Dr. Pankaj Kumar Jha

Cancer, or the big C, is always in the news. Use any keyword related to cancer, and there is definitely information overload. Also, with more people surviving cancer, there are too many tales to tell. All this leads to misconceptions and myths, leaving people, who are looking for genuine information, completely confused. The following are some common misconceptions.

1. Cancer is a new-age disease: There is reference to cancer in ancient Egyptian and Greek stories, so cancer is definitely not new. However, it is true that the incidence has increased tremendously with the modern lifestyle habits.
2. Food items prevent cancer: There are claims that food items like kale, blueberries, green tea, broccoli, etc., can prevent cancer. It is not true. They do have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, but are not helpful in preventing cancer.
3. Acidic diet causes cancer: The body’s pH is not determined by the food products that we consume. Neither acidic nor alkaline environment is healthy, and further, the body has its own mechanism to regulate pH; so go ahead and eat what you like.
4. Sugars cause cancer: Sugar, believed to be the main energy source, is required for growth. Since cancer is linked to uncontrolled growth, it is believed that more sugar leads to more cancer. This again is a false notion, as there is no connection between the two.
5. Screening is only for breast cancer: Agreed, breast cancer is easy to screen for, but any person with predisposition can go for periodic screening to help in early identification and intervention.
6. Cancer medicines kill more than they cure: Whether it is chemotherapy or radiation, they do not pick only the cancer cells. When directed at a body part, the radiation affects the entire area. Chemotherapy targets and controls growth of a lot of normal processes, thereby affecting normal life.
7. There is no cure for cancer: It is not a simple process. Curing cancer involves multiple facets – some of which may not be known or unearthed. While there are some stories, which talk about how they conquered cancer completely, there are a greater number of failures. Do not conclude on either side. Each person and each type of cancer is treated differently.
8. Tight undergarments are not connected to cancer: As popularly advertised, tight underwear and underwired bras do not cause testicular or breast cancer.
9. Biopsies spread cancer: This is a misconception. Most people are scared to get a biopsy as they perceive that it may spread the cancerous cells to normal areas.

This is just a short list, and there are far too many false notions. Check with your doctor to validate the information before using it to take any decision. If you wish to discuss about any specific problem, you can consult an Oncologist.
 

In simple words, lymphoma is cancer of the lymphatic system. It begins in the infection-fighting cells of the body called the lymphocytes. Lymphocytes can be found in lymph nodes, spleen, thymus gland in the neck, bone marrow and other parts of our bodies.

Lymphoma means that the lymphocytes change and divide recklessly. There are two main types of lymphoma-

1. Non-Hodgkin: The most common type of lymphoma.
2. Hodgkin

Non-Hodgkin and Hodgkin lymphoma each affect a different kind of lymphocyte or white blood cell. 

There is a different treatment modality for both these different types of lymphomas as the affected cells are different and so is their rate of growth. Even though lymphatic cancer is very common, it’s easily treatable. Timely diagnosis and proper treatment off course are very important. Its causes can be diverse like genetics, a weak immune system, diseases like celiac, lupus or rheumatoid arthritis, infections with certain viruses, age over 60 and gender- men are more prone to getting lymphomas.

Symptoms and warning signs

1. Swollen glands in the neck, armpit, or groin
2. Persistent cough
3. Night sweats
4. Weight loss
5. Shortness of breath
6. Fever
7. Stomach pain
8. Fatigue
9. Itching

Treatment

The treatment depends on the kind of lymphoma one has and how far the cancer has spread. The treatments for non-Hodgkin lymphoma are-

1. Chemotherapy which uses certain drugs to destroy cancer cells.
2. Radiation therapy uses high-energy rays to kill cancer cells.
3. Immunotherapy uses the body's own immune system to kill cancer cells.

The common treatments for Hodgkin lymphoma are:

1. Chemotherapy
2. Radiation therapy

Traditional medicine systems like Acupressure and Ayurveda are used as complementary systems to bring relief from the cancer.

1. Cupressure is used to drain the lymph nodes affected with lymphoma.
2. Triphala, a common Ayurvedic remedy is being investigated to understand its killing effects on lymphoma cells in the body. It has also been seen to ‘regress’ tumours in animal studies. Hence, Triphala is a potent anti-cancer Ayurvedic drug.

Ayurvedic herbal drugs are used to treat the lymphatic system of the patient, so that it produces normal cells. Ayurvedic Panch tikta grut can pacify the lymphatic system whereas other herbs enhance the immune system and reduce inflammation.

Quick Tips

1. Green tea has also been shown to have phytonutrients called catechins, which have anticancer properties.
2. Curcumin extracted from turmeric is also able to kill human lymphoma cells. It also makes chemotherapy and radiotherapy work better against the cancer while protecting normal cells.
3. Mistletoe extract is also a powerful immune-modulator.
4. Carrots and broccoli also show a number of benefits when included in the diet of someone suffering from cancer.
5. Foods rich in beta carotene which means vegetables and fruits of different colours have high antioxidant content which supports healing.
6. Chyawan prash is very useful during chemotherapy. One must avoid Sugar.

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