Thursday 25 December 2014

Different cancer prevention methods


Embedded image permalinkIt is possible to reduce the risk of several cancers through dietary and various other lifestyle changes. The way the risk can be reduced largely depends on the particular type of cancer.

Tobacco use

Use of tobacco is directly linked with one third of all types of cancers. By not smoking and avoiding tobacco smoke exposure, one can greatly minimize the risk of kidney, lung, bladder, head and neck cancer. By avoiding use of smokeless tobacco, one can reduce the risk of cancer of the tongue and the mouth. 

Lifestyle modifications

Other lifestyle modifications reduce the risk of certain types of cancer. Reducing intake of alcohol lessens the risk of neck and head, liver and esophageal cancer. Well reduced intake of fat seems to decrease the risk of colon and breast cancer. If you avoid sun exposure, you can reduce the risk of skin cancer. By covering exposed skin and applying a good sunscreen lotion with a SPF of at least 15 will protect the skin from harsh ultraviolet rays. Pap test is a cancer prevention treatment in the sense that it can help prevent cervical cancer as it diagnoses the precancerous changes in the cells present in the cervix. 

Vaccination

Vaccination prevents a few types of cancers caused by viruses; especially, cervical cancer is caused due to infections with specific strains of HPV that is sexually transmitted. Vaccination against HPV can largely prevent the occurrence of cervical cancer. The virus also increases the risk of anal cancer as well as some types of head and neck cancer. 

Importance of early detection


Early detection of precancerous growths of cancerous cells is an important cancer prevention treatment by itself. Women over 40 years of age must have yearly mammograms so as to detect breast cancers as they may be curable when detected early. Likewise, people over 50 years of age must have a colonoscopy annually to detect for polyps or early cancer of the colon.
The best way to detect cancer at a very early stage and thereby resort to the successful treatment of the disease, resorting to NP Screen kit is the best choice.

Wednesday 10 December 2014

Diagnosis of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is a type of cancer which occurs in the nasopharynx, a part of the muscular area located between the back of the throat and the nose. 

Symptoms of NPC
The symptoms of nasopharyngeal carcinoma resemble those of more common conditions.
Noticeable symptoms of nasopharyngeal carcinoma include:
·         Formation of a lump in the neck due to swollen lymph node.
·         Discharge of blood from the nose
·         Nasal congestion
·         Frequent ear infections
·         Headaches
Cancer starts when one or more genetic factors contribute to the abnormal growth of normal cells, spreading to adjoining tissues. In nasopharyngeal carcinomas, this unwanted growth process occurs in the outer surface of the nasopharynx. 

Risk factors
The following factors have been identified to contribute towards the risk of developing nasopharyngeal carcinoma

·         Sex. Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is more prevalent in men.
·         Race. This type of cancer is found to affect the population in Northern Africa and Asia.
·         Age. Nasopharyngeal cancer is found in adults who are in their thirties to fifties.
·         Salt-cured foods. Exposure to Chemicals released when cooking salt-cured foods like fish and preserved vegetables can pass through the nasal cavity increasing the risk of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
·         Epstein-Barr virus. Epstein-Barr virus is linked to several forms of cancers including nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
·         Family history. Previous history among family member with nasopharyngeal carcinoma can increases your risk of the disease.

Tests to diagnose nasopharyngeal carcinoma

·         Physical exam. Diagnosing NPC generally starts with a general check up. Your doctor may press on the back of your neck to identify any swelling in your lymph nodes.
·         Nasal endoscopy. If nasopharyngeal carcinoma is predicted, your physician may recommend for a nasal endoscopy. 
·         Test to remove a sample of suspicious cells. Your doctor will use the endoscope for collecting a small tissue sample for biopsy.
These days, a more convenient and accurate system of diagnosing this type of cancer has been introduced. The NP Screen test kit is an excellent diagnostic tool that helps in the early detection of NPC. Early detection means early treatment and successful treatment. So, the NP Screen is really a great way to diagnose this type of cancer.

Tuesday 2 December 2014

What Are the Different Cancer Treatment Options?


Cancer is easily the deadliest diseases man has ever witnessed. However, early cancer detection can pave way for reliable treatment options and provides chances for the survival of the patient. 

Different Cancer Treatment Methods 

Surgery - Surgery is perhaps the common cancer treatment. It is the first line of treatment opted for tumors that are solid in nature. During the early stages, if cancer is detected, surgery can help save the patient. Through surgery by experts, cancerous cells can be removed. Besides, using surgery, other benign growths can also be gotten rid of. 

Radiation therapy - If surgery doesn’t work, doctors generally advise the patients to undergo radiation therapy. Radiation therapy is often used in conjunction with chemotherapy and surgery. The main goal of this therapy is to kill the cells producing cancer. Cancerous cells are destroyed with the help of high beam rays. 

Chemotherapy - Hormonal treatments are opted as a treatment for cancer in order to prevent cell growth. One can opt for chemotherapy to destroy the cancer cells. Chemicals work by damaging and killing the malignant cells and also prevent further production of these cells. 

Various types of targeted therapy

Targeted therapy is comparatively a newer way used in the treatment of cancer. The treatment is initiated by targeting a few particular types of processes and proteins that are largely limited to cancer cells. Doing so, it prevents the growth of cancerous cells. Physicians also make use of biological response modifier. According to this, the treatment involves the function of normal and natural looking proteins that induce the growth of the body and defend the body against cancer cells.

Vaccines A few types of vaccines that forms a good defense mechanism is also given to treat cancer. These vaccines normally consist of some type of proteins. These proteins guard the body against various types of cancer. 

Provided all these treatment options do not work, a range of complementary and alternative methods are used. These methods are usually not practiced by doctors who are conventional. These methods include herbal therapy, mind-body approaches, and animal derived methods. However, these may interfere with the modern medicine and approaches. 

For early cancer detection, especially NPC or nasopharyngeal carcinoma, NP Screen cancer screening kit is the right choice.