced alongside the Chiranjeevi scheme, but the RGHS scheme is reserved only for people that are excluded from availing the Chiranjeevi scheme. Government employees, Members of the Legislative Assembly, judges can avail themselves of the RGHS instead of the Chiranjeevi scheme. In terms of benefits, Chiranjeevi and RGHS are similar. However, the beneficiary does not need to pay any premium for availing RGHS. The list of diseases and medical tests covered under RGHS are also similar to that of the Chiranjeevi scheme, and beneficiaries can avail themselves cashless medical facilities at any government and private hospital in Rajasthan up to 5 lakh rupees under RGHS as well. Diseases like COVID-19 and black fungus are also covered under RGHS.

Conclusion

The Chiranjeevi scheme and RGHS are both exceptionally great medical facilities that are sure to help a great majority of the population of Rajasthan. With universal healthcare facilities being available to the mass population, this is sure to reduce the mortality rate in certain parts of the population and provide quality healthcare facilities to them.

What Are the Types of Leukemia?

Leukemia is a type of cancer that affects the blood-forming cells of the bone marrow and increases the growth of the white and red blood cells at an abnormal rate. The Leukemia cells multiply rapidly and crowd out the other cells present in the bone marrow. After a while, the Leukemia cells flood out of the bone marrow and spread into the bloodstream, which increases the number of WBC in the bloodstream abnormally.

As soon as it ends up in the bloodstream, it can quickly spread among the other organs of the body and hinder their normal functioning capability. Leukemia can be differentiated into several different types, and knowing the type from which the patient is suffering, helps the doctor frame the treatment planning accordingly. Read ahead to learn more about the types of Leukemia, their symptoms, causes, and possible treatment options.

Types Of Leukemia That Commonly Affect People

Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia

Description: Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia (ALL) often occurs in children under 15 or in adults above 45. It is one of the most common forms of Leukemia that occurs in kids, especially between the ages of 2-4.

Symptom: The symptoms of ALL are often similar to flu, and it usually includes weakness, fatigue, fever, and body aches. Some of the other probable symptoms are easy bleeding of gums and nosebleeds.

Cause: Acute lymphocytic Leukemia happens when a mutation occurs in the genetic material or DNA of the bone marrow. But it is still uncertain what pushes the DNA to mutate and further leads to abnormal changes.

Treatment: The treatment schedule of a patient suffering from ALL often includes chemotherapy, radiation therapy, chemotherapy with stem cell transplant, or immunotherapy. Considering the stage of cancer and several other factors such as age and medical history, the doctor will follow the treatment method that suits your condition the most.

Acute Myeloid Leukemia

Description: Also known as Acute Myelogenous Leukemia, this Leukemia type affects a specific type of white blood cells referred to as the myeloid cells. It develops rapidly and often attacks the red blood cells or platelets too. The number of Leukemia cells often outnumbers the healthy blood cells and renders its normal functioning ability. As it affects the blood, this form of cancer has the ability to spread to other organs and parts of the body as well.

Symptom: Some of the major symptoms of AML are fever, frequent infections, and anaemia.

Cause: Like all other Leukemia types, acute myelogenous Leukemia develops when a mutation occurs in the DNA/genetic material of the bone marrow. But the reasons behind these changes are still not found yet.

Treatment: The major treatment procedures for acute myelogenous Leukemia are remission induction therapy and consolidation therapy. From the disease's subtypes, the patient's age and several other factors are considered before framing a treatment plan for a person suffering from this particular type of Leukemia.

Chronic lymphocytic Leukemia

Description: This is a slow-growing Leukemia type that develops in the lymphocytes of the bone marrow and slowly spreads into the blood and further into the different organs of your body.

Symptom: The probable symptoms include enlargement of the lymph nodes of the neck, underarm, abdomen, or groin, fatigue, and weakness. There are several other symptoms like night sweats and fever, but it varies highly from person to person.

Cause: Same as other types of cancer, even this type of Leukemia is caused by mutations in the cells' DNA/genetic materials present in the bone marrow. However, why the mutations are caused is yet unknown.

Treatment: There is a varied range of treatment options such as targeted drug therapy, bone marrow transplant, and chemotherapy, and the doctors choose the most suitable one according to the patient's condition.

Chronic myeloid Leukemia

Description: This type of Leukemia is quite different from the ones discussed so far as it is an abnormal chromosome; the Philadelphia chromosome has shown an association with CML.

Symptom: The primary symptoms of CML include easy bleeding, fever, loss of appetite, and night sweat.

Cause: Chronic myeloid Leukemia occurs when specific changes occur in the genes present in the bone marrow cells. The reason behind these changes is still uncertain as it is based on many unknown factors.

Treatment: The treatment procedures of cancer are often similar ones, and the most suitable one according to the patient's condition is recommended by the doctor.

Conclusion

There is no way that anyone can prevent cancer from developing in their bodies. Nor can we manage to take precautions as the causes are still not found by scientists and experts. The only available option is to consult with a doctor (Oncology) as soon as you detect certain unusual changes or issues in your body before it gets out of our hands. When it comes to cancer such as Leukemia the early detection is the difference between life and death.

Skin Cancer: Causes, Stage, Diagnosis & Treatment

There are various types of skin cancer that have become quite prevalent these days. While some may develop in areas exposed to the sun, others might affect the most unexpected places. Skin cancer or the abnormal development of skin cells can be of different types, and each of them shows a varied range of symptoms. You can reduce the risk of skin cancer by avoiding direct exposure to UV radiation. Read ahead to learn more about skin cancer as we are going to discuss here the probable causes, stages of skin cancer, the diagnosis areas, and the treatment methods.

Causes

Mutation in the DNA of skin cells is the primary cause of skin cancer as the cells grow uncontrollably and form lumps of cancer cells. The outermost skin layer is called the epidermis, which is the main area that initially gets affected by cancer.

The role of this epidermis layer is to offer a protective shield to the skin cells of the body, and skin cancer often hinders the functional capability of the epidermis. Most of the DNA damage in the skin cells occurs due to the harmful radiation of the sunlight.

Certain areas are not exposed to the sunrays in any way but still do get affected with skin cancer. That signifies that there are several other factors except for UV radiation which leads to skin cancer but is yet to be detected by the experts.

Stages

Cancer often attacks a small portion of the body but keeps reproducing rapidly, which further lets it spread in other areas of the body if it is not detected early. There are several benefits of staging cancer; doctors use it to understand the cancer type vividly with the help of these stages.

Even though the effect of cancer varies from person to person, the treatment planning often ends up being identical in the case of the same-stage cancer diagnosis. A TNM classification system is a tool that doctors use to stage different varieties of cancer.

It involves mainly three points: tumor size and its depth into the skin, the lymph node involvement, and whether cancer has spread to any other portions of the body. Usually, the cancers are staged from 0 to 4, where the lower number denotes the least affect/spread of cancer and stage 4 refers to be the most advanced state where cancer has spread into several organs of the body.

The further detailing of the stages differs based on the skin type where cancer has been affected.

Diagnosis

The first steps which are followed for determining whether you are affected with cancer are:

• Examination of the skin: A doctor might examine the outer layer of the skin to spot any signs, which might give an idea if further testing is required or not.

• Removal or collection of a sample of suspicious skin for biopsy: An expert will collect a part of suspicious skin for testing in a process called a biopsy. It is the most beneficial method to find out whether you have skin cancer and if yes, it will further determine the type and several other factors about it.

• Determining the stage: If you have cancer, the doctor will conduct several other tests such as imaging tests to detect the type and the places where it has spread. The cancer staging will further allow doctors to chalk out the suitable treatment methods that will be most fruitful in removing cancer from your body.

Treatment

Small skin cancers quite often do not demand further tests more than a biopsy, after which the complete growth is removed from the skin. However, if a person needs other treatment options, the following methods are incorporated within the treatment procedure.

• Freezing: The early skin cancer types are frozen with the usage of liquid nitrogen, and the dead tissues shed off once it thaws.

• Excisional surgery: This method is helpful for almost all types of cancer where an extra layer of healthy skin is also removed along with the affected area.

• Mohs Surgery: This procedure is applied to those areas which are difficult to treat or are affected on a large area.

• Curettage and electrodesiccation or cryotherapy: In this method, after successfully removing a significant portion of cancer growth, the left out portion is scraped out using a sharp object.

• Radiation therapy: It uses high-energy radiation for killing cancer cells. This method is used in those cases where surgery could not eliminate cancer from the body completely.

• Photodynamic therapy: A combination of drugs and laser light is used to make the cancer cells sensitive to light, and it is further destroyed with the help of the light rays.

• Biological therapy: It uses the immune system of the body for killing cancer cells.

Ending Note

Early detection helps to start treating cancer at an early stage which increases the chances of recovery. Therefore, it is the best choice to consult a doctor (Oncology) as soon as you notice specific unusual changes in your skin.

Leukemia: Symptoms, Types, Causes & Treatments

Leukemia is a type of cancer that affects the blood-forming cells present in the bone marrow. There are several types of Leukemia, of which some affect children, and the rest occurs in adults. Cancer is often referred to as the uncontrollable growth of cells, which can develop at any part of the body. But when it comes to Leukemia, the abnormal growth of cells happens in the bone marrow.

The bone marrow produces an abnormal or excessive amount of white blood cells, which stops its functioning property in the usual way. There are several types of Leukemia, and some types can be highly complex to understand. Let's discuss the different types of Leukemia, the various symptoms it shows, and the treatment methods used to treat Leukemia.

Symptoms

In the early stages of certain Leukemia types, there can be no such signs at all. The symptoms of Leukemia differ from person to person, and the symptoms also depend on the person's age.

Some of the most common symptoms are:

• Fever or sudden chills

• Fatigue

• Bleeding excessively and easily

• Joint pains or pains in the bones

• Vomiting

• Headaches

• Shortness of breath

• Weight loss

• Tiny red spots on the skin

• Nosebleeds

• Swollen lymph nodes and enlargement of liver or spleen

• Excessive sweating at night

If you are having one or two of the symptoms mentioned above, it is not necessary that your body is affected by Leukemia. It can be the result of some other disease or side effects of medication as well. That is why it is more helpful to consult an expert before coming to an uncertain conclusion.

Causes

There is no scientific explanation behind the cause of Leukemia in a person. The person getting affected by it might have an unusual set of a chromosome or some health conditions. But by considering certain cases, scientists have concluded that an amalgamation of several environmental and genetic factors can lead to the development of Leukemia in a person.

Types

The classification of Leukemia is done by two methods. While some are divided based on the speed of growth, the other types are differentiated based on the types of cells involved.

The speed of Leukemia growth:

• Acute Leukemia

• Chronic Leukemia

The cell type:

• Lymphocytic Leukemia

• Myelogenous Leukemia

The major types of Leukemia are:

• Acute lymphocytic Leukemia: (ALL) is one of the most common types of Leukemia, affecting children and adults in most cases. It might spread across the central nervous system and lymph nodes. 

• Acute myelogenous Leukemia (AML) is the second most frequent form of childhood Leukemia and one of the most common ones among adults. It creates problems in the production of new white and red blood cells as well as platelets.

• Chronic lymphocytic Leukemia: (CLL) develops among adults, and some of its kinds might not need treatment for a long time, while some demand an immediate course of treatment. This type of cancer affects a type of white blood cells known as the B cells.

• Chronic myelogenous Leukemia: (CML) develops mainly in people aged 65 or above. It often does not show any such symptoms and gets detected randomly during a routine blood test.

Some other rare types of Leukemia are Hairy cell Leukemia, Myelodysplastic syndromes, and Myeloproliferative disorders.

Treatment

The treatment procedure often depends on several factors, such as the type of Leukemia the patient is suffering from, how far it has spread in the body, and whether they have any other health conditions.

The main methods of treatment are:

• Chemotherapy: This is the most common method for treating Leukemia. In chemotherapy, drugs are injected into a vein or muscle or into the fluid present around the spinal cord. In some cases, the patient needs to consume it as a pill as well. This process kills the cancer cells of the blood as well as of the bone marrow.

• Radiation Therapy: This treatment method uses strong radiation beams to destroy the Leukemia cells, which will further repress their growth.

• Biological Therapy: Also known as Immunotherapy, certain drugs are injected into the body to boost the immunity system, which will further help fight Leukemia.

• Targeted Therapy: This method uses certain medicines to destroy specific targeted features of Leukemia cells.

• Stem cell transplant: Also referred to as bone marrow transplant or hematopoietic cell transplant, this method replaces the cancerous cells that have been killed due to chemotherapy or radiation therapy with healthy stem cells collected from a donor.

Ending Note

There are no such options to prevent Leukemia from affecting a person. Therefore, the best chance to stay healthy and fit is by consulting with a doctor from time to time and going through complete checkups at regular intervals.

Learn About Cancer Types & Our Treatment Options

There are more than 200 types of cancer that affect people of all ages all around the world. It can be pretty overwhelming to choose the appropriate treatment option when you are suffering from deadly disease like cancer. While some are treatable, others might not even give time to realize what is going on. With the development of the healthcare industry, a varied range of treatment options are available these days, and in most cases, the life tenure of the patient can be increased up to a certain number of years.

Even though it is still grim and, in some instances, cancer can not be cured, these small steps that are available today were not possible just decades ago. So, let’s dive in deeper to get a brief idea about the types of cancer and the various kinds of treatment methods that are accessible these days.

Types of Cancer

Cancer is often referred to as the uncontrollable growth of cells in any part or organ of the body. There are more than 200+ known cancer types, among which a bunch of them are still not identified yet. Some of the major types of cancer that commonly affects people are mentioned below:

• Carcinoma: This is the most common type of cancer which starts at the skin or tissue, therefore the outer cover of the internal organs. There are several subtypes which include basal cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and transitional cell carcinoma.

• Sarcoma: The cancers which develop on the supportive tissues such as bone, fat, muscles, blood vessels, or cartilage are referred to as sarcoma. Some of the major ones are osteosarcoma, synovial sarcoma, angiosarcoma, liposarcoma, fibrosarcoma and rhabdomyosarcoma.

• Lymphoma and myeloma: This type of cancer typically develops in the lymphatic system of the body, which includes the glands and tubes of the body that are supposed to filter the body fluids and fight infections and other diseases. Some of the main types are T-cell lymphoma, B-cell lymphoma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and lymphoproliferative lymphoma.

• Leukemia: The cancers that affect the blood-forming tissues, such as the white blood cells present in the bone marrow, and lead to a sudden increasing growth of abnormal blood cells are referred to as leukemia. Some of the different kinds of leukemia are acute lymphoblastic leukemia, chronic lymphoblastic leukemia, acute myelogenous leukemia, chronic myelogenous leukemia, T-cell leukemia, and hairy leukemia.

• Central nervous system cancers: The cancers that occur in the brain and simal cord of the body are known as central nervous system cancers. The varied range of this type of cancer is gliomas, brain, and spinal cord tumours, meningiomas, vestibular, pituitary adenoma, primary CNS lymphomas, schwannomas, and primitive neuroectodermal tumours.

Treatment options for treating cancer

The treatment method depends solely on the cancer type and upon several other factors such as age, other health issues, and the cancer stage at which it was detected.

While some people go through a particular type of treatment procedure, others might have to opt for a combination of several ones. Here are some of the most helpful treatment options that are used to treat patients suffering from cancer.

• Chemotherapy: This is one of the most common methods of treating cancer, where anticancer drugs are used to kill the cancer cells.

• Hormone therapy: Cancers developing in specific organs such as the breast and prostate use hormones to grow further. This kind of treatment is used for treating those cases of cancer, and hormone therapy is used to either stop or slow down the growth of the cancer cells.

• Radiation therapy: Cancer cells are killed with radiation with the usage of this treatment procedure.

• Stem cell transplant: Healthy stem cells are restored in cancer patients from donors after they go through a high dosage of radiation therapy or chemotherapy.

• Surgery: Surgery is typically used in those patients where cancer can be entirely eliminated by removing a specific portion or organ of the body.

• Targeted Therapy: This therapy is used to treat a particular characteristic of cancer cells that helps them multiply, divide, and spread to other areas of the body.

Ending Note

Depending on the type of cancer you are suffering from, the oncologist will plan the treatment procedure most suitable for your body. While there are no preventive measures that can be followed to stay away from this deadly disease, several risk factors can be avoided for staying on the safe side. Staying away from tobacco consumption and alcohol is one of the best ways to keep yourself safe from certain types of cancer.

Blood Cancer: Causes, Stages, Diagnosis & Treatment

Cancer affects many people of varying age groups worldwide. Previously the treatment procedure was not effective enough for most cancer types, but slowly the development in the healthcare industry is bringing in several notable changes in the treatment and diagnosis of various cancer types.

Cancer leads to millions of deaths every year in India and many other countries in the world. One of the major types of cancer that has a very high rate of fatality is blood cancer. When someone is suffering from blood cancer, their complete functioning and production process of blood gets affected by cancer. This type of cancer often originates in the bone marrow and disturbs the whole blood flow process as it is a vital source of blood production.

In the case of blood cancer, the growth of an abnormal blood cell disrupts the development and production of the three main types of blood cells: RBC, WBC, and platelets. The cancerous blood cells hamper the normal functioning of blood, and hence it fails to prevent blood loss or fight against infections and leads to the failure of its primary functions.

Symptoms

• The main symptoms of Blood cancer are:

• Weakness and fatigue

• Excessive or easy bruising

• Shortness of breath

• Weight loss

• Anorexia

• Pains in different areas of the body

• Fever

• Bleeding gums

These are just a handful of the symptoms. But there are several other ones. Even if you have more than one symptom, you might not be affected by blood cancer. If you show the symptoms for an extended period of time and face any difficulty, you must consult a doctor and go for a thorough checkup.

Causes

The specific reason behind cancer is still not found, but here are some probable causes of blood cancer.

• Family History

• Weak Immune system

• Aging

• Effects of an infection

These causes all have different probabilities of affecting any person; however, if you have a family history of cancer, are aging, or are ailing from an infection. It is essential to be wary of your condition and keep your symptoms in check to diagnose your cancer in the first stage itself.

Stages

The different stages of any kind of cancer are broken down into several parts on the basis of metastasis. The four main stages of blood cancer are:

Stage 1: The first stage of blood cancer often incorporates the enlargement of the lymph nodes. It happens mainly because of the sudden rise in the number of lymphocytes.

Stage 2: The second stage of blood cancer leads to the enlargement of either the spleen, liver or lymph nodes. Not all three of them are necessarily affected at the same time interval, but cancer spreads in at least one of these organs in this stage as the growth of lymphocytes is at a high peak in this stage.

Stage 3: The development of Anaemia is the primary concern at the third stage, and all the previously mentioned organs still remain enlarged.

Stage 4: The fourth stage is often referred to as the last stage as the risks are optimum at this point, and the blood platelets rate starts to decrease rapidly. The state of Anaemia turns out to be more acute, and several other organs along with lungs start getting affected.

Diagnosis

There are several blood test options for the proper detection of blood cancer. Along with the tests, biopsy, bone marrow exam or imaging such as PET scan, CR scan, and chest X-ray plays a crucial role too.

Depending on the results of these tests, the doctor will be able to diagnose the blood cancer type successfully, which will further allow him to frame the appropriate treatment procedure.

Treatment

The treatment process depends on several factors such as age, fitness level, and the presence of other diseases in the patients' body. Besides that, the type of cancer and the diagnosis stage also play a vital role in deciding the right treatment option.

The main aim of treating blood cancer is to eradicate the disease to the maximum point. The standard treatment procedures include a certain range of processes such as Chemotherapy, Radiation Therapy, Targeted therapies, Stem cell transplantation, Cancer Surgery, and Immunotherapy.

Besides all these, bringing in specific lifestyle changes and dietary improvements is also crucial to ensure a faster and smooth pathway for recovery. Using tobacco alcohol or not being physically active enough can often deteriorate the patient's condition even after the application of the right treatments.

Ending Note

There is no such way to prevent someone from getting affected by cancer. The only precaution which is possible to take is to opt for occasional blood tests and complete checkups, which will allow you to find out about your health conditions on time.

How to Prevent Cancer or Find It Early?

Cancer is one of the most dreadful diseases known to humanity. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), cancer ranks second in the world among the leading causes of death. When cells of our organs or tissues start to divide uncontrollably, and the malignancy spreads to other body parts, the resulting disease is called cancer. It is a disease that can affect almost any organ or tissue within an individual's body. Normal cells of the body transform into cancerous neoplastic cells induced by some carcinogenic agents. X-Ray, Gamma Ray, UltraViolet Radiation cause DNA damage which leads to neoplastic transformation. Lung Cancer is caused due to tobacco smoke.

Cancer is a serious threat to everyone, and it should not be taken lightly. Cancer is a terminal disease that can affect people at any age. This is why to stay safe; you must follow these eight critical steps to prevent the formation of cancer in your body.

8 Important Steps To Follow For Cancer Prevention

●      Avoid Tobacco

Using tobacco is one of the leading causes of cancer. There is evidence that smoking causes various types of cancer, including cancers of the mouth, throat, larynx, pancreas, bladder, cervix, and kidney. Those who chew tobacco are at a greater risk of cancers in the oral cavity and pancreas. Even secondary smoking increases your risk of lung cancer. Never smoking or changing your habit of using tobacco is essential in protecting yourself from cancer.

●      Maintain a healthy diet

Consuming nutritious foods and maintaining a balanced healthy diet can reduce your risk. Keep many fruits and green vegetables on your diet because they are rich in fibre and nutrients and contain low-fat levels. You should also limit your processed and red meats consumptions. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that eating a lot of processed meat increases your cancer risk.

●      Maintain a Healthy BMI

Being overweight is harmful to your health as it not only puts you at risk of cancer, but it also puts you at risk of a bunch of other diseases. According to some research, fat cells release substances that promote the growth of cancer cells. Therefore it is better to choose low-calorie foods and also control your sugar intake. This will help you maintain a healthy BMI and prevent diseases such as cancer.

●      Be physically active

Exercise helps to reduce some hormone levels like estrogen and insulin. As a result, it keeps you healthy and lowers your risks of diseases like breast, prostate, lung, colon, and kidney cancer. At least 30 minutes of exercise each day is recommended, but more is even better. Even on a busy schedule, it is advised to exercise lightly whenever possible.

●      Don't overindulge in alcohol.

Limit your alcohol consumption. Drinking excessively increases your cancer risk. Cancers of the breast, colon, lung, kidney, and liver can occur due to high alcohol consumption. Moderation is important even when you drink. Alcohol has other negative impacts on your health as well, so it is crucial that you understand the risks involved and avoid alcohol as much as possible.

●      Ensure enough Sun Protection

One of the most common types of cancer is skin cancer. Ultraviolet rays from the sun cause damage to your skin, which often leads to skin cancer. You should avoid sun exposure as best possible during the day because, during this time, the sun rays are the strongest. While staying outdoors, seek shade, use sunglasses and hats as much as possible. You should wear loose-fitting clothes that cover the majority of your skin. Always apply a broad-spectrum sunscreen of SPF 30 or more, reapply sunscreen every 2 hours. Apply sunscreen generously all over your exposed areas, and never forget to reapply after excessive sweating or swimming. These practices can help you reduce your risk of skin cancer.

●      Proper Vaccination

Hepatitis B increases the risk of liver cancer. So proper vaccination is required. HPV (Human Papillomavirus) is a disease that is transmitted sexually. It increases the chance of cervical cancer as well as other genital cancer. Therefore HPV vaccination is necessary to prevent such cases.

●      Avoid risks

Sexually transmitted diseases like HIV, HPV increase your odds of having cancer. Those with HIV or AIDS are at a greater risk of lung cancer, colon cancer, and liver cancer. Never share needles, blades, razors, or other personal items because they can infect you with HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C and lead to liver cancer.

How Can You Detect Early Signs of Cancer?

When you detect cancer early, in most cases, it lowers the chances of the spread of cancer and the condition becoming potentially fatal. There are many screening tests for various types of cancer.

●        Colonoscopy, sigmoidoscopy: With these tests' help, abnormal colon growths (polyps) can be detected and removed before cancer develops.

●        Low-dose helical computed tomography: This test is used as a screening device for lung cancer.

●        Mammography: A screening test for breast cancer among women.

●        Pap test: Screening test to identify cervical cancer.

Regular screening tests can increase the chances of discovering cancer early and provides treatment with a fair chance to be successful. Ask your doctor for the details and schedule your tests.

Breast Cancer: Causes, Stage, Diagnosis & Treatment

Breast cancer has been affecting women of all ages around the world for years. Even though it is not that men do not get affected by it, the chances of getting affected by breast cancer are more prominent among women. Over the years, the healthcare industry has witnessed several major changes in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, and that has definitely reduced the death rates from breast cancer highly.

When the growth and division of cells inside the breast tend to get out of control, it often leads to breast cancer. Cancer can occur either on the lobules, ducts or in the fatty tissues present within the breast. The cancer cells often capture the other healthy breast tissues and end up reaching the lymph nodes present under the arms. These nodes offer the fundamental roadway that allows or rather helps the cancer cells in moving to the other parts of the body.

Symptoms

Some of the most common breast cancer symptoms are:

●        Breast pain

●        A lump or tissue thickening in or near the breast

●        Change in color of the skin near the nipples

●        Change in size or shape of the breast

●        Bloody discharge or any other nipple discharge

●        Redness of the breast skin or nipples

●        Inverted nipple

If you are having any of the above-mentioned symptoms, it does not really mean that you are having breast cancer. It can be a random breast lump or even a benign cyst. However, if you have any of the symptoms it is highly advisable to consult a doctor.

Causes

There are no proper findings yet which can state a clear reason behind developing breast cancer. From age, family history to genetic factors, and diet, everything can be a reason for increasing the risks of having breast cancer. The development of breast cancer often starts in the innermost lining of milk ducts or in some cases the lobules which can further spread to different other parts of the body.

Stages

The cancer stages are determined by considering a number of factors. Starting from the type of tumor to whether it has spread to the lymph nodes and further to the other parts of the body or not. Staging also does help the doctor to get a clear picture of the chances of recovery and what course of treatment should be followed. Here is the description of the stages which are normally followed by the majority of the experts.

Stage 0: Commonly referred to as the ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) which means that the cancerous cells are present only within the ducts and have not spread on the surrounding tissues.

Stage 1: Normally, a tumor measures up to 2 cm when it is detected at this stage. Either it has not affected the lymph nodes yet or just a small group of cancer cells are found in the lymph nodes.

Stage 2: The tumor can be anything between 2-5 cm when in this stage. It has either spread in the nearest nodes or has not reached the lymph nodes yet.

Stage 3: The tumor has either spread to the lymph nodes and is 5 cm now or is of a larger size than 5 cm and has spread over a handful of lymph nodes.

Stage 4: The cancerous cells have already reached distant organs which can be either be of the bones, liver, brain, or lungs or in some cases it has affected all of the mentioned organs.

Diagnosis

Most breast cancers are found during a routine checkup or in some instances, the patient might also approach the doctor after facing certain troubles or pain.

Breast exam: The doctors check the breasts to detect a lump or any other possible symptoms.

Imaging Tests: There are several types of tests that assist in the detection of breast cancer.

●     Mammogram: This is one type of X-ray that allows the doctor to go through images that can detect any kind of lumps or abnormalities present in the breasts. This test is done mainly during the initial breast cancer screening process. 

●     Ultrasound: A doctor uses sound waves to differentiate a solid mass from that of a fluid-filled cyst.

●     MRI: Doctors usually opt for this as a follow-up of mammograms or ultrasounds for screening the patients who are having higher risks of breast cancer.

●        Biopsy: A doctor generally extracts a sample tissue and sends it for laboratory tests in order to find out whether the cells are cancerous or not. If it is cancer, the biopsy also does state the types of cancer as well as whether it is hormone-sensitive or not.

Treatment

Cancer’s stage, size of the tumor as well as how far it has invaded, all of it is considered for finding out the right treatment procedure.

The method of surgery is the most common for treating breast cancers. There are several types of it which are used by the personal preference of the patient and also by considering the type of cancerous tumor. The different types of surgery are lumpectomy, mastectomy, sentinel node biopsy, axillary lymph node dissection, and reconstruction.

Some of the other main treatment options include radiation therapy, targeted drug therapy, chemotherapy, and hormone therapy.

Mukhya Mantri Chiranjeevi Swasthya Bima Yojana

Since the COVID-19 outbreak in 2020, many people have been forced to give up their savings for the treatment of their families or for themselves. While the beds at the government hospitals were always occupied, many had to rush to the private hospitals at times of an emergency. It made a considerably large hole in the pockets of the middle-class Indians.

Recently, in view of the current situation, a health insurance scheme was launched by the name of 'Mukhyamantri Chiranjeevi Swasthya Bima Yojana' by the chief minister of Rajasthan, Ashok Gehlot. This state-operated scheme is supposed to offer cashless treatment to the residents of the state. Let's dive into details and learn about the different benefits this scheme is supposed to offer to the citizens of Rajasthan.

What is the Scheme?

The Mukhyamantri Chiranjeevi Swasthya Bima Yojana is one of the cheapest and most useful healthcare policies. It is launched to offer cashless annual insurance cover of up to Rs. 5 lakhs for all Rajasthan citizens who need to pay a premium of Rs 850 per family.

Launched about four months ago, the Mukhyamantri Chiranjeevi Swasthya Bima Yojana has already managed to offer its facilities to more than 1.2 lakhs people of Rajasthan. Besides that, according to recent reports, 80% of the total population of Rajasthan, which is 1.3 crore families, has already registered under this scheme.

Who can benefit from it?

This healthcare insurance scheme has been launched to offer quality treatment to specifically those families who belong to the BPL. The Mukhyamantri Chiranjeevi Swasthya Bima Yojana has been introduced for giving access to an affordable health scheme facility to the economically weaker sections of society. Each and every individual of the eligible families can avail this scheme through an easy application process.

However, here is the complete list stating who all can apply for this scheme:

●       NFSA (National Food Security Act) Card Holders

●       Contractual farmers

●       SECC (Socio Economic Caste Census 2011) beneficiaries

●       Marginal as well as small farmers

●       Families belonging to COVID-19 ex-gratia list

●       Samvida workers of all departments

●       Jan Adhar Card Holder Families

Details About the Scheme

The Chief Minister of Rajasthan has launched this beneficiary scheme on 1st April 2021. The registration process for availing this scheme has started area-wise already. However, one can also register through the online portal of the Rajasthan state government.

Documents needed for the registration process:

●       Aadhar Card

●       Mobile number

●       Passport size photograph

●       Address Proof

●       Ration Card

●       Income certificate

●       Bank Account statement

●       BPL Certificate

Ways to register for this Scheme:

●       By visiting the nearest camp:

●       Through the official website of the State Government of Rajasthan:

Benefits offered by the Scheme:

●       The beneficiaries are being provided with health insurance of Rs 5 lakhs, for which they need to pay a premium amount of Rs 850 per family on a yearly basis.

●       Individuals registered under this scheme can avail treatment options from both private and government hospitals that are affiliated with this scheme.

●       This is the first scheme of the Rajasthan State Government that offers the applicants cashless treatment from the hospitals enrolled under the scheme.

●       The beneficiaries will be getting advantages for a total of 1576 medical tests and all kinds of treatments for different diseases, along with COVID and black fungus.

●       The scheme is also supposed to cover the medical expenses for 5 days before the hospitalization of the patient, along with fifteen days of discharge.

What are the terms and conditions of the scheme?

●       Applicants need to prove that s/he is a permanent resident of Rajasthan in order to avail different features offered by the scheme.

●       The registration process is free only for NFSA cardholders belonging to the families included in the SECC 2011, contractual workers, and marginal farmers.

●       The insurance will cover medical expenses up to Rs. 5 lakhs for the Rajasthan residents who need to pay a premium of Rs. 850 per family.

●       This scheme has enlisted 756 government/public hospitals and more than 450 private ones for extending their services to the people registering for the scheme.

●       The government has set up a call centre, which stays active 24x7 and handles all the complaints and issues faced with the scheme with utmost dedication and care.

●       The state government has assigned Nodal officers at every zone to check whether the complaints are getting resolved instantly or not or to check whether the beneficiaries are getting all their due services from the enlisted hospitals.

●       According to the state government's rule, no enlisted hospital under the scheme is allowed to charge a penny for the treatment of mucormycosis or COVID-19. Under any circumstances, if a hospital charges money for the treatment related to COVID-19 or black fungus, the complete amount will be refunded to the beneficiary immediately.

Ayushman Bharat vs Chiranjeevi Health Insurance Scheme

The Central Government had rolled out the Ayushman Bharat scheme in the starting months of 2018 for offering essential healthcare needs to the financially weaker sections of the society. After that, several state governments launched similar healthcare schemes. The 'Chiranjeevi Swasthya Bima Yojana' is the most recent one, introduced by the Rajasthan State Government.

The West Bengal State government had launched a similar scheme in 2016, which is the 'Swasthya Sathi Scheme', while one of Odisha's is known as the 'Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana'. Even Telangana has a similar healthcare scheme for its state residents, known as the 'Aarogyasari Yojana'.

However, in the following section, we will discuss and compare only the 'Ayushman Bharat Yojana' and 'Chiranjeevi Swasthya Bima Yojana'. Read ahead to find out the complete details about these two schemes and know which offers a better range of advantages to its beneficiaries.

Ayushman Bharat

What is the scheme?

To cover the costs of all types of secondary and tertiary hospitalization care offered to the poor and deprived section of the country, Ayushman Bharat medical insurance scheme was launched in 2018. The main aim of this scheme is to offer free medical treatment to the economically weaker sections of society, which is around 40% of the country's total population.

The healthcare insurance is supposed to cover a sum of Rs. 5 lakhs for over 50 crore Indian citizens. From the treatment costs, diagnostics to medicines and pre-hospitalization costs, each and everything is covered by this central government launched - medical healthcare scheme.

Who can benefit from it?

There are over 10 crores enlisted low-income families all around the country. The Ayushman Bharat Yojana is designed to offer treatment options to underprivileged people in rural and urban areas. One can easily check the occupational categories or other eligibility criteria of availing this scheme by visiting the official portal of the scheme.

Details about the scheme:

●       This scheme is offering Rs. 5 lakhs coverage per family annually for meeting the secondary and tertiary health care needs across various public and private hospitals all over the country, whichever is affiliated to this scheme.

●       An approx of 50 crore families are eligible to avail this cashless hospitalization option.

●       This scheme does cover medical and diagnostics expenses of the prior three days to hospitalization and 15 days post-hospitalization expenses.

●       The scheme incorporates more than 1393 medical procedures and covers all pre-existing conditions since the first day of treatment.

●       Irrespective of age, gender, and family size, this scheme can be availed with ease.

What are the terms and conditions of the scheme?

●       If a beneficiary goes through several surgical procedures, the surgery which is the costliest will be covered in the first instance. 50% of the total expenses will be paid in case of the second time, and it will then be 25% during the third instance.

●       The treatment of a girl child, senior citizen, and women gets more priority than the rest.

●       None of the enlisted hospitals can deny treatment for pre-existing diseases.

●       The hospitals cannot charge money from the beneficiaries for treatment.

Chiranjeevi Swasthya Sathi Yojana

What is the scheme?

The Mukhyamantri Chiranjeevi Swasthya Bima Yojana is launched by the Rajasthan state government to offer cashless yearly medical insurance to the families belonging to the economically weaker sections of the society. This scheme covers a large sector of diseases, including COVID-19 and black fungus and will cover all expenses up to Rs. 5 lakhs. The families who have registered for this scheme need to pay a premium of Rs. 850 annually and can easily avail the benefits of the scheme by doing that.

Who can benefit from it?

From contractual workers to low and marginal farmers, many people belong to the below poverty line, all of whom can register under this scheme. Along with them, the NFSA Cardholders, SECC beneficiaries, and the families belonging to the COVID-19 ex gratia list can easily opt for this scheme by following the simple steps of registration.

Details about the scheme:

●       One can easily register for the scheme by visiting the nearest camp or applying online and submitting the necessary documents.

●       The individuals who have applied for this scheme can get the treatment facilities from 756 government-run hospitals and 450 private ones affiliated with the scheme.

●       The scheme covers more than 1576 medical tests of different diseases and all types of treatment procedures needed for treating a certain disease.

●       From the medical expenses of 5 days before hospitalization to 15 days after the discharge, all of it will be thoroughly covered by this scheme.

What are the terms and conditions of the scheme?

●       A candidate needs to submit supportive documents to prove their permanent residency in Rajasthan to avail the benefits of the scheme.

●       If a beneficiary faces an issue with the hospital or treatment procedure, they do have the option to lodge a complaint in the helpline centre set up by the state government for handling such issues 24/7.

●       None of the enlisted hospitals has the right to charge anything from the patients who are availing this scheme, and even if they do, it is mandatory to refund it as soon as possible.

Conclusion

While both schemes are similar in many aspects, each has its list of advantages and complexities. Hence, an individual can choose the one that seems to suit his requirements and use it to the fullest potential.

13 Foods That Could Lower Your Risk of Cancer

There is a popular phrase that says, “You are what you eat,” which means if you want to be healthy, you have to be mindful of what you are eating and preferably eat good food. Maintaining good food habits are crucial for your health as it can help you prevent serious ailments like cancer, diabetes, and heart diseases. Cancer, especially, is one of the diseases that diagnosis has shown affects people with poor dietary practices.

To avoid the risk of cancer, you should avoid alcohol, processed meats, and red meat. However, it is sometimes not possible to completely eliminate these food items from your diet. It is, however, advisable to eat certain foods that can help you lower your risk for cancer.

13 Foods That Can Lower Your Cancer Risk

Carrots

Carrots are rich in beta-carotene. Consuming a healthy amount of carrots can help you improve your cancer risk factor. In particular, carrots protects you against stomach cancer. Research has shown that carrots have reduced the risk of stomach cancer by 26%.

Broccoli

Broccoli is a cruciferous vegetable that has sulforaphane which is a compound that can reduce the risk of breast cancer. Studies have shown that consuming a good amount of broccoli can reduce the risk and size, and spread of breast cancer cells by up to 75%. The study in question was a test-tube study.

Beans

Beans are an essential part of your diet in many cultures, beans are filled with fibre, and they are suitable for your diet in general. One of the lesser-known benefits of consuming enough beans is that it has shown effectiveness in reducing the risk of colon cancer.

Cinnamon

Cinnamon is an important spice that has a plethora of health benefits. It has been scientifically noticed that cinnamon has effects in reducing the spread of cancer cells in your body. A test-tube study has been able to confirm the claim as mentioned above.

Berries

Berries naturally contain anthocyanins, an antioxidant compound that has been noticed to reduce cancer risk. Studies have shown people with colorectal cancer that consumed bilberry extracts for seven days showed a reduction in the spread of the cancer cells.

Nuts

Nuts have been proven to reduce the risk of fatality of certain types of cancer. Nuts are particularly effective in reducing the risk of certain types of cancer as well. Especially colorectal, endometrial, and pancreatic cancer.

Turmeric

Turmeric is a popular spice that has noted health benefits when consumed in correct amounts has good antioxidant, anti-cancer, and anti-inflammatory effects. Studies have shown that turmeric, especially the compound curcumin, an active ingredient in turmeric, helps reduce the spread of colon cancer cells.

Olive Oil

Olive oil has many health benefits, which is why it is a part of the staple diet in many cuisines. Multiple studies have shown that high amounts of consumption of olive oil can reduce the possibility of breast cancer. Olive oil can be easily added to your diet, so make sure to add it to your diet for its health benefits.

Flaxseed

Flaxseeds are rich in healthy fats, and they can be a very healthy part of your diet. It has shown significant results in a study in preventing and decreasing the growth of cancer cells. In various cases, it has been noticed that having a healthy amount of flaxseeds in your diet can kill cancer cells in your body as well.

Citrus Fruits

Various studies conducted by medical professionals worldwide have found that citrus fruits such as orange, lemon, and grapefruit have been linked to having a lower risk of cancer. Mainly the studies have found that having a few servings of citrus fruits each week helps to reduce the risk of cancers in the upper respiratory tract and digestive system. But, citruses are in no way involved in the development of cancer.

Fatty Fish

Fishes are rich in Omega-3, and adding them to your diet is an excellent option for you to lower your cancer risk for certain types of cancer. The healthy fats in fish have been proven to reduce the risk of cancer in the digestive tract. Fishes also are rich in vitamin D, which also has plenty of health benefits.

Garlic

Garlic has an active ingredient called allicin which has been shown to be able to kill cancer cells. These results have been found in test tube studies. The consumption of garlic has a direct correlation to the risk of certain types of cancer. Garlic has especially been effective against prostate cancer.

Tomatoes

Tomatoes are red in colour because of a compound called lycopene. This compound also has cancer-preventive properties that have been proven effective against prostate cancer. Tomatoes can be easily added to your diet, and they can have great proven benefits for your health.

Conclusion

All the foods mentioned above have proven benefits against the risk of cancer. However, they should not be used as a fail-safe to continue other habits such as smoking and drinking. It is much more important to get rid of smoking and drinking habits to protect yourself from cancer risk.

Urine Incontinence In Women

Urine incontinence is a medical condition in which the urinary bladder loses control and the urine leaks from the bladder, unintentionally or accidentally. The problem is embarrassing because you are helpless in controlling your urge to urinate and sometimes the urine leaks even while coughing or sneezing. Urine incontinence is mostly caused due to aging and hence this problem is witnessed in most of the aged people. However, apart from aging there are various other factors too that contribute to this problem. Changing hormonal levels, body functions, medications and some illnesses, are also contributors to urine incontinence. In some cases, presence of any type of urinary tract infection also causes urine incontinence.

Prominent Symptoms of Urine Incontinence

One must be aware of the most prominent symptoms of urine incontinence, however, the signs and symptoms may vary from one patient to another.

●      Leaking of urine if not able to reach the washroom on time.

●      Urge to urinate in between the bathroom trips.

●      Urine leakage with coughing or sneezing

●      Leaking urine while you are laughing

●      Leaking of urine while doing any sort of physical activity

●      Feeling that the bladder is not getting completely empty

●      Constant feeling of wetness around the urethra

Urinary incontinence in itself is a medical condition that is serious and brings embarrassment to the people suffering from it. In many cases, urine incontinence can be a symptom of any other severe illness, hence it is required to immediately consult your doctor if you notice any one of the above symptoms.

Types of Urine Incontinence

It is very important to understand the type of urine incontinence that a person is suffering from, to get the right treatment.

Following are the types of urine incontinence:

1.     Stress Urinary Incontinence: This is one of the most common forms of urine incontinence. The urine is held in the urinary bladder which is controlled by the pelvic muscles. Stress incontinence is caused when the pelvic muscles have stretched and any sort of physical activity, coughing, sneezing or laughing, puts pressure on the pelvic muscles, causing the urine to leak. The severity may range from a few drops to a spoon full of leakage.

2.     Urge Incontinence or Overactive Bladder: Urge incontinence or overactive bladder condition causes a strong urge to urinate, even when your bladder isn’t full. If you are unable to reach the bathroom on time, it may also cause involuntary leakage of urine. It also causes you to urinate all throughout the night. This incontinence can hamper your daily activities, because you always fear urine leakage if you are not near to a bathroom. When you have an urge incontinence, your bladder muscles become very active and they squeeze even when your bladder is not completely full. Urge incontinence is mostly common in men who have prostate problems and women who are in their menopause stage. The major causes of this type of incontinence are identified to be some kind of infection in the body, neurological disorder.

3.     Overflow Incontinence: This medical condition is very common in men who have prostate problems or you have had prostate surgery. In overflow incontinence, the bladder cannot hold the urine that it makes or does not get completely empty. This causes constant dribbling or leakage. The major cause for this incontinence is identified to be any sort of blockage that does not allow the bladder muscles to squeeze, the way they should.

4.     Mixed Incontinence: Some people suffer from one or more types of urine incontinence. Generally, when you suffer from stress urinary incontinence and overactive bladder incontinence, it is called mixed incontinence. People suffering from this type of incontinence feel a sudden strong urge to urinate while the urine also leaks constantly.

Why does urine incontinence affect women more than men?

Women are more prone to this medical condition and may develop urine incontinence during pregnancy, childbirth or after menopause. All these changes that happen to the women’s body affect the urinary tract and the pelvic muscles. Due to this, it takes extra effort for the muscles to hold the urine in the bladder, but sometimes this stress and pressure causes urine incontinence or leakage. Female urethra is also shorter as compared to the male urethra, which is why the muscles try harder to hold the urine before you are ready to urinate.

During pregnancy, as the foetus grows inside the body, the baby weight puts pressure on the pelvic muscles, urethra and urinary bladder. This causes urine leakage as the pelvic muscles become weak.

If a woman delivers a child through vaginal birth, it weakens the pelvic floor muscles and may sometimes damage the nervous system that controls the urinary bladder. This causes urine incontinence in certain women.

Women who are in their menopause stage suffer from bladder problems, mostly due to low levels of estrogen. This weakens the urethra which helps in holding the urine causing problems of urine incontinence.

Treatment for Urine Incontinence

The treatment for urine incontinence involves use of devices and products that help in holding and collecting the urine. These products are suitable for both men and women, of all ages.

1.     Catheters: A catheter is a soft and thin tube that is inserted into your urethra. Catheters help to collect the urine in a bag that lies outside the body.

2.     Urethral inserts: They are tampons like products that can be inserted inside the urethra and serve as absorbents, to prevent leaks.

3.     Vaginal Pessary: It is a ring-like device that is inserted in cases where the bladder has prolapsed. The device needs to be removed and cleaned on a regular basis.

4.     Bulking Agents: Bulking agents are fillers such as collagen or carbon beads. They are used to fill and plump the tissues around the bladder, so that it gets the capacity to hold the urine. These fillers are temporary and they become ineffective with time. They prove to be a great cure for stress urinary incontinence.

5.     Sacral nerve stimulation: This process involves implanting a stimulator at the lower back of the patient. This stimulator releases electrical impulses that blocks the messages from your bladder to the brain, that cause the urge to urinate. They also strengthen the pelvic muscles so that the bladder can hold the urine and prevents leakages.

6.     Adult diapers and pads: Adult diapers and pads are the most convenient way to get rid of the embarrassment of urine leakage. You can wear them anywhere and anytime and are one of the easiest preventive measures.

7.     Medication: Medicines like estrogen replacement therapy and pseudoephedrine are used to treat urine incontinence. These drugs relax the bladder and reduce the sudden and strong urge to urinate. They also swell the area around the urethra to protect the unintentional urine leakage.

If you are suffering from menopause, you should start taking certain preventive measures, to help decrease the risk of urine incontinence. Avoid any pelvic floor exercise, avoid caffeine, quit smoking and maintain a healthy diet regime, to decrease the risk of urine incontinence.