5 Easy Ways To Support Your Friend With Cancer.

Friendship - A relation not defined by blood ties but from ties we make on earth during our lifetime. Undoubtedly, friends are the ones with whom we share almost everything; at times even certain secrets and thoughts which we feel uncomfortable to even share with our parents. Right from secret crushes in college to silly events in every day of our lives, a friend is someone who knows every bit of us! But a devastating situation comes in front of a dear friend. Your friend is diagnosed of a disease like cancer! - an ultimate trauma and a sure means of isolation. What soon would creep in your friendship is his/her busy schedules full of appointments, scan, treatments along with the endless thought of a nearing fate. The first thing which will come to your mind will be spending sometime with him. But, whenever you meet, it may be very difficult to understand what to say or do that will bring smile on his/her face.

‘Cancer’ the word itself is associated with feeling of despair, anxiety and isolation. We often fail to understand that cancer patients are overlooked, due to our reluctance in interacting with them and to know what’s exactly going on in their mind. This is a very crucial aspect, because diagnosis of a disease like cancer brings many changes in one’s lifestyle. Hence, a strong emotional support from their surroundings to boost their willpower coupled with moments of happiness is essential. 

There are no concrete rules to support a friend who recently got diagnosed with this life threatening disease. The secret lies in, is to keep things simple, as little things which we do selflessly are the ones which leave behind great impact. First of all you need keep in your mind that, touching, hugging or shaking hands with your friend does not mean you will become next cancer victim; on other hand it will make your friend feel better. A friend will not want your sympathy but a feeling that you care. Here are few simple ways by which you can apply to support and care for your dear friend with cancer : 

1. Make Up Your Mind First : 

First of all cope up with your own emotions before visiting his/her home as you need to control all your feelings that can even make your friend weaker emotionally. Think what all things will result into few moments of laughter but at the same time be careful that it won’t hurt if he or she is no longer capable of experiencing them. 

2. Always Ask Before You Visit : 

Do not forgot to confirm is it’s right time to visit as the patient can be in hospital or home. On the top, if your friend is unwell your visit will make him uncomfortable. So, make a phone call to seek permission to visit as well as make flexible plans that can be changed if your friend needs to postpone. 

3. Make Every Visit Memorable : 

Whenever you meet, start conversation saying, “It’s good to see you” instead of commenting on physical appearance as there can be physical changes due to cancer. Talk about likes, hobbies and things which will distract your friend from thoughts of cancer. Offer him gifts such as motivational books, articles regarding people who won over cancer, etc. Show them discount offers on online shopping portals as carrying out shopping in markets and malls may not be possible for your friend due to weakness. 

4. Put Some Practical Efforts :    

Often we forget that family members of cancer victim too need support. Hence, it is essential to even boost their moral and practically helping your friend’s parents in daily tasks such as cooking, cleaning and laundry, etc. can even mean a lot! Help them with hospital formalities, booking of health check ups and chemotherapy sessions, etc., and or even drive your friend to an appointment. You can also go for walk followed by movie together with whole family.  

5. Your Words Can Do Wonders : 

• Here are examples of phrases that can be really helpful : 
• I care about you. 
• If you ever feel like talking, I’m here to listen.
• You can share anything with me. 
• What are your plans for today, how I can be part of it. 
• It will be great if you tell how can I help you in this. 

In the end, you need to understand that friendship can really make a difference, Happy Friendship Day.

Snoring and lack of sleep may reduce your chances of survival from Breast Cancer!

Yet again women are threatened to strive, not from social stigma, patriarchal society or the burden of procreation, but from the global disease - Breast cancer! A new trend of this cancer is setting in gradually among the women of 30’s and 40’s, threatening their life at an early stage. Also, the number of incidences of breast cancer are growing exponentially world over; however, awareness or screening which is the most important factor for survival of these patients, is failing terribly. Lately, the shocking sleep studies have revealed, how poor sleep negatively affects inflammatory pathways, speeding up tumor growth and deteriorates cancer prognosis!

An unusual sound made due to obstructed air while breathing (in the sleep) is ‘snoring’, which is a strong factor for sleep deprivation according to the research fraternity. Biologically speaking, sleep is a condition wherein the body is at rest and exhibits a state of mind characterized by alternate REM (rapid eye movement) and non-REM sleep cycles with altered consciousness, inhibited sensory activity, voluntary muscles and no/reduced interactions with surroundings. Sleep is known to rejuvenate the body and mind, and a minimum of 6 to 8 hours of sleep recommended in humans maintains the overall mental and physical health. However, deteriorating sleep habits and disorders are just around the corner that not only reduce the quality of life, but also increase the threat for cancer. 

‘Unlike so many things that can impact cancer risk and cancer prognosis, sleep is something that an individual can potentially control,’ says Amanda Phipps from the University of Washington, suggesting a link between poor sleep quality, short sleep duration and increased cancer risk. Phipps’s research was based on assessing the impact of sleep characteristics on women with breast cancer; the verdict being an eye-opening comparative studies wherein women with less than 6 hours of sleep each night and snoring more than 5 nights a week, were atleast twice more likely to die from the disease. These results were unaltered keeping in account the number of factors such as cancer site, smoking status, marital status and physical activity status.

As the number of people affected with breast cancer increases, so does the need for its awareness and early cancer detection screening techniques. Apart from opting for early detection of abnormalities in the body, healthy, sufficient sleep is essential for individual well-being. Dr. Nathaniel Watson, president of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine rightly says, ‘All adults should make it on of their top health priorities to get at least 7 hours of sleep each night.’

‘Its proven yet again, that a ‘good’ night’s sleep can shoo away many impending health threats!’

Do Bread, Pizza, Burger contain cancer causing chemicals?!

Being an Indian has got absolutely nothing to do with our cravings of bread butter and toast for breakfast! Sandwiches, burgers and pizzas have now entered our daily food habits, so much so that calling bread our staple food wont be a falsifying statement. Any extreme case scenario brings a unforeseen outcome and thus sadly speaking so is this new fad for buns and bread, as it brings in the terror of 2B carcinogens (potassium bromate and iodate) that can cause serious cancer threats!

Bread - the New Age staple food!
Neolithic age (New Stone Age) brought about the spread of agriculture, with which came along the accidental making of bread; it then became the most important aspect of food and sustenance, competing with all the other variety of foods and yet managing to be the essential of our diet and our psyche. Recent years have brought drastic changes in the variety of packaged breads; with the choices of white bread, pav, buns and pizza breads growing, our palate and demand for it too is prospering! 

In India, less spoken issue up till now, is the use of certain chemicals for manufacturing bread that question health and safety; with an emerging renal and thyroid tumour incidences. A research study from New Delhi regarding health concerns taken up by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) implied 84% of bread and bakery samples (collected from New Delhi) with residues of Potassium Bromate and/or Potassium Iodate, the cancer-causing chemicals.

Carcinogens - their looming threat!
It was in 1999 when Potassium Bromate was classified as a possible carcinogen to humans by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC); this genotoxic carcinogen, earlier used as a flour treatment agent, was banned in most of the countries (India being an exception) foreseeing its cruelty. In case of ideal baking conditions, Bromate converts into a harmless Bromide, which does not seem to happen practically and thus the study showing presence of the 2B carcinogen residues in the packaged bread sold in India is the talk of the town!  

Most of the famous food outlets strongly deny the accusation made in the CSE report, stating their top most priority to be customer safety and health for which they follow the best international standards. How much ever convincing this might sound, it does not diminish our apprehensive thoughts, making us nothing but the seekers for knowledge and reality. Taking preventive approach a cancer screening for carcinogens perhaps can help one detect, monitor and manage the terrifying cancerous menace. 

Let’s hope saying goodbye to Bread is not the only outcome to abate these carcinogens!

Can your smartphone detect skin cancer?

Believe it or not, almost every individual is addicted to his or her smartphone these days! Think about it, who can say no to a platform filled with limitless functionality and practical applicability in a compact and portable form in this fast-paced, dynamic life that we live in?! Checking messages, playing games, grabbing information and building contacts are some of the most common to-do’s we achieve using our tiny device. What is more, research studies have gone one step ahead by inventing an uncommon feature in smartphone that detects the appearance of skin cancer! 

Skin being the largest organ of the body, is quite atypically the most neglected one; but when it comes to skin cancer if neglected, can definitely prove to be fatal. Uncontrolled division of cells in the body is the characteristic feature of cancer, and based on the type of cells and cancerous growth they are categorised into various types. This diversity gives us more the reason to worry about its early and accurate diagnosis. 

The University of Texas Health Science Center of Houston (UTHealth) found a way to connect smartphone to detect skin cancer via phone-based microscopy. 

With a 90% detection accuracy as compared to a traditional light microscope, this technology may prove a highly efficient tool in detecting non-melanoma skin cancer. 

Cure for cancer is a tough battle, thus the focus lies on a feasible diagnostic approach for early detection, for example a PET-CT scan! The modern world believes in quick results, and gadgets with their alluring technology might help us acquire faster as well as better answers. This smart phone based microscopy hopefully won’t take long to nestle in a physician’s palm and bridge the gap between detecting this dreadful menace to cure it.

For more information, kindly visit Thyrocare's partner, Nueclear- a diagnostic imaging center.  http://www.nueclear.com/

Teenage Height and Weight linked to Cancer Risk

Surprised? Well, rightly read! Generally, height and weight are the first two attributes which knowingly or unknowingly, are either monitored or looked upon when we meet or interact with someone. Tall statured people are perceived to be impressive with their heights, making the ones with stunted height usually feel inferior. Also, the prevalent crisis faced by all, especially the current generation - obesity, either fuels up the chances of diseases and disorders in body or worsens the symptoms of any existing ailment. Obesity, an already known factor to increase the risk of diabetes and cardiovascular diseases; along with excessive height, can they be responsible for development of cancers?

Sounds absurd, as how can a widely perceived societal notion of possessing a tall height and providing excessive nutrition for your kids can trigger the onset of a deadly disease with no cure? Scientists claim that excessive height and nutrition during childhood may initiate the development of cancers like Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. 

Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma..what is it?

White blood cells or lymphocytes are made in the lymphatic system and being an important part of our immune system, they aid to fight any infiltrative foreign particles or pathogens, be it virus or bacteria; or any impending infection. Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is a cancer of lymphocytes wherein there is an abnormal growth, division and proliferation of three types of lymphocytes: B and T lymphocytes, and natural killer (NK) cells.

Usually, lymphocytes have a predictable life-cycle where old cells die and new ones are produced to replace them. In Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, old cells don’t die but keep growing and dividing, thereby creating an oversupply of lymphocytes aka ‘fighter’ cells, thus crowding the lymph nodes causing them to swell. Till date, doctors aren’t sure what causes this cancer. It is either indolent or aggressive and has many different types which are diagnosed by varied microscopic appearance and biological characterisations of malignant lymphocytes.

Obesity, Tall Height & Lymphoma: Where’s the link?

A recent study led by Dr. M. Leiba and her team at Israel’s Sheba Medical Center examined the height and weight of 2 million adolescents aged 16 to 19 years from 1967-2011; and 4000 cases of Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma were found till 2012 since 1967.

It is estimated that the obese are on a 25% increased risk of acquiring Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma later in life as compared to those with normal weight. Similarly, shorter individuals were seen with 25% reduced risk of developing this condition in future, while the tallest were at 28% increased risk of acquiring the same. Researchers found that obesity and a too tall stature during adolescence affect inflammatory molecules and growth factors that support the development of Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. However, an accurate mechanism of how these attributes in childhood transpire this condition requires further detailed research.

Timely diagnosis: A stitch in time saves nine!

Know the levels of biomarkers going haywire because of obesity by seeking timely medical help. Make preventive healthcare a priority today; get yourself tested for the presence or elevation of any cancer marker levels. After all, it goes without saying, an early diagnosis aids in better prognosis and treatment.

For more information, visit http://thyrocare.com/

Worried about Breast Cancer? Eat Broccoli!

For all you women out there, here’s just another reason why you should add the green headed flower in your food platter. Yes! We are talking about broccoli, yet another member of the cruciferous vegetables family which is found to aid in cancer prevention. Let’s see what it has in store for women who are suffering from or are at risk of breast cancer.

Sulforaphane 
Cruciferous vegetables show high content of one particular compound - ‘Sulforaphane’ which has antimicrobial and anti-carcinogenic properties. As an anti-carcinogen, sulforaphane helps to maintain balance in levels of antioxidants in the body. Antioxidants are essential molecules that help to combat the harmful effects of various dietary, environmental and other types of carcinogens. More to add, sulforaphane is also found to increase the anti-cancer effects of chemotherapy drug – Taxol. Broccoli sprouts are also known to harbor 50 times the anti-cancer property of broccoli.

Why broccoli over other cruciferous vegetables?
Studies have proven that broccoli among the entire cruciferous family has the highest content of sulforaphane making it yet another potent anti-cancer weapon. Next in line with high content of sulforaphane is purple cabbage and green cabbage.

Breast cancer and broccoli
Though broccoli shows anti-cancer property, it has a lot to contribute towards ceasing the development and recurrence of breast cancer among woman. Broccoli exclusively has been studied to understand its effect towards breast cancer. It is found that broccoli has a unique ability to suppress growth & division of cancerous cells and also to some extent promote the death of cancerous stem cells. 

Frequent consumption of broccoli is also known to reduce levels of a particular estrogen metabolite - ‘16alpha-hydroxyestrone’ which is capable of promoting breast cancer in females. Consumption of broccoli by premenopausal women can also contribute to lowering the risk towards breast cancer in later stages of life. However thyroid affected women need to beware as consumption of broccoli interferes with thyroid hormone formation (especially in iodine deficient females).

Breast cancer is a growing concern among woman, hence it is imperative to be aware about the various ways of preventing it. Though broccoli is found to be a good anti-cancer vegetable, complete dependence on such foods is not advised. Frequent evaluation of breasts by self for presence of any lumps and also medical consultation is essential. Also, minimizing or avoiding lifestyle habits such as smoking, that may additionally contribute in provoking the onset of the disease is important. If breast cancer has been running in family, (a close relative such as mother, grandmother, maternal aunts has been affected) genetic counseling is advisable as this helps in voiding the chances of being at risk.

A woman is filled with immense strength to meet the demands of her family and professional life. But somewhere she fails to realise that her body demands attention and care too. Tend to its little needs at proper time, so you are fit to meet your vocation’s demands.

For more information, kindly visit Thyrocare's partner, which provides the diagnostic imaging, Nueclear.  http://www.nueclear.com/