Ovarian Cancer, as the name suggests, is a cancer that affects the ovaries. It leads to the abnormal growth of cells, which eventually spreads over to other parts of a woman s body, such as the stomach, uterus and vagina. The risk of ovarian cancer is greater in women who have experienced the process of ovulation many times in their lifetime. It also includes those women who attain menopause at a much later stage in their lives or those who start ovulation at an early age. The different types of tumors, which develop in ovarian cells are more often than not, benign or non-cancerous and do not spread beyond the ovaries. 

Therefore, they can be easily treated by either removing a part or the whole of the ovary. But malign tumors have the ability to spread to other parts of the body and can prove to be fatal.

What are the causes of ovarian cancer

1. Family History: If someone in your close relation like mother, sister or daughter has developed ovarian cancer, then the risk of becoming susceptible to the disease also increases. If any of your close relatives have developed the disease earlier at a young age, then it s quite likely that it was due to some inherited faulty gene. BCRA1 and BCRA2 are known to be the faulty genes that are connected to ovarian cancer.

2. Age: You become more susceptible to developing ovarian cancer at a postmenopausal stage.

3. Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): Women who go for hormone replacement therapy put themselves at a greater risk of developing the disease. Nevertheless, if you stop undergoing the sessions of HRT, your risk of suffering from this fatal condition eventually decreases.

4. Obesity/overweight: This is also one of the important factors behind the increased risks of developing ovarian cancer. So, the more obese you are, greater is the risk involved.

What are the symptoms associated with ovarian cancer?

1. Symptoms at an initial stage include pelvic or abdominal pain, postmenopausal vaginal bleeding or irregular menstruation.

2. Loss of appetite or feeling full quickly

3. Other typical symptoms are diarrhea, constipation, nausea or changes in bowel movements.

4. Feeling of mass pressure at your lower back or pelvis

Treatment available for it

Treatment for ovarian cancer generally consists of a combination of surgery and chemotherapy:

1. Surgery: Treatment usually entails removal of the ovaries, uterus and fallopian tubes, including the surrounding lymph nodes as well as the fatty abdominal tissue, which often gets affected with ovarian cancer. This surgery may help you to retain the ability to conceive.

2. Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy is a procedure that follows a surgery and is performed to destroy the remaining cancer cells, if any. Chemotherapy drugs are either inserted into your vein or directly into the abdominal cavity and if need be, into both.

Ovarian Cancer - Are you at a risk?

Adrenal gland cancer is a form of cancer which usually affects adrenals (tiny glands which sit above each kidney). The kidneys are situated inside the upper abdomen. The tumor usually develops in the outer part of the adrenal gland called the cortex. These hormones are called steroids and produce cortisol (hormone made in the adrenal gland) and sex hormones. 

Types of Adrenal Tumors:

Cancer in the outer part of the adrenal gland like adrenocortical carcinoma.
Neuroblastoma (usually affects children).
An extremely rare form of tumor called pheochromocytoma.
Symptoms of Adrenal Gland Cancer:

Low levels of potassium
High blood pressure
Panic attacks and anxiety can also occur
Nervousness
Throbbing sensation in the heart
Immense headache
Excessive amount of sweating
Pain in the abdominal area
Extreme fluctuation in blood sugar levels (diabetes)
Weight loss or weight gain for no reason.
Weakness and feelings of fatigue
Hair loss
Some changes in the genitalia.
Unusual occurrence of acne.
Changes in sex drive (libido).
Treatments of Adrenal Gland Cancer:

Surgery: This option can be considered in extreme cases. Surgery usually involves surgically removing the tumors. If the tumor is smaller than 5 cm, it might not be cancerous or dangerous. In this case a laparoscopic surgery is suggested.
Hormone Therapy: Adrenal glands might produce excess hormones during other treatments for curing adrenal gland cancer. The doctor might suggest drugs like metyrapone, streptozotocin, metyrosine and spironolactone to maintain your hormone levels.
Chemotherapy: This is the most common form of treatment to kill the cancer cells. Chemotherapy stops the cells ability to divide and grow thus destroying the cancer cells. During chemotherapy a patient is given a combination of different drugs at a time. The amount of adrenocorticoids which is produced by the adrenal glands during adrenal cancer is greatly reduced. The side effects of chemotherapy include nausea, vomiting, risk of infection, loss of appetite, hair loss, diarrhea and fatigue.

Adrenal Gland Cancer - 15 Tell Tale Signs You Must be Aware of

Even though Prostate cancer is one of the most common types of cancer among men and a lot of research has been conducted towards its understanding, it still remains one of the least talked about forms of cancer. This can lead to a lot of confusion and misinformation that gives rise to a number of myths associated with the disease. Some of the most common myths about prostate cancer are:

1. It occurs only in old men

Although the risk of developing prostate cancer does increase with age, especially after 60-65 years of age, it can develop at any age in a man s life. Ageing cells are more susceptible to mutations and hence more susceptible to cancer but other factors such as genetics, geographic location, overall health, lifestyle, etc. can play a major role in whether someone stands a chance to get prostate cancer.

2. It is a slow-growing cancer

Research has discovered 29 different types of prostate cancers, each of which behaves a little differently from others   some are very fast growing and aggressive while others are slower in developing. Prostate cancer also tends to be more aggressive in younger men than older men; aggressive cancers metastasize faster, i.e. spread to other parts of the body quicker and progress rapidly. Therefore, it is important not to ignore any initial symptoms and consult a doctor as quickly as possible to have the best shot at successful treatment.

3. You can t get prostate cancer if no one in your family had it

While having a family history of prostate cancer does significantly increase the risk of a man developing prostate cancer himself, it can also be diagnosed in men who have no genetic history or predisposition. It depends not only on genetics but also on a number of other factors which can contribute to prostate cancer.

4. If you don t have any symptoms, you don t have cancer

Prostate cancer is known to be one of the most asymptomatic forms of cancer and even when symptoms are present, they are very often misinterpreted as something else. The most common symptoms are: needing to urinate frequently, difficulty in urinating, blood in urine or semen, erectile dysfunction and pain in the pelvic area. Although all of these symptoms don t always mean cancer, it is best to go to the doctor in case you experience these symptoms.

5. Prostate cancer is inevitable   you can t prevent it

It is true that genetics, ethnicity and age do increase the risk of prostate cancer in men. However, research has shown that lifestyle changes such as avoiding red meat in your diet, regular exercise and preventing stress, do have an effect on the genes that regulate growth of tumours.

Hence, you should stop believing everything you hear or read on the internet, they may not always be true. Any symptoms out of the ordinary should be immediately checked out by your doctor. Do not ignore unusual symptoms   they might prove to be very costly later in life.

Prostate Cancer - 5 Most Prevalent Myths About It! 

Bathing soap vs. Body wash: what's better when you take a shower?

The most important part of skincare is keeping your skin cleansed and fresh. But before that, it is imperative to find the right product for the same. Skin type varies from person to person, and hence finding skincare goods most suited to your skin makes all the difference.

Bathing habits directly affect the quality of your skin, which involves picking the appropriate cleanse; i. E. Choosing between a body soap and body wash. Each has a different set of characteristics and comes with its own set of advantages and disadvantages. Let's find out which one is better for your skin.

Why you should choose bathing soap bar:

 it is more effective in removing dirt through deep cleansing

 it is suited to skin that is excessively oily in nature as it contains ingredients that are highly effective in stripping off excess oil from the skin

Why you should not choose bathing soap bar:

 it tends to strip the skin of its natural oils and moisture, making it dry and flaky

 it is unhygienic in case of sharing between individuals as soaps tend to accumulate the dirt from your skin due to direct body contact

Reasons to pick a body wash:

 it has a very mild and gentle effect on the skin in comparison to soaps

 it keeps the skin moisturized by preserving natural oils

 it is more hygienic than bar soaps in case of interpersonal sharing

 it is the most suitable option for dry skin

Reasons to ditch a body wash:

 it contains a large amount of artificial additives and preservatives that can do more harm to your skin than good, giving rise to allergic reactions in some cases

So, who's the winner of the two?

You must certainly base the choice on what's best for your skin type. Body soap is more compatible with oily skin while dry skin is better suited for body wash. A body wash, however, is much more gentle on your skin. 

If you would like to consult with me privately, please click on 'consult'.
Related Tip: Soap Vs Hand Wash - What Should You Wash Your Hands with?

Bathing Soap vs. Body Wash: What's Better When You Take a Shower?

The  Roux en Y Gastric Bypass  surgery was first performed by Professor Mason in 1966. Being done in the conventional way (i.e by open surgery) earlier and later laparoscopically, the Gastric Bypass has stood the test of time over the last 52 years.

Over 50 years the Gastric bypass surgery is being performed across the globe. It has given excellent results in terms of significant and long-standing weight loss in the morbidly obese, as well as remission of Type 2 diabetes in properly selected patients. Selection of the patient to undergo this procedure is paramount. 50 years of successful results are enough to term this procedure as the GOLD Standard.

Obesity and Diabetes have been a menace over the last 2 decades world over. In India obesity is growing in such a rampant way that we can equate it to an epidemic.

As we all know, India is considered to be the Diabetic Capital of the world. Type 2 diabetes contributes to the major chunk of diabetes affected population. We Indians get affected by diabetes at very early ages and hence complications are seen at very early ages among us. Strikingly important to notice is that Diabetes is seen not only in the obese category of people but also in the normal weight people.

Diabetes is feared of only because of the complications it is capable of causing affecting the vital organs like the brain, heart, eyes, kidneys.

Intermittent or elevated surges in the blood sugars levels during the course of the day are responsible for causing microangiopathies ( damage to the small vessels supplying blood to the vital organs).

We have seen that diabetes is accompanied by high blood pressure and dyslipidemia in most of the cases. So, when a person has diabetes, high blood pressure and dyslipidemia, we label them as having the metabolic syndrome.

Oral hypoglycemic agents (OHA) and insulin form the mainstay of treatment in getting sugars under control. But these are not able to avoid these surges in high sugar levels. This does not mean that OHA s and Insulin are not the right way to treat diabetes- they indeed are.

We are going a step higher, in an attempt to get control of diabetes without OHA and insulin. Not only this, we are trying to tackle not just diabetes, but the metabolic syndrome on the whole i.e one procedure that will take care of diabetes, dyslipidemia and hypertension. This procedure is popularly known and referred to as the  Gastric Bypass  or the  Roux en Y Gastric Bypass . Thus, In short, the gastric bypass surgery offers ICE BURG treatment.

Now, the first question is that  Is this possible . The answer is YES. The second question is that is this procedure applicable for all diabetics. The answer is NO. Only Type 2 diabetics are the beneficiaries of this procedure where insulin resistance has a major role to play. (This procedure does not benefit Type 1 diabetics) Reasons for this will be explained later. The third and important question is that,  Is the Gastric bypass going to give remission of diabetes in all type 2 diabetics?  The answer is NO.

There is strict selection criterion or eligibility criteria to select a patient for The Roux en Y Gastric Bypass surgery. Best results of the Gastric Bypass surgery are seen when it is confirmed that the person is suffering from Type 2 diabetes, duration of diabetes is less than 5 years, the pancreatic reserve is good and showing good levels of C -peptide in the blood, the person has a family history of diabetes, Insulin was not required to control sugar levels within the first 5 years of onset of diabetes and person should not be underweight( BMI > 27.5 preferred).

Losing weight is not easy and even if we lose weight, weight regain is very common. Most of us would have already experienced it. When we are tackling just the weight issue, we are talking into consideration only the morbidly obese people who have a BMI > 37.5. In the morbidly obese, at first, it is very difficult to lose significant weight by the normal method of diet and exercise. Even if weight loss does occur, weight regains or bouncing back is sure.

Here we bring in the trump card   The  Roux en Y Gastric Bypass  that helps the :

 Morbidly Obese  (BMI >37.5) to lose significant weight and reach their ideal weight.
 Obese  (BMI >32.5) who also have comorbidities (like diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, sleep apnea, obesity-induced infertility) not only to lose significant weight and reach their ideal weight but also to get control of the associated comorbidities.
 Type 2 Diabetics  (BMI > 27.5) to get Remission from type 2 Diabetes.
 Metabolic Syndrome  (BMI > 27.5) to get remission from type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia and Most cases hypertension.
Type 2 diabetics can be offered this procedure even if they are not morbidly obese, is what I would like to bring it to notice.

Exposure to Type 2 diabetes for long years can lead to potential complications like coronary heart disease, chronic kidney failure, brain stroke, gangrene of the lower limbs.

In some, in spite of talking OHA s, Insulin, sugars are not under control. In these cases, the gastric bypass can be offered to those who fulfil the eligibility criteria.

Remission of diabetes after the gastric bypass procedure is very quick, ranging from a week to a month in most of the cases. However, in some, The sugar levels come to normal the very next day after the surgery in some without the OHA and /or insulin.

Gastric bypass is done through laparoscopy i.e through tiny holes over the tummy, requiring 3 days hospital stay. Supplements need to be taken following the procedure on a daily basis. Following the procedure, intake is reduced to a great extent which increases over few months as the gastric pouch stretches.

Gastric Bypass - Be It Bariatric Or Metabolic Surgery, Get Amazing Results!

Like most things in life, the uterus also has both good and bad sides to it. It is a symbol of womanhood and also carries the developing baby. The bad side is that it brings with it (and its appendages) many problems including dysfunctional uterine bleeding, endometriosis, fibroids, pelvic inflammatory disease, uterovaginal prolapse, adenomyosis, a pelvic pain of unknown origin, cancer of the uterine cavity and other obstetric complications.

Hysterectomy is one of the most commonly performed procedures and ensures complete relief from these symptoms. There are however, multiple procedures, which can be used to manage these conditions without having to resort to removal of the uterus. This can help in preventing complications from hysterectomy including prolonged recovery, infertility in women of childbearing age and loss of womanhood.

Read on to know some of the emerging conservative alternatives to hysterectomy:

Myomectomy: Where there are fibroids, which are in the smooth muscles of the uterus and show symptoms like pain and discomfort. In these, it is advisable to go for a myomectomy. This removes only the fibroid, leaving the uterus in place. It can be done in one of the 3 ways traditional surgical process through an incision; laparoscopically through minute incisions; and then through vagina. In all these, only the fibroid is removed and sent for biopsy to confirm it is benign. It is less invasive, requires less recovery time and helps retain the uterus.

Uterine endometrial ablation: In cases of dysfunctional uterine bleeding or menorrhagia with no fibroids, the lining of the uterus could require removal. In these women, thermal balloon ablation, cryoablation, and radiofrequency ablation can be used. A small amount of extreme heat or cold or radio frequency waves are used to remove the uterine lining, thereby managing symptoms.

Uterine artery embolization: In women with fibroids, the feeding arteries could be cauterised to ensure blood supply is stopped so that fibroid growth is stopped. With very promising success rates, this is gaining popularity as a conservative method.

Laparoscopy and endometriosis excision: In endometriosis, where the uterine tissue is growing in areas outside the uterus, it could be removed laparoscopically after identifying the area of growth on ultrasound and laparoscopy.

Vaginal pessary: In women with uterine prolapse, the uterus drops from its normal position, pushing against the vaginal walls. This can be due to vaginal childbirth, age, smoking and obesity. Vaginal pessary is where a removable device is placed into the vagina to prevent it from falling down. It is a temporary solution, but very useful in holding the uterus in place and relieve symptoms partially or completely.

In all these, medical management (painkillers and hormone replacement), stress and weight management, quitting smoking, reducing alcohol are also essential.

Hysterectomy - Know the Emerging Conservative Alternatives to it?

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