How to Cure Childhood Cancer?

With the advancement of technology, about 80% of childhood cancers can be cured globally. In high-income countries, as resources become available, childhood cancer can be cured. But the percentage is low in India because of a lack of awareness. The reasons for lower survival rates in low-income countries are a delay in diagnosis, inaccessible therapy, an inaccurate diagnosis, if the patient leaves treatment in between, and death from side effects.

For kids and teenagers, cancer is the main cause of death. Generally, the most common types of cancer in children are leukemia, lymphomas, brain tumors, and solid tumors. In most cases, screening cannot detect or prevent childhood cancer. By using generic medications and other cancer treatments, like surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, and stem cell transplant, childhood cancers can be cured. Most importantly, pediatric cancer can be treated in any socioeconomic setting. In this blog, you will learn the method for curing childhood cancer.

The warning signs of cancer in children:

  1. If there is blindness, a bulging eyeball, a white spot in the child’s eye, a new squint, etc. are some of the few warning signs of cancer.
  2. In case a lump is found in the abdomen and pelvis, limbs, testes, glands, head, and neck.
  3. Loss of weight and appetite are seen in children.
  4. If your child has a high fever, pale skin, fatigue, easy bruising, or excessive bleeding, seek medical attention immediately.
  5. If there is a change in behavior, balance, headaches, or an enlarging head, consult your doctor.
  6. Patient is having pain in her bones, joints, and back.

The Causes of Cancer in Children:

Cure Childhood Cancer

Normally, there is no known cause for childhood cancers. Cancer can affect any region of the body and affect people of all ages. It starts when there is a genetic change in the single cells. Then it grows into a tumor and affects other parts of the body. If the treatment is not given, it leads to death.

Adults are more likely to develop cancer if they have an unhealthy diet, such as smoking or eating unhealthy foods. But the children do not have any unhealthy habits that increase their risk of cancer. If the child has a family history of cancer, then it will increase the risk of having cancer.

But childhood cancers are caused by a DNA mutation that is not inherited but occurs randomly. There are very few cancers in children that are caused by lifestyle or environmental factors.

HIV, Epstein-Barr virus, and malaria are some of the chronic diseases that increase the risk of developing childhood cancer. In low-income countries, this is very important. Hence, it is very necessary to get vaccinated, as other infections can increase the risk of cancer.

Effective Cancer Prevention Strategy for Children:

Normally, it is not possible to prevent childhood cancer in children, but it is possible to reduce cancer in children. With early diagnosis, correct treatment, and palliative care, you can cure cancer in children. Early diagnosis of cancer improves the survival rate of many children suffering from cancer. If cancer is identified early, then it will respond to treatment, the patient will suffer less, and the treatment will be less expensive.

If the child gets an early diagnosis, then appropriate therapies are available for the patient, such as chemotherapy, surgery, or radiotherapy. As all children suffering from cancer cannot be cured, palliative care should be given to those who suffer from cancer.

 

 

Early Diagnosis Helps Fight Lung Cancer

Lung cancer starts in the lungs when the cells in the body start to grow out of control. This form of cancer kills more people per year as compared to other forms of cancer. According to the research of the American Lung Association, if lung cancer is diagnosed in its early stages, it is easy to stop, the chances of survival increase, and the lung cancer treatment is more likely to be successful.

If cancer care is delayed, then the chances of survival are less, and so many problems get associated with the treatment. Hence, early diagnosis provides care to the patient, which is very important for their health. In this blog, you will learn how early diagnosis helps fight lung cancer.

Two Types of Lung Cancer:

  1. Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC):

Generally, 80% of the people who suffer from lung cancer have NSCLC. There are three types of NSCLC: adenocarcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and large cell carcinoma. These types of lung cancer begin in different types of lung cells, but their treatments are normally similar.

  1. Small cell lung cancer (SCLC):

SCLC is also known as oat cell cancer. This type of lung cancer spreads and grows more quickly than NSCLC. Generally, when someone suffers from SCLC, the cancer is already spread throughout their body when it is diagnosed. After this, the cancer grows quickly in the patient’s body, and it responds to chemotherapy and radiation therapy. But, for many people, cancer returns after some time.

Symptoms of Lung Cancer:

Normally, the symptoms of lung cancer do not develop until the cancer is at an advanced stage. That is why smokers who are between the ages of 55 and 77 should be regularly screened for lung cancer if the symptoms are not observed.

  1. If the patient has a worse cough that does not go away,
  2. In case the patient found blood in the cough or rust-colored sputum.
  3. chest pain with a shortness of breath
  4. Patient suffers from loss of appetite and weight loss.
  5. Regularly if the person is feeling tired or weak.

What are the causes of lung cancer?

The causes of lung cancer are smoking, exposure to radon, air pollution, and secondhand smoke. Sometimes, the person who doesn’t smoke suffers from lung cancer when they are exposed to asbestos, diesel exhaust, or other chemicals. And gene changes also result in lung cancer.

Hence, lung cancer can be cured with an early diagnosis. The patient should go for CT scans, because early diagnosis is very important. If the lung cancer is diagnosed at an early stage, then it increases the chance of a high survival rate and also ensures a successful treatment. If you are not a smoker and haven’t smoked for years, you should talk to your doctor about the benefits of a CT scan. Don’t wait until it’s too late, as it can save your life and also reduce the cost of treatment. But if you have any symptoms, then you must consult your doctor right away.

How Does Early Cancer Detection Improve the Quality of Life?

As we all know, cancer is the leading cause of death, but early detection of cancer can improve the quality of life and increase the chances of survival. Due to the advancement in cancer treatment, many types of cancer can be fully treatable. If the unusual cancer cells are detected early before they turn into cancer cells, then the cancer can be cured.

Cancer can be detected at an early stage with the help of screening technology. If the cancer cells are not too large and have not spread in other parts of the body, it can be successfully treated. If you find something is wrong in your body, then consult your doctor and go for a screening test for early detection of cancer. In this blog, you will learn about how early cancer detection improves the survival rate and quality of life.

Warning Signs that Show You Need Medical Treatment:

  1. If there is a loss of blood from your body or the presence of other abnormalities in the body,
  2. Rapid growth in lumps or bumps
  3. If there is the presence of a non-healing wound,
  4. If you find changes in defecation and urination patterns,
  5. If the cough does not improve,
  6. Losing weight or finding a loss of appetite

Early cancer detection increases survival rates.

Patients who are diagnosed in the earlier cancer stages, i.e., stage I-II, have more chances of recovery than patients who are in the advanced stages III-IV. Generally, patients who are suffering from non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), pancreatic, and stomach cancer are diagnosed at an advanced stage. This reduces the survival chances. But if this cancer is diagnosed at an early stage, then it increases the chances by 5 years. Early detection of cancer aids in beating it and improves quality of life.

If cancer is detected early, then a lot of treatment options are available and fewer resources will be used. But, if the cancer is diagnosed at a later stage, then it will require hard treatment and can have side effects. In late diagnosis, the patients had to go through chemotherapy, radiation, immunotherapy, difficulty eating, and also various challenges in performing everyday activities.

Most importantly, in the latter stage, effective treatment will be limited. The treatment of patients who are at an advanced stage will reduce the pain or other disease symptoms, but it cannot cure the disease or extend the life of the patient. This can also cause patients to feel sick, lose weight, and feel unable to care for themselves.

If the cancer treatment is diagnosed at an early stage, then more resources, treatment, and services are available for the patient. Some factors which increase the risk of cancer are age, sex, geographic location, etc. Early screening helps in the diagnosis of cancer and improves the survival rate. The cancers that are without screenings result in later-stage diagnosis and lead to a low rate of survival. Hence, screening plays an important role in early detection and also improves the quality of life.

 

According to the research of 2022 by American Society of Clinical Oncology, immunotherapy helps to improve the health of people who are suffering from advanced liver cancer and biliary tract cancer. This therapy improves the immune system of the patient by using their own body parts to fight diseases such as cancer. In other words, immunotherapy boosts the body parts of the patient so that they work smarter and fight cancer cells.

Biliary Tract Cancer develops in the bile duct (slender tubes) inside the liver (intrahepatic) or outside the liver (extrahepatic).The bile duct connects your liver to the small intestine and the gallbladder. Bile duct cancer mostly occurs after the age of 50 and is also known as cholangiocarcinoma. In this blog, you will read about liver cancer treatment with immunotherapy.

Symptoms of Biliary Tract Cancer:

The Causes of Biliary Tract Cancer:

Normally, bile duct cancer occurs if the cells in the bile duct have changes in their DNA. And DNA is the chemical that is present in the cell and gives instructions to the cell on what to do. If there are changes in the cell, then it can give rise to tumors that can destroy healthy body tissues.

Dioxins, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and nitrosamines are some of the chemicals that cause bile duct cancer. People who work in rubber plants or in the automotive industry are generally exposed to these chemicals.

Factors that Increase the Risk of Biliary Tract Cancer:

How Does Immunotherapy Help to Prevent Liver Cancer?

People who are suffering from advanced liver cancer cannot be cured with surgery. According to recent research, to prevent liver cancer, doctor’s use a combination of immunotherapy drugs, i.e., tremelimumab targets CTLA-4 & durvalumab (Imfinzi) targets the PD-1 protein, which helps people deal with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma. This immunotherapy uses the body’s parts and improves the immune system so that it fights against cancer cells.

And people who are suffering from advanced biliary duct tract cancer also get relief from immunotherapy. To prevent biliary duct cancer, the combination of immunotherapy drugs, i.e., durvalumab (Imfinzi) with chemotherapy drugs like gemcitabine (Gemstar) and cisplatin, helped the patients live longer.

Liver cancer and biliary duct cancer cannot be removed with surgery. The patients can visit the best cancer hospital in Delhi for immunotherapy treatment. So, the immunotherapy treatment improves the health of patients suffering from cancer. The overall response rate of these immunotherapy treatments is that they stop the cancer from growing or shrinking in patients. But the side effects of this treatment are anemia, neutropenia, and nausea.

 

Read More Blog : Immunotherapy For Cancer Treatment In Delhi

Bone marrow is a soft, spongy tissue found in the center of the majority of bones. Multiple myeloma cancer, leukemia, and lymphoma are all cancers that can develop in the bone marrow. Stem cells in bone marrow develop into various types of blood cells, including:

Red blood cells transport oxygen and carbon dioxide throughout the body;

white blood cells fight infection; and platelets aid in blood clotting.

When the body requires these blood cells, such as when old blood cells die, the body usually produces them. When these cells replicate too quickly, bone marrow cancer develops.

In this blog, we will look at the various types of bone marrow cancer, as well as their symptoms and treatment options.

  1. Types

Doctors identify bone marrow cancer based on the type of cell it affects in the body:

  1. Multiple Myeloma

Multiple myeloma is a cancer that develops in the plasma cells of the bone marrow. Plasma cells are important components of the immune system because they produce antibodies that the body requires to fight foreign bacteria.

  1. Leukemia

Cancers of the white blood cells are known as leukemias. These cancers can begin in other types of blood cells and then spread, or metastasize, into the bone marrow. Acute leukemias are cancers that grow quickly, whereas chronic leukemias grow slowly.

  1. Lymphoma

Cancer develops in the lymphocytes that circulate in the blood and lymph tissue after being produced in the bone marrow in people with lymphoma. Lymphoma can develop in a variety of locations throughout the body, including the bone marrow.

  1. TREATMENT

The type of treatment for bone marrow cancer is determined by a variety of factors, including the extent and type of cancer, as well as the patient’s age and overall health. A cancer care team will tailor treatment to the individual’s healthcare requirements.

  1. Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy employs medications to either kill or prevent cancer cells from replicating. Chemotherapy treatment comes in a variety of forms. Chemotherapy is frequently administered by injection or via an intravenous (IV) drip by a cancer team. They will, however, occasionally give the individual oral medications instead.

  1. Radiation therapy

This treatment involves delivering radiation directly to cancer cells in order to prevent them from multiplying and spreading. An oncologist, a cancer specialist, may use a machine that directs a high-powered radiation beam at the affected bone marrow.

If the cancer has spread to other parts of the body, the oncologist may advise total body irradiation. A specialized machine will be used by the cancer care team to immerse an individual in radiation. This irradiation is frequently used in conjunction with chemotherapy drugs as a preparation for a bone marrow transplant.

In some cases, a stem cell transplant may be an option, but not everyone with bone marrow cancer is a candidate for this type of treatment. Before the stem cells are administered via IV, a person will receive high doses of chemotherapy or radiation therapy to kill the existing bone marrow.

Many jobs involve sitting in front of a computer for hours in awkward postures. Moving as much as possible is necessary to prevent backache.

Sitting in the same place for hours every day can be taxing on your back. Unfortunately, that’s exactly what’s required from people with desk jobs.

Being seated itself puts some strain on your spine. This strain can increase if you tend to work in a poor posture like slouching or slumping. This often results in recurring back pain.

Moving as much as possible is the solution to preventing back pain due to a sedentary lifestyle. It engages your muscles and improves blood circulation. Watching your posture is also necessary.

This isn’t easy when your job description requires you to sit for hours in front of a computer. But it’s possible to prevent backache at work if you are mindful of your activity level and posture.

Improve Posture

Make sure your head is aligned with and above your shoulders to reduce strain on the neck. Rest your back against the backrest to support its curve. Place a small cushion under the lumbar region.

Rest your elbows and arms on the armrest or desk, relaxing the shoulders. Let your feet rest on the ground and knees bent at ninety degrees.

Take Short Breaks In Between

Give your body the chance to move a bit with microbreaks every hour or so. You can stretch your muscles, do some sitting exercises or walk around. Set alarms to remind yourself to take one-minute breaks throughout the day.

Find Reasons To Walk

The more opportunities you have to move around, the better. Go to your colleague’s cubicle instead of texting or calling them. Don’t spend your lunch break in your cubicle; go outside.

If your home is near, consider walking or cycling to work instead of driving.

Consider Sit-Stand Desk

Many workplaces allow employees to use sit-stand desks. Use them to switch between sitting and standing after every hour.  This promotes blood circulation and reduces pressure on the spine.

If you don’t have a standing desk, try standing between work for a few tasks like taking phone calls.

Set Your Screen

Adjust your monitor’s height so that its top is just below eye level. This helps you look at the monitor without bending your neck up or down.

Place Keyboard And Mouse Within Reach

Place the keyboard close in front of you and the mouse next to it. Other items like a pen holder and sticky notes should be within your arm’s reach.

Get Some Exercise

Schedule some time for exercising at your home or gym. You can work out before or after work hours to strengthen your joints and muscles. Incorporate seated exercises between work to prevent stiffness.

Empty Your Pockets

Overstuffed back pockets might cause discomfort and backache when you sit on them. Empty the back pockets for comfort. Place your wallet, mobile and other items on the desk or in a bag.

Monitor Your Steps

Use a pedometer to track how much you’ve walked in a day. Aim for 10000 steps daily.

Use Phone Properly

Take calls on speaker mode or with earphones instead of putting the phone between your ear and shoulder.