Apollo Hospitals, Bangalore

Cancer is one of the most widespread and incurable diseases that mankind has been combating with till date. We still have to go long for treating this deadly disease, regardless the progress man has made in medicine and medical sciences. Cancer continues to take the life of millions of people every year. In this article, we are going to talk about Esophageal Cancer, what it is, its symptoms and causes. Let us have a look.

What is Esophageal Cancer?

Esophagus is the long hollow tube that starts from your throat and ends up in the stomach. The esophagus helps us to move the food down when we swallow it. So, cancer which affects the esophagus tract is known as Esophageal cancer. It generally affects the cells that line the inner walls of the esophagus. It is the 6th most common form of cancer that takes thousands of lives every year. Let us have a look at the symptoms of esophageal cancer.

Symptoms: Esophageal cancer can be easily identified when it attacks a patient. There are some important symptoms that are prominent and clearly points towards the type of cancer.The patient faces difficulty in swallowing (dysphagia) because the esophageal tract starts to get narrow because of the excessive growth of abnormal cells inside its walls. Therefore food cannot be swallowed easily by the victim. Weight loss without the will of trying is also a symptom. This is because the patient cannot eat and drink properly anymore because of the unhealthy inflammation of the tract. The patient can suffer from abnormal chest pain, high pressure or burning sensations. These are followed by pukish feelings as well. Failure to digest properly or heartburn is very common and usually makes the patient weak and mentally irritated because of the problems in the digestive system.

How to prevent Esophageal cancer?

Actually, no one can definitely say that a set of the solution will keep someone away from cancer. It is not possible as cancer can affect anyone. But we can surely follow some steps at least to prevent it from happening in the first place. One needs to quit smoking and drinking alcohol. Tobacco is very harmful to each and every part of your body, therefore, it is absolutely not recommended to smoke and quit it completely. Same goes for alcohol intake. Even if you drink alcohol, drink it in moderation and not always. Eating more fruits and vegetables is one of the most important elements that can help your metabolism grow much stronger and help them to fight with any kind of foreign cells. Maintain a healthy weight and keep exercising daily for better body structure and functions.

Opening The Door To Prostate Health and Enlargement Formulas

There is a little birdie that says Prostate Problems no longer affects only men over 40 but younger men as well. This statement is unfortunately true, however, one need not worry because medical science has improved and the years of research have now finally paid off.

We will 'pull the plug' on the bad news about Prostate Cancer and open the doors on ways to improve prostate health. If we understand the purpose of the prostate and the conditions that affect its proper functioning, we will be able to explain the causes, and then find the right formula or treatment for the prognosis. In addition, we will look further into preventative maintenance to keep the prostate healthy for optimum sexual experience. What better place to start our discussion than the bedroom 

The Condition Behind Doors

What happens in the bedroom should stay in the bedroom but sometimes when women are affected by low sexual performances; it is worthwhile discussing outside your private meeting place. Low performance could be the result of the dysfunction of the prostate. The prostate is an organ that expels the semen from the body when men ejaculate. It is found at the start of the urethra and is the size of a walnut, but may become enlarged when inflamed. There are various conditions that can cause prostate malfunction but before we go there, let us close the bedroom door to discuss privately, before more of the secret leaks out.

Mr. Romantic might be experiencing what is called Enlargement of the Prostate. This happens when the prostate is swollen and disrupts the flow of the fluid through the urethra and may trigger multiple symptoms that become complicated if not treated early. One dangerous possible outcome is prostatitis or Prostate Cancer. Anything that stops or slows down the natural expulsion of fluid from the body will lead to other serious complications, not to mention pain and discomfort. But what causes the prostate to grow out of its regular size?

Cause for Concern

The prostate is known to weigh between 20 and 30 grams but when it is inflamed, could weigh as much as 100 grams. Common factors that propagate the enlargement of the prostate are poor dieting and ignoring early warning signals.

Let us look at dieting and habits. One theory is that some of the foods we eat may contain oxidants which contribute to the rapid break down of cells in the prostate. The ability to maintain a proper balance in our hormones; testosterone and estrogen, could also be a factor of this great effect. When we fall short in feeding the prostate with proper nourishment, we are exposed to many conditions that affects the prostate including prostitis, benign prostate hyperplasia, and possible cancer.

The next possible cause could stem from ignoring warning signs. It is always necessary to pay a visit to the doctor if you are a male and approaching 40. Outside of that, once you see obvious signs, it is mandatory that you visit the doctor immediately to have him or her do a prostate exam. Yes, we all know how uncomfortable that procedure is but it's better to be safe than sorry. We will look at these symptoms that are deemed absolutely necessary for a checkup.

Generally identified as a rare and uncommon phenomenon, vaginal cancer most often occurs in the cells present in the outer lining of the vagina, also called the birth canal. Although primary vaginal cancer is rare and unusual, there are various other types of vaginal cancer that originate elsewhere in the body, but have spread over to your vagina.

Depending upon the nature of origin, vaginal cancer can be divided into the following types:

1. Vaginal adenocarcinoma, beginning in the glandular cells on the surface of your vagina
2. Vaginal sarcoma, developing in the connective tissue cells and multiple cells lining the walls of your vagina
3. Vaginal squamous cell carcinoma, originates in the squamous cells lining the surface of the bacteria
4. Vaginal melanoma, developing in melanocytes, the pigment producing cells in your vagina

Symptoms: As vaginal cancer progresses from one stage to the next, you may experience any one of the following signs and symptoms:

1. Diluted, watery vaginal discharge
2. Painful urination
3. Constipation
4. Odd cases vaginal bleeding, for instance, after menopause or after intercourse
5. Formation of lumps in your vagina
6. Frequent and regular urination
7. Pelvic pain

Causes: Normally, cancer develops when healthy cells undergo genetic mutations, subsequently leading to the uncontrollable growth of abnormal cells. Cancer cells are known to break off from pre-existing tumors and can easily spread everywhere, in what is referred to as metastasize.

Beyond the natural process of development, here are a few factors, which may further contribute to the growth of cancerous cells:

1. Increasing age
2. Vaginal intraepithelial neoplasia
3. Exposure  o miscarriage prevention drugs

Cancer in colon forms due to uncontrolled cell growth in the large intestine cells. Most colon cancers originate from the healthy cells in the lining of the colon that grow into tumors called adenomatous polyps. These polyps can be cancerous or benign. A cancerous tumor is malignant and may spread to the other parts of the body by traveling through blood and lymph systems, this process is known as metastasis. Whereas a benign tumor can grow but don’t necessarily spread to other parts of the body. It takes years for these changes to develop depending upon both genetic and environmental causes.

Causes and risk factors:
In a healthy body, the cells normally grow, divide and then die. Cancer is the result of uncontrollable cell growth where the cells do not die. Aging is one of the important risk factors for colon cancer; other risk factors include a family history of colon cancer. As per Johns LE and Houlston RS individuals with a family history of colon cancer have a high risk of developing this form of cancer as compared to those with no such history. A study conducted by Giovannucci and others in 1995, successfully established the relation between physical activity, obesity and colon cancer. As per the research lack of physical activities elevates the chance of getting colon cancer. Individuals who regularly smoke, are obese and use aspirin have a higher risk of developing this form of cancer. Diet is also an important factor, diets that are high in fat and low in fiber may elevate the risk.

Symptoms:
The symptoms of colon cancer are varied, depending upon the condition of the tumor. At the early stage, patients may experience no symptoms. However, as cancer grows, symptoms arise. Diarrhea or constipation are common; patients may see changes in stool consistency and narrower stool. Abdominal discomfort, bloating, fullness and cramps may also indicate colon cancer. Sudden weight loss and unexplained iron deficiency (anemia) are also associated with this form of cancer. If these symptoms last for several weeks, don’t hesitate to consult your physician.

Treatment:
Colon cancer is highly treatable and depends on the type and the stage of cancer along with health and other characteristics of the patient. However, there is no single treatment; the most common options are – surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. The surgery for colon cancer is known as colectomy and involves removing the affected part of the colon and the adjoining areas including nearby lymph nodes. Chemotherapy involves killing the cancer cells by utilizing certain chemicals that interfere the cell division process and damage the proteins or DNA. In the radiation therapy, high-energy gamma rays are used to target and destroy the cancer cells. Radiotherapy can be used both as a standalone treatment and also along with other treatments.

In case you have a concern or query you can always consult an expert & get answers to your questions!