World Health Organization (WHO) says 30-50% of cancers can be prevented just like diabetes or hypertension. In the Indian context Oral cancer is among the top three cancers and the second most common cause of death in Indians is due to Cancer, however if detected at an early stage, it is not always fatal. Read on to find out tips to prevent cancer.

Quit Smoking, it harms you.

People who consume tobacco in any form whether it is cigarettes, chewing tobacco are highest risk of developing cancer, even secondhand smoke can prove detrimental for people who don’t smoke. Tobacco consumption can cause cancers of the lung, mouth, throat, stomach, liver, kidney etc. Tobacco smoke has 250 different chemicals, which are harmful for humans and out of these chemicals nearly 65 are capable of causing cancer.

Skip beverages with sugar.

Studies state beverages with high sugar increases the risk of cancer. Regardless of the weight of the person, people who consume sugary drinks develop cancer easily as compared with people who don’t, the study also suggests drinks are responsible for some forms of cancer.

Exercise often.

Body weight directly affects a few cancers. Obesity is one of the major reasons and risk factors for cancer. Being overweight causes cancers of breast, colon, rectum, kidney, pancreas etc. Being overweight adversely affects the immune system and levels of hormones in the body. Eat clean, exercise often and cut down the access fat, if you are obese.

Keeping a healthy body weight is extremely important to prevent cancer. Hit the gymnasium, there are numerous physical activities, which one can opt from. Do yoga, go for a run, or play your favorite sport. People who exercise are at a lesser risk of developing cancer than people who don’t. Exercise for at least half an hour, daily. Break down 30 minutes in three parts, if you can’t take out half an hour in one go.

Adopt small changes in daily living, take the stairs instead of the elevator, give up alcohol, skip that donut, impulsive eating. These small-small actions will have a positive impact on your health. Exercising helps in improves the immune system too and you’ll overall feel more energetic.

Consume more fruits and vegetable

Cancer prevention is possible if people adopt a healthy lifestyle, add more vegetables, fruits, and whole grains to your diet, say no to sugar and processed meats. What you eat determines your overall health, include foods rich in antioxidants to your diet.

Prevention is key and so is early detection of cancers; track your health on a regular basis. If cancer runs the family, go for regular screenings and medical check-ups.

The relation between food and cancer is multipart. There are numerous kinds of cancers and many different reasons and risk factors, only some of which are understood. Cancer is said to happen when cells begin to grow out of control. The is no known reason for this change, but lifestyle and diet play an important part. Poor eating habits mixed with other lifestyle factors such as smoking, no exercise, drinking too much, being overweight and too much sunlight exposure can over time, augment the risk of developing some cancers.

Cancer and its treatment can prove extremely draining for a person, good nutrition and regular exercise can be helpful. Experts opine that eating well helps people during and after cancer treatment. Eating good assists with maintaining muscle strength, keeps the weight in check and you’ll feel more energized, all of this can help improve your quality of life of the patient. Good nutrition also helps to manage the side effects of treatment and speed up the recovery process, it improves the body’s immune system and ability to fight off the infections; reducing the risk of cancer coming back.

Studies state that exercise helps patients during and after cancer treatment. Regular exercise strengthens the muscles and bones. It reduces patients’ risk of developing new cancers and other health problems, improving circulation and energy levels. Workout can also help in reducing stress and elevating the mood, managing fatigue, which is a common side effect. Consult with our Cancer experts before starting an exercise routine, which suits your situation.

The body’s nutritional needs will change with each treatment and recovery phase, you will need to adapt accordingly. Patients require more energy, experts suggest to eat small, frequent meals or snacks, rather than three large meals a day. If you’re losing weight, consult a specialist on how to gain a few pounds in a healthy way. Indulge in some light physical activity, such as walking, to improve appetite and mood, it will also help in reducing fatigue, aid with digestion and prevent constipation.

People often wonder what to eat after a cancer diagnosis, and may consider changing their diet to help their body cope with the effects of cancer and its treatment, and to give themselves the best chance of recovery.

A few people claim that a certain diet can cure or control the spread of cancer. Though, there are no special foods, vitamins and mineral supplements, which have been scientifically proven to do this. These unproven diets often inspire people to remove one or more basic food groups, take in large amounts of specific fruits, vegetables and special supplements.

Always speak with a specialist before taking any such vitamins and minerals. Learn more about nutrition for people with cancers Tele Consult with our best cancer doctors in India at Oncoplus Hospital, Defence Colony, New Delhi, write to us info@oncoplus.co.in or call us at +91 85889 09091 to book an appointment.

A cancer diagnosis is hard no matter how old a person is, but it is especially difficult when the patient is a child. As a concerned parent whose child may require specialised cancer treatment for kids in Delhi or anywhere, it’s only natural you have many questions like “where can I get my child the best cancer treatment for children in Delhi?” or “where can I find the best doctors for children’s cancer?”, “Will my child get well?” Now we don’t have all the answers, but we can provide some information in this article to give you a starting point for dealing with and understanding childhood cancer.

The most commonly diagnosed types of cancer in children aged between 0 to 14 years are different leukaemia s, tumours in the brain and nervous system, as well as lymphomas.

Children’s cancers will not necessarily be treated like adult cancers. Paediatric oncology is a specialised medical field that focuses on the care of children with cancer. It’s important for you to know that there are expert paediatricians who treat children’s cancer in Delhi and that there are indeed successful treatments for many childhood cancers.

There are many ways to treat childhood and the treatment a child with cancer receives will be based on the type of cancer and how far advanced it is. Mainstream treatment options include chemotherapy, surgery, radiation therapy, stem cell transplants and immunotherapy.

Children also face unique complications during treatment for cancer, after completing treatment, and thereafter. For example, children might receive more intense treatments, on the other hand cancer and treating it will have different effects on growing bodies when compared to adult bodies, and they could also respond differently to drugs that control the same symptoms in adults.

Children with cancer should be treated at a specialised children’s cancer hospital, or a separate unit in a hospital that specialises in treating cancer in children.

Our doctors and other health professionals have special training, are highly experienced and have expertise for providing complete care to children. Specialists at children’s cancer hospitals include primary care physicians, paediatric oncologists and haematologists, paediatric surgeons , radiation oncologists, paediatric nurses, post treatment care providers, social workers, and child psychologists.

Even now, the exact causes of a majority of childhood cancers remain unknown. Roughly, about 5 percent of all cancers in children are caused because of genetic mutation (a mutation that is passed down from parents to their children).

Like adults, most cancers in children are believed to develop as a  direct result of mutations in their genes that cause uncontrolled cell growth and eventually lead to cancer. In adults, these mutations point toward the effects of ageing and long-term exposure to carcinogenic (cancer-causing) substances. Even identifying harmful environmental causes of childhood cancer has proved difficult so far; partially due to the fact that cancer in children is still fortunately rare and also because it is difficult to determine exactly what a child could have been exposed to early in life.

If you still have questions about this subject; or wish to get expert paediatric cancer care for a child, reach out to us, and we’ll take it from there.

 

First things first, most people can eat whatever they want and they’ll never get cancer, however, it is important to acknowledge the fact that cancer is a rather complex disease. There are many different types along with many potential causes. Researchers have still don’t not been able to find all the answers, but what we tell anyone who comes to us seeking expert cancer treatment in Delhi is that a variety of factors can come together and cause cancer. Ask Delhi’s best cancer doctors and they will tell you the same.

We do know that genetics and family history are factors but also external factors that you can control like lifestyle choice; have a far greater impact. In fact, research tells us almost 80-90 percent of malignant tumours are caused by external factors.

Among the most important lifestyle factors you have to take care of and can take care of is your diet. That’s because considerable research has shown that some foods are in fact associated with a greater risk of certain cancers.

Read on to have a closer look at some foods and drinks that can increase the risk of cancer, and what science says about the link between these foods and cancer.

Foods that potentially increase cancer risk

Some foods do increase the risk type 2 diabetes and obesity as well, both associated with certain cancers. Some foods contain carcinogens; harmful substances that cause cancer. However, exposure to carcinogens doesn’t always lead to a person getting cancer. It depends on genetics and the level and amount of exposure  carcinogens.

Here are some foods that contain carcinogens and how they cause cancer

  1. Processed Meat

Any type of meat that is preserved by smoking, salting, curing, or canning is preceded meat and both processed white and red meat are found across stores. Some examples of processed meat are salamis,, sausages, ham, pepperoni.

Not the meat itself but the methods used for processing it can create carcinogens. For example processing meat with nitrite can form carcinogens. Processed meat is a huge risk factor for colorectal cancer, stomach cancer, and breast cancer.

  1. Fried foods & cancer

When high starch foods are prepared at high temperatures, a compound named acrylamide is formed during frying, baking, roasting, and toasting fried potato products, like chips and fries. Acrylamide has been found to be carcinogenic in studies done on rats and it is probably carcinogenic to humans.

Eating a lot of fried food can cause type 2 diabetes and obesity which can cause oxidative stress and inflammation, further increasing cancer risk.

  1. Dairy

There is some evidence linking dairy and prostate candy. Dairy products include milk, cheese and yogurt.

Consuming dairy increases levels of an insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) which is associated with risk of prostate cancer.

  1. Sugar and refined carbohydrates

Foods high in sugar and carbohydrates indirectly increase the risk for cancer. Some examples of these foods are sugary beverages, baked food, white pasta, bread, rice and sugary cereals.

Eating high concentration/ of sugary and starchy foods can increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes and obesity which promote inflammation and oxidative stress. This may increase your risk for certain types of

Glioblastoma is an aggressive form of cancer that occurs in the brain and/or spinal cord: it is formed from cells known as astrocytes which support nerve cells.

Glioblastoma can happen to anyone at any age, but trends have shown it to occur more in older adults. It can also lead to serious headaches that get worse with time along with nausea, vomiting and seizures.

Glioblastoma, also referred to as glioblastoma multiforme, is very difficult to treat and cure is often not really possible. Our expert cancer specialists are among some of Delhi’s best doctors for cancer treatment, and we admit that it is difficult to treat, but don’t lose hope because treatment can slow down the progress of the cancer with fewer signs and symptoms. Glioblastoma treatment is also uncommon, and some of Delhi’s best cancer hospitals may not be able to provide successful treatment.

Diagnosis of Glioblastoma 

The tests and procedures that can diagnose glioblastoma are:

Treatment of Glioblastoma

Glioblastoma can be treated through:

Undergoing chemotherapy, radiation, surgery or any other cancer treatment for that matter,  can and does hit your body hard but this can be improved. Choosing healthy food options can assist cancer patients with recovery, make them feel better before, during and after treatment. The key is to go for balanced eating and avoid extreme dieting, as it can deprive you of key nutrients.

Food Before Cancer Treatment

Start having healthy foods even before your treatment begins as one can never know how it affects you or what side effects you could have. That’s why it’s always a good idea to get good nutrition whenever you can as it can help you feel better and help your body stay stronger.

It’s also a good idea to plan for the days when you won’t fee like cooking; stock the fridge and pantry with nutritious healthy foods. You can keep dry fruit, yogurt boxes, freeze raw vegetables after chopping them, and microwaveable brown rice or other whole grains which are easy options. Make batches of some of your favourite food and freeze them as well for later.

During Treatment

There will be days when you feel hungry, and others when you don’t.On your good days, try and eat loads of protein which will keep your body stronger and repair damage from treatment.High-protein foods like lean meat, chicken, fish, eggs, beans, nuts, and seeds, cheese, milk, quinoa and yogurt

Try to have about 2 cups of fruit and vegetables a day and have dark green and deep yellow veggies, and citrus based fruits like oranges and grapefruits. Colourful foods like these contain healthy nutrients.

Drink a lot of liquids through the day, water is always a great choice. You can go for fresh-squeezed juice too. It’ll give you extra vitamins along with the liquids your body requires for being hydrated.

Make sure you don’t eat raw or undercooked meat, fish, and poultry or consume foods or drink beverages that not pasteurised. Remember to always eat when you get hungry. If big meals become difficult, you can go for five or six small meals instead of two or three big ones.  Yogurt, cereal and crackers, and soup are good choices. A snack or small meal right before a chemo session can help keep nausea away.

You may have heard of a lot “special” diets that they will help treat cancer or keep it from coming back. Unfortunately there is no diet that can cure cancer. There’s also no solid research that shows that any eating plan lowers the chance of cancer coming back. The best bet is a balanced diet with lean proteins, fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat dairy. Limit sugar, caffeine, salt, and alcohol as well.

Some types of cancers can indeed be found early, before they have a chance to spread. In this article, you can learn more about screening tests that can be used to look for cancer. COVID-19 has resulted in many procedures being put on hold, and this has led to a decline in cancer screening. Our facilities provide safe cancer screening during the COVID-19 pandemic with all safety precautions in place.

You can talk to our doctors and learn steps you can take to plan, schedule, and get your regular cancer screenings in Delhi.

When it comes to detecting cancer early, you should know a few things, like your family cancer history and what signs to watch out for. You should also be aware of what cancer screenings to get and when, how to make lifestyle changes to reduce the chances of developing cancer. Here are some tips to help you look out for cancer early.

Know Your Family History

Knowing your family cancer history can help you detect cancer early, and reduce the risk of developing certain cancers. Family history can determine if you are at risk and indicate a need for earlier cancer screening. Know if there are

Pair your family history with a healthy lifestyle and get proper screening to reduce your risk of developing hereditary cancers and this information can also help catch cancer early.

Self-Exams

One of the most effective ways to detect cancer early is to do self-exams whenever possible. Self-exams are helpful when it comes to breast cancer, testicular

cancer and skin cancer. These are easy to do, and can help identify cancer early on. If you’re familiar with your own body, you can catch something before a medical professional gets to examine you. Look up what to look out for when you perform self-exams and for which types of cancer.

Identify the Warning Signs

Check yourself where you can, but if you can’t (for your lungs, for example) make yourself familiar with the general warning signs of cancer to look out for, as they can point to different cancers. These are the general signs of cancer:

Get Regular Screening

Each cancer has different screening recommendations and timetables are moved up depending on your risk factors and family history.

Breast Cancer

Colon and Rectal Cancer

Cervical Cancer

There are other tests for other cancers, consult our doctors to know which tests are relevant for you and how and when you should schedule them.

When a person is overweight or obese, their body has more fat compared to other tissue and raises the risk of developing certain types of cancer, as well as risk for cancer returning back after treatment. In case you’re dealing with obesity and are concerned with how it affects cancer,  you need to understand what doctors and researchers mean by cancer risk. Not everyone who is overweight or obese will get cancer. Getting to know your risk of cancer can help you make better choices.

While research is still ongoing on the connection between body weight and cancer risk, the findings till indicate many reasons why weight may affect cancer risk.

Some of them are:

There are other changes in your weight over your lifetime that also affect the risk of cancer. Studies have shown the following factors may increase risk:

Maintaining a balanced diet, keeping your weight stable, and regular exercise lowers your cancer risk. If you are a cancer survivor, or looking for the best cancer treatment in Delhi, it doesn’t change the fact that making these healthy choices can lower the risk of cancer coming back (recurrence).

The cancers linked to being overweight or obese are breast, uterine, prostate, pancreatic, gallbladder, colorectal, thyroid, head and neck, and oesophageal cancer.

Eating well and staying active are the best ways to improve health, even more so if you are overweight or obese. Losing even 5 to 10% of total body weight can reduce your risk of developing cancer. It might seem like a small amount, but research has shown it improves your health. Even if you find it hard to lose weight, eating a  balanced diet and regular exercise helps lower your cancer risk.

Cancer and diabetes are very different diseases, right? They can’t be linked? 

Well, yes and no. 

To start with, many people have both diabetes and cancer at the same time and those with type 2 diabetes (most common) are about twice as likely of developing liver or pancreatic cancer while running more-than-normal risk of developing colon, bladder and breast cancer. The best hospitals in Delhi will attest to the fact that many people who seek the best cancer treatment in Delhi from them also have diabetes. 

Women who have diabetes and breast cancer are at higher risk of mortality than women who have breast cancer alone while somehow men with diabetes seem to be at lower risk of developing prostate cancer. 

Continuous research suggests that none of this is random: from biology to risk factors to treatment options, clearly cancer and diabetes are intrinsically related.

 both: are disruptions of the body’s normal metabolism and this may could explain why obesity is a common major risk factor for both diseases. Excessive fat can  disrupt the process and increased inflammation too is a known trigger for both . Fat deposits located around internal organs will secrete chemicals and send signals which will make cells aggressive, galvanising tumor growth and also building insulin resistance, leading to type 2 diabetes. Some studies have also suggested  abnormally high levels of insulin can cause cancer while at the same time, a buildup of blood sugar is exactly what cancer cells are wait for. For cancer cancer cells, glucose is primary fuel, a well documented fact. 

Researchers demonstrated that cancer cells consume and metabolise glucose 200 times faster than the normal rate. In fact, PET scans are made to detect the presence of cancer in the body by detecting areas of high glucose consumption. By this logic, medication for lowering blood sugar in diabetics could also potentially fight cancer by reducing glucose. This is why many cancer researcher are closely looking at metformin, the most successful drug for treating type 2 diabetes. There is some evidence that diabetics who take metformin may be less prone to developing cancer, and, even if they contract the disease, they’ll be less likely to die from it. 

All of which points to the logic, even the necessity, of experts in both are working together. 

These signs are promising but more research has to be done, and is being done daily, to ensure the best outcomes for cancer patients

Understanding Liquid Biopsies

Here already  for the future of oncology

A liquid biopsy is a test done on a blood sample to detect whether cancer cells from a tumour are circulating in the blood or to look for pieces of DNA from tumour cells that are moving in the blood. A liquid biopsy can be used to help detect cancer at an early stage and may also be used to plan treatment or to find out how successfully the treatment is working or if the cancer returns. After taking multiple samples of blood over a period of time  doctors may better understand what type of molecular changes are taking place in a tumour.

Over the last decade, the idea of precision medicine has changed dramatically and renewed medical oncology; the use of patient-tailored therapies has also greatly improved all measurable outcomes of the best cancer treatment available. Liquid biopsy is a revolutionary technique that has unlocked hitherto unexpected perspectives. As explained above, it detects and isolates circulating tumour cells, tumour DNA and exosomes, it is also a source of genomic and proteomic information on patients with cancer. A lot of technical difficulties have been overcome because of this newly developed technique and next-generation sequencing analysis. This allows doctors a broad range of applications of liquid biopsy to a wide range of treatments for cancer.

At first only correlated to prognosis, liquid biopsy data is today being studied for cancer diagnosis, including screenings, and most importantly for predicting the response or resistance to treatments. Particularly, identifying the specific mutations in targeted genes can help make better therapeutic decisions, both for the appropriateness of treatment and in the prior identification of secondary resistance, along with early diagnoses for disease progression. Unfortunately application is still far from reality but dedicated research is paving the way for a new era in oncological treatment .

It is also found that liquid biopsies provide a noninvasive approach to tumour molecular profiling without having to extract tumour tissue. The future development of liquid biopsies can have many clinical applications, for people seeking the best cancer treatment. It will allow screening the presence of disease, clear patient case profiling and therapy selection.

For anyone concerned that current methods are inadequate, liquid biopsies may hold the promise of overcoming many drawbacks associated with tissue biopsies, it is likely that the latter will remain the standard for years to come