Posts Tagged ‘Cancer’

July 8 2010

17 Questions & Answers About Breast Cancer

• Do exercise can reduce breast cancer risk?

Exercise during four hours in a week can lower the risk because the sport can improve the immune system and decrease the level of estrogen in the body.

• Can a healthy diet prevents breast cancer?

oPilih diet low in calories and nutritious. Foods that contain high calories may increase the risk of developing breast cancer. Fats trigger the growth of the estrogen hormone can stimulate tumor growth. The contents of the diet with fruits and vegetables.

• Smoking was the trigger breast cancer?

The study did not find cigarettes as a cause of breast cancer. It is still further investigated. However, if you’ve been diagnosed with breast cancer, smoking can lower survival rate.

• Alcoholic beverages increase the risk of breast cancer?

Alcohol can increase the risk of developing breast cancer. Drinking more alcohol, the higher the risk of developing breast cancer.

• How often should I perform Breast Self Examination (BSE)?

At least once a month to do BSE. Notice if there are changes in size, there are bumps, grooves, wrinkles on
changes in the breast or nipple.

• Does a family history affect breast cancer risk?

If the grandmother, mother, son or sister (a very close family relationships) are affected by breast cancer, mammography did five years before the age they are diagnosed with breast cancer. Or check with your doctor immediately if there are unusual changes.

• Is there a relationship between menstruation with breast cancer?

You are at high risk if your menstrual cycles start early ie before the age of 12 years, no children, first child after age 30, or menopause after age 55.

• How often do we have to do check ups?

Do it every year. But if there are unusual changes in the breast, immediately visit the doctor. Do not delay.

• Is mammography painful?

Mammography is the examination of the breast using X-ray Discomfort arising from the breast is pressed mammograms only for a moment. Better time to do the mammogram is one week after menstruation when it is completed because the breast feels softer.

• Who should perform mammography?

Women aged 40 years and over

• What should be taken when doing mammography?

If you’ve never done mammography or other breast examination, simply carry identity cards. However, if the team had already been, take the results / previous mammogram films (if any), place and date of mammography, biopsy reports or other reports. Radiology Specialist you will compare it to a new report.

• Are the results of mammography may be granted immediately after the inspection?

No, the film will be sent to the radiology specialist for the observed results. Therefore, it takes 3-4 weeks from the date of mammography before you are given the results.

• Is mammography safe?

Yes, mammography is safe. Mammography uses low doses of radiation. Pressure on the breast for a few minutes will not cause adverse effects on the breast.

• accurate is mammography?

Mammography is the best way to detect breast cancer early because it can detect a lump that is too small to
perceived themselves. But 10% of cancers are not seen by mammogram. This is due to:
1. Located in the breast that mammograms difficult to detect.
2. Hidden in normal breast tissue.
3. Not visible because the growth of cancer cells does not affect or alter the surrounding normal tissue.

• Can mammography to determine a lump is cancerous or not?

Mammography is useful in finding a lump in the breast, but mammography can not determine whether the lump is cancerous or not. Biopsy is necessary to take the network so the network can be investigated whether it is cancerous or not.

• Do all women need to do a mammogram?

Mammography is usually not recommended for women under the age of 40 years because at that age, the breasts more dense, making it difficult to identify small changes that occur. More advisable to do the ultrasound.

source : http://www.pitapink.com/id/tanya-jawab.php

June 20 2010

We Recommend You Watching Womb Cancer

Data on the Indonesian Ministry of Health says there are 90-100 cases of cervical cancer per 100,000 population. Each year 200 000 cases of cervical cancer occur in Indonesia.
Unfortunately, public awareness of Indonesia will early detection of cancer is very low. 70 percent of people with this disease came in the condition of severe (stage III or IV). Quite a few types of cervical cancer. But, there are three types of the most attacking a woman; cancer of the cervix (neck of the uterus), ovarian cancer (ovarian), and endometrial cancer (uterine body).

1. Cervical Cancer

@ Symptoms
There is excessive whitish, smelly, and did not heal. Not all signs are whitish cancer. Therefore, if the resulting abnormal whiteness should see a doctor, whether it is cancerous or not.
Other symptoms, there is bleeding outside the menstrual cycle. Especially bleeding after intercourse. To make sure they have a doctor, because bleeding can also occur due to disturbance of balance
hormone.
If the cancer has reached stage 3 upwards, then there will be swelling in various body parts, such as the thighs, calves, hands, and so forth. But, if it is still precancerous no symptoms.
@ Early Detection
For women who have had sex, do a Pap’s smear; taking cervical mucus from the vagina which will be examined pathologist. Pap smears can detect precancerous’s to cancer treatment is to enable quick and precise. Make checks regularly, once a year.
@ Causes
There are several causes of cervical cancer:
1) Infection by human papilloma virus. The virus is through sexual relations.
2) Second, premature sexual contact (sex berjubungan less than 15 years). This means that women who first had sex when she was under 15 years old, it has a high risk of cervical cancer.
3) Having sex with multiple partners. The more a woman to have sex with several men, he higher the risk of cervical cancer.
4) Smoking. From various studies in developed countries have found smoking in the constituent materials in the epithelial cells of the cervix.
In addition to the above factors, heredity plays a very able to experience this type of cancer or not. If your mother or sister of the mother or father suffered from cervical cancer, then you have two times more risk of suffering the same disease.
Even more sadly, many experienced cervical cancer in women at reproductive age (aged 30-40 years). But this time there was an increase in people in their 20s. One reason can be given is because more and more teenagers their 20s who had had sex.
@ Treatment
The main pass surgery; simple, large, special. Simple operation performed at the level of early-stage, called the konisasi (cutting the uterus like a cone). Because in the early stage (precancerous) from zero up to 1A of cancer was still in the mucous membrane cells. The operation performed when the patient still wants to get pregnant. If you do not want to get pregnant again will be done by simple hysterectomy (uterus removed all). The goal is that no recurrence of cancer.
Radical hysterectomy will be performed if the cancer had stage 1B to 2A/2B. Third of the entire uterus was appointed following the vagina, uterus and hanger will be cut to as close to the wall
pelvis. The ovaries can be removed or not depends on the age of the patient. If still menstruating, the ovaries will be left. If cervical cancer are already in stage 2B to the above, the operation could no longer be done, but with radiation or radiation.
Radiation has complications; ovarian died too exposed to radiation. As a result of hormones also dead. Whereas the hormone needed for sexual desire and menstruation. Osteroporosis and also prevent heart disease. Other complications, in baseball may be exposed to radiation rather than other organs, such as anal and urinary tract. Accidental burns occurred in the rectum and diarrhea or bleeding continues. If this happens, then the rectum or urethra should be removed. In its place will be created a new rectum or urinary tract through the stomach.
In fact, due to the vaginal discharge becomes rigid, so that patients can not have sex. Other operations, although a third of the vagina removed but can still have sex.
Not to mention if it is a tumor resistant to radiation, so that no matter how many radiation, the tumor remains. Though complications of radiation, is not it, very much. That is why radiation is
if no other choice.
Subsequent treatment, chemotherapy; done when surgery and radiation is not possible anymore. For instance, within a year had been irradiated, so that could not have done anymore for fear of radiation
complications occur. Unfortunately, chemotherapy is very expensive.

2. Ovarian cancer
@ Symptoms
Stomach felt begah, bloating, discomfort. But these symptoms are not specific. In fact, most just do not feel any symptoms. Later symptoms bloating stomach, felt a lump, pelvic pain, impaired CHAPTER / BAK due emphasis on the digestive tract and urinary tract.
Even further on the circumstances which may result in accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity to flow into the chest cavity, which looks very bulging belly. Sometimes accompanied by shortness of breath. If it were so, it is usually too late to handle.
@ Early Detection
Detection delays often occur due to difficult to detect at an early stage. Because the location of the ovary are in the pelvic cavity, so not visible from the outside.
Cancer is usually discovered through inspection. If the cyst is found, it will be an ultrasound, if there are signs of cancer or not. It’s not all going to be a cancerous cyst. Cysts that lead to cancer usually berlokus-locus or sectional. Too thick and irregular walls.
Other tests, CT scans and tumor marker (a sign of a tumor) through blood tests.
@ Treatment
Surgery and continuing with therapy. Complications, nausea, vomiting, or hair loss. Chemotherapy was not given to patients with early stage.

3. Endometrial cancer

@ Symptoms
There is bleeding, particularly in post-menopausal or outside the menstrual period. Also when her menstrual very long and many. Due to the long period and many, it means that endometriumnya increasingly thickened.
@ Early Detection
Because early symptoms of bleeding, then usually examine patients early so that most of these diseases is known in its early stages.
Ultrasound done to see the wall thickness of the endometrium. Curettage is then performed. Dilution will be taken to the pathology to be seen whether or not the cancer.
@ Treatment
Continued operations with radiation or chemotherapy.

DIAGNOSIS
To help determine the stage of the cancer, conducted some examination follows:
- Cystoscopy
- Chest X-ray
- Intravenous urography
- Sigmoidoscopy
- Skening bone and liver
- Barium enema.

PREVENTION
There are two ways to prevent cervical cancer:
1. Preventing HPV infection
2. Pap smears regularly.
Pap smear (Papanicolau test) is a microscopic examination of cells obtained from cervical smear.
In the Pap smear, cervical cell samples obtained with the aid of a spatula made of wood or plastic (which is applied to the outside of the cervix) and a small brush (which is inserted into the cervical canal). Cervical cells are then smeared on glass objects and then given a preservative and sent to the laboratory for examination.
24 hours before undergoing a Pap smear, you should not do washing or flushing the vagina, no sexual intercourse, do not bathe and does not use tampons.
Pap smears are very effective in detecting precancerous changes in the cervix.
If the results of a Pap smear shows dysplasia or cervical looks abnormal, colposcopy and biopsy is usually performed

Exhortation to do Pap smears on a regular basis:
- Every year for women aged over 35 years
- Every year for women who have multiple sexual partners or have suffered sexual or genital warts HPV infection
- Every year for women who use oral contraceptives
- Every 2-3 years for women aged over 35 years if the Pap smear test three times in a row show negative results or to women who had undergone hysterectomy was not due to cancer
- As often as possible if the results showed an abnormal Pap smear
- As often as possible after the assessment and treatment of precancerous or cervical cancer.

To reduce the possibility of cervical cancer should be:
- Children of women under the age of 18 years did not have sexual relations.
- Do not have sexual relations with patients with genital warts or use condoms to prevent transmission of genital warts
- Do not keep changing sexual partners
- Stop smoking.
- Pelvic examination every year (including Pap smear) should be started when a woman begins an active sexual intercourse or at age 20 years. Any abnormal results should be followed with colposcopy and biopsy.
Some researchers have shown that vitamin A plays a role in stopping or preventing malignant changes in cells, as happens on the surface of the cervix.

From various sources

May 9 2010

Is Leukemia (Blood Cancer) can be Cured?

Leukemia or blood cancer, now no longer a terrible disease. A disease that a few years ago can be categorized into a deadly disease, can now be treated, and patients can recover fully. The faster the cancer in someone’s body is found, the possibility of recovery will be higher. This is discussed in a seminar on “Cancer in Children” held by the Indonesian Cancer Foundation, Tuesday (18 / 9) in Jakarta.

Leukemia is the most types of cancer occur in children (approximately 30-40 percent). Followed by brain tumors (approximately 10-15 percent) and cancers of the eye / retinoblastoma (about 10-12 per cent). The rest, other types of cancer such as lymphoma, cancer of the nerve, and kidney cancer. This was disclosed by Dr. Billy Djajadiman SpA (K) of Sub Section of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Indonesia Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital (Faculty of medicine-RSCM),

Strongly suspected, cancer, genetic disorders caused plus the entry of certain viruses. So, lifestyle and exposure to carcinogenic substances can be ignored as a cause of cancer in children. But the deficiency or lack of immunity factors and exposure to radioactive substances can increase the incidence of cancer. In the case of the collapse of the atomic bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, there were increasing cases of leukemia in children in Japan, because her mother was exposed to radiation.

Leukemia cancer symptoms in children characterized by conditions accompanied by pale, listless and tired, no apparent cause of fever, abnormal bleeding, such as nosebleeds, blue patches on the skin, and fussy because he felt pain in bones and abdomen feels hard or swollen. Sometimes found a lump on the skin, gums, paralysis of facial muscles or leg for no apparent reason.

Doctor Maria Abdulsalam SpA (K) of the Section of Pediatrics Faculty of medicine-RSCM added human blood consists of blood fluid (plasma) and blood cells that circulate in the blood vessels. Broadly blood cells consist of red blood cells (erythrocytes), white blood cells (leukocytes), and pieces of blood (thrombocyte). Red blood cells contain hemoglobin which carries oxygen to function throughout the body. Functioning of white blood cells to combat infection, are pieces of blood needed to stop bleeding in case of injury.

Can leukemia occurs in one’s blood cells. The largest number of white blood cells. Blood cancer malignant cells will reproduce themselves uncontrollably. However, cells that actually formed is not normal and do not work. The cells were urging the growth of white blood cells and red blood cells and normal blood puck.

“The decline of white blood cells will cause the child susceptible to infection, low red blood cells cause the child was pale and weak, reducing the blood-chip makes a child prone to bleeding that is difficult to stop. In addition to the surface of the body, bleeding may occur in the gastrointestinal tract, brain, or other organs, and cause of death. Malignant cells can spread to the liver, spleen, lymph nodes, brain, bone, “explained Maria.

How to cure Leukemia

Opinion Djajadiman cancer therapy is now growing with the findings of several cytostatica (anticancer drug), a powerful combat cancer cells. The goal of treatment, is now not only to extend life, but seek healing. According to him, the possibility of leukemia are cured at 70-100 percent depending on the stage, together with the possibility of recovery for cancer Wilms (kidney cancer in children). More and treated early, the greater the possibility of full recovery.

In leukemia, treatment by chemotherapy, continued Maria. The problem of drug cytostatica not only eradicate cancer cells. Normal blood cells are produced in the bone marrow participate terberantas, so that patients have conditions that are highly vulnerable to infection, bleeding, and general health.

Along with the ability to eradicate cancer cells, side effects cytostatica also advanced more forcefully. Therefore, it should be monitored closely for side effects liver, heart, and kidney. For that, in addition to cytostatica, patients were given prophylactic medication side effects also, blood transfusions, antibiotics, and nutritious food.

“Treatment of leukemia patients should be performed in a hospital with complete facilities, including free room and conducted by experts of infection,” added Maria.