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All You Need To Know About Thyroid Disease

Thyroid Cancer Doctor in Bangalore | Dr. Murali Subramanian

Did you know that January is National Thyroid Awareness Month!! So naturally, we must talk about the thyroid problem in such a situation.

Thyroid problems are increasing day by day in India. Therefore, thyroid awareness is necessary to help people recognize thyroid problems’ symptoms. The main goal of this movement is to raise awareness about identifying thyroid symptoms, prevention, treatment, and cure.
For your information, Thyroid Disease refers to many conditions as to how the gland functions! Thyroid disease can be underactive or overactive, and both conditions can lead to serious health problems. Talking about the most common thyroid diseases are: – Hyperthyroidism and Hypothyroidism.

All About Thyroid Disease | Thyroid Cancer Doctor in Bangalore | Dr. Murali Subramanian
All About Thyroid Disease | Thyroid Cancer Doctor in Bangalore | Dr. Murali

HYPERTHYROIDISM

Hyperthyroidism is an overactive thyroid disease. This condition arises when our thyroid gland produces excess thyroid hormone thyroxine. Thyroid disease called hyperthyroidism harms your body because it can increase your metabolism, cause irregular heartbeat and even lead to weight loss.

HYPOTHYROIDISM

Hypothyroidism is an underactive thyroid, and this condition arises when our thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH). The significant symptoms of hypothyroidism include fatigue, constipation, dry skin, sensitivity to colds, and weight gain. In addition, heart rate, metabolism, and body temperature can be affected due to an underactive thyroid called hypothyroidism.

Let’s now do a quick go-through about thyroid cancer.

What Is Thyroid Cancer?

Thyroid cancer is a type of cancer that is formed in the body when the cells grow and multiply rapidly. These cells form a tumor, and gradually, the abnormal cells spread throughout the body.

Although there are no specific early symptoms, as the cells grow, there may be changes in the voice, lumps in the neck, difficulty swallowing, and swollen lymph nodes. In most cases of thyroid cancer, surgery is used to remove the thyroid, and the cure rate for this disease is 100%.

What Are the Four Different Types Of Thyroid Cancer?

  • Papillary thyroid cancer:

It is the most common form of thyroid cancer. This cancer grows slowly but can spread to lymph nodes on the neck.

  • Follicular thyroid cancer:

It is the second most common form of thyroid cancer. These also spread slowly in the body and are often found near areas of iodine deficiency. For your information, let us tell you that treating follicular thyroid cancer is the easiest.

  • Medullary thyroid cancer:

This form of thyroid cancer is not common and is mostly hereditary. But it is more likely to spread to lymph nodes early than other thyroid cancers.

  • Anaplastic thyroid cancer:

This form of thyroid cancer is the most aggressive, but the good news is that anaplastic thyroid cancer is rare. It grows fast and spreads easily, so it is hazardous.

Thyroid cancer treatment options depend on the type of cancer you have.

Diagnosis of Thyroid Disease | Thyroid Cancer Doctor in Bangalore | Dr. Murali Subramanian
Diagnosis of Thyroid Disease | Thyroid Cancer Doctor in Bangalore | Dr. Murali Subramanian

What is the diagnosis of thyroid disease?

Medical science has progressed so much that today there is a cure for all thyroid conditions. You do not need to panic if you have thyroid cancer or thyroid problems. Doctors take special blood tests and physical examinations when diagnosing thyroid diseases. Also, use your medical history.

In most cases, thyroid disorders can be treated with medications, while in some cases, surgery is required. The treatment of your thyroid problem will entirely depend on the specific disease. Contact us for all conditions you may have, including thyroid cancer, hyperthyroidism, or hypothyroidism.

Lastly, we request you raise thyroid awareness among people during January (National Thyroid Awareness Month). Also, participate in the fight to find a cure for thyroid cancer or any form of a thyroid condition.

Thyroid cancer is treatable today, so if you have any concerns or questions about thyroid problems, don’t hesitate to speak to one of our experts. Our specialist doctors will help you find the best treatment for you.

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What You Should Know About The “Forgotten Cancer”

Yes, you heard it right “forgotten cancer” , that is Sarcoma. Read on to gather valuable insights on what is Sarcoma, and how it affects the common and the elderly population?

About Sarcoma

Sarcoma is a type of cancer that is rare, and made up of soft tissue. There are various subtypes, as they emerge from different tissue structures like muscles, nerves, bone, blood, fat, joints, or blood vessels that are the connective tissues in the body. Besides, Sarcoma can also crop up in the bones. Primarily, as these tissues are found everywhere in the body, Sarcoma can be found in any place.

Most commonly, Sarcoma is a cancer found in the arms and legs where most of the connective tissues are present. The disease starts very deep in the body that is not identified until a lump is noticed, and cancer may be difficult to treat at this stage. There are two categories of sarcoma – soft tissue and bone sarcoma. In all probability, Sarcoma reasonably affects children and young adults more than the aged population. Bone and joint cancer are found more in teenagers whereas, soft tissue cancer attacks fifty-five years and above.

All about Sarcoma Cancer | Best Cancer Specialist in Kalyan Nagar- Dr. Murali Subramanian

Specifically, Sarcoma can be grouped as,

  • Soft tissue sarcoma – they form in cartilage, muscles, fat, nerves, tendons, vessels, and joint muscles.
  • Ewing sarcoma – they form in bone and soft tissue.
  • Osteosarcomas – mostly develop in bone, and liposarcomas form in fat.
  • Rhabdomyosarcomas – develop in muscle.

Potential Reasons

The root cause and the development of sarcomas are unknown. After much evaluation, researchers have come up with some hints that may have a role in affecting sarcomas. While the core reason is unknown, there are some known risk factors.

In some cases, phenoxy acetic acid found in herbicides or chlorophenols increases the risk. Angiosarcoma, a rare blood vessel cancer is found to develop due to exposure to vinyl chloride. High exposure to radiation is also a cause of sarcoma in some populations. 

Some inherited diseases are also associated with an increase in soft tissue sarcoma.

  • Von Recklinghausen’s disease (neurofibromatosis) – is associated with the NF1 gene
  • Li-Fraumeni syndrome – associated with alterations in the p53 gene

Research shows alterations in genetic conditions have contributed to the development of sarcomas. It can also affect future generations and may be a random event in the family cancer history.

Detection

At substantial times, lumps and bumps found are benign. But, people must be proactive enough to have a consultation to rule out any sarcoma scare. As sarcoma is hard to detect from other types of cancer, they effect the organs where their evidence is underestimated.

A reliable source to determine a malignant, benign, or tumor can be done by a surgical biopsy, where all soft tissues and bone lumps found are taken for biopsy. The procedure involves a special needle used to make an incision and remove a small portion of tumor tissue which is studied under a microscope. If it is positive for cancer, the pathologist assesses the grade and the type of cancer.

Though low-grade sarcomas are cancerous, they are unexpected to proliferate, high-grade sarcomas have a great chance to spread to other parts of the body. The survival rate for five years can be estimated as fifty percent for soft tissue sarcoma, whereas sixty-six percent for bone sarcomas.

Remedy

The treatment for sarcoma depends on the cancer stage, based on the grade of tumor and size, and whether cancer has advanced to the other parts of the body. The main treatment options include,

Surgery – It is the most common treatment where there is a removal of cancer and a safe margin of healthy tissue surrounding it. Most of the tumor is extracted by surgery, but radiation or chemotherapy is given before surgery to shrink the tumor or after surgery to eliminate leftover cancer cells.

Radiation – It involves high-dose x-rays that are used before surgery to shrink the tumor or post-surgery to do away with the remaining cancer cells.

Chemotherapy – Here, anticancer drugs are used along with radiation therapy either before or after surgery. If cancer cells have already made their way to other parts of the body, chemotherapy is done to shrink tumors and reduce the discomfort and pain caused, but doubtful on the disease elimination.

Chemotherapy has been found effective in preventing its spread where the treatment is done intravenously. Doctors and researchers are continually working to identify new, effective treatments and better ways to utilize the current procedure

July is Sarcoma Awareness Month | Best Cancer Specialist in Kalyan Nagar | Dr. Murali Subramanian
July is Sarcoma Awareness Month | Best Cancer Specialist in Kalyan Nagar | Dr. Murali Subramanian

Encouraging Awareness for Sarcoma Spread

  • As Sarcoma is a rare type of cancer, people are still uninformed about the disease unless it has been affected personally. This July, make an attempt to share a message through social media or discuss the underlying conditions with family and friends.
  • To spread awareness on social media, a tag using #curesarcoma #sarcomaawarenessmonth
  • Donate in honor of “Sarcoma Awareness Month”
  • Be a part of the Race to Cure Sarcoma held in the US, made up of a family-oriented 5k walk/run.
  • Get in touch with curesarcoma.org and related social media channels.

The Sarcoma Awareness Month attempts to underline the extensive challenges faced by those affected by Sarcoma, and renders the necessity for a deeper sarcoma research, therapies, and treatment. 

Book your appointment with Dr. Murali Subramanian, Best Cancer Specialist in Kalyan Nagar, Bangalore today: +91 9686418750.

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Myths about Lung cancer

Best lung cancer treatment in Bangalore | Dr Murali Subramanian

Scary claims are circulated on the internet. Forget the internet, even just plain word of mouth coming from your friends and family are not always true. Beyond being false, these misconceptions cause immeasurable stress to your health and gets you worried about your loved ones as well. Before panicking please learn about these conditions and stay away from such claims

Cancer is a disease in which cells in the body grow out of control. When cancer develops in the lungs, it is called lung cancer.

Lung cancer is the deadliest type of cancer in both men and women. Each year, more people die of lung cancer than breast, colon, and prostate cancers combined. 

There is a common perception that cigarette smoking is the only cause of Lung Cancer.

It is very fair to assume that it is true, it is the #1 risk factor but people fail to understand that Smoking is not the only cause.

Though smoking has been the leading cause of lung cancer, there have been occurrences amongst non-smokers as well. Take passive smoking for example. Various occupational hazards also cause Lung Cancer like exposure to Radon and other toxic gases.

We all are aware that Smoking is the #1 risk factor for Lung Cancer. But let me tell you why.

Cigarette smoke contains over 60 known carcinogens, including radioisotopes from the radon decay sequence, nitrosamine, and benzopyrene. Additionally, nicotine appears to depress the immune response to cancerous growths in exposed tissue.

Smoking is a very local irritant. The lungs tend to respond to this chronic irritation, and the cells change. And during this growth change they learn to keep growing effectively which causes trouble. It is precisely because of this uncontrollable growth, it eventually becomes cancer and it prevails.  

It also affects the DNA, damaging it to a great extent. Through multiple mutations over time, these DNA mutations cause uncontrollable cell growth leading to cancer and cancer metastasis.
Smoking is not just a risk factor for Smokers alone. Passive smoking also has a great deal of effect in rendering one diagnosed with lung cancer.

Passive smoking is the inhalation of smoke resulting from another person smoking nearby. It is a known cause of lung cancer in non-smokers. 

It is estimated, those who live with smokers have a 20-30% higher risk while those in second hand smoke environments have 16-19% higher risk compared to non-smokers who are away from such environments.

So it’s not just smoking, it is also advised to stay as far away as possible from such environments.

Although people who never smoked or lived in a second hand smoke environment have still been diagnosed with Lung Cancer. It can be because of Inherited cancer risks which we call hereditary cancer risks

It is very unlucky to be diagnosed with lung cancer due to an inherited risk. But one needs to be aware of such conditions as family history to have an edge over diagnosing Lung Cancer as early as possible. Various Genomic tests are available for the same reason, to stay ahead and understand the cancer risks one can inherit.

The numbers might be staggering, but being diagnosed with Lung Cancer doesn’t mean it’s inevitable. 

Early treatment and timely diagnosis is important and one can always avoid paying the heavy price. It is important to remember, we live in an era of advanced technology. Treatment options are available for all stages of Lung Cancer, including Stage 4. Both curative and palliative treatment types are available depending on the condition.

People often assume, quitting smoking once you are diagnosed with Lung Cancer doesn’t really matter. Please understand, it is never too late to quit smoking. 

You can with great effect reduce the risks of lung cancer if you aren’t diagnosed in the first place. And if you, please remember some of the treatment options like Chemotherapy will be hindered hopelessly if you don’t decide to quit smoking. Smoking is completely counterproductive to any progress and condition in health.

Please remember, Lung Cancer never favors any age group. While the average age group lay between 54-64, it can be fatal for people of all ages. Staying away from the high-risk factors is of the highest importance for anyone.

Conclusion

Let’s all stay aware about the condition and right away kill all the misconceptions and superstitions towards one of the deadliest cancers. Myths around any cancer only create panic and that’s the last thing a cancer patient or someone with a greater risk of diagnosing cancer needs.

Book your appointment with Dr. Murali Subramanian for Best lung cancer treatment in Bangalore today: +91 9686418750.

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Lung Cancer and Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Lung Cancer and Coronavirus – Dr Murali Subramanian

For the past 6 to 7 months we all are living in fear. The world-wide Coronavirus pandemic situation has stolen the peace of our normal life. As this virus becomes deadly while attacking the lungs, naturally patients of lung cancer are very much worried and afraid of this virus. However, already lots of myths have been spread related to the connection between COVID-19 and lung cancer. Some of them are logical while rests are just a myth. 

No need to say, the research data on the COVID-19 virus is fairly new for a detailed study about the interaction of novel coronavirus and lings cancer, but analyzing the trends of the virus attack, it’s unfortunate that patient with lungs cancer is at the highest risk of the fatality of this virus attack. The risk is almost twice in this case.

Now let’s come to the diagnosis part. While a patient is already suffering from lung cancer, the diagnosis of the coronavirus becomes a beat tricky. The symptoms of coronavirus are almost similar to that of lung cancer. In both cases, the patient experiences: 

  • Fever
  • Cough
  • Breathing problem
  • Inflammation of lungs

Treatments: As usual social distancing is the best way to lower the chances of coronavirus attacks in lung cancer patients. Keeping this measure in the mind we, oncologist have modified the process of regular lungs cancer treatment accordingly. 

Nowadays we are focused on

  • Limiting the number of times for visiting the clinic or hospital. 
  • Avoiding or at least decreasing (when avoiding is impossible) the treatments that weaken the immune system 
  • Using telemedicine visits instead of in-person clinic visits.

However, in the case of immunotherapy treatment, we are still practicing the usual process because it’s not quite sure if the drugs used in such therapies, affect the immune system to fight against the coronavirus or not. 

Prevention of complication: If you are undergoing chemotherapy or radiation therapy, you are indeed more exposed to the COVID-19 virus attack. To discuss you’re treatment plan and even the basic to basic side-effect symptoms with your doctor. Don’t ignore any of the symptoms as the common side-effect. Contact the doctor without any delay. 

For example, while taking radiation therapy, an inflammation of the lungs is common in the case of some patients. In medical terms, we call it ‘’pneumonitis.’ The bad news it resembles the symptoms of pneumonia. So don’t wait for severe fever, chest pain, or breathing difficulty. Discuss it with your doctor instantly.

However, in the case of the COVID-19 attack, we can only suggest ‘prevention is better than cure.’ The reason is till now we are lacking any proven anti-viral treatment against the COVID-19. So, the maximum we can do is to take the measures that help our body to fight back against this virus. As I already said, a lung cancer patient going through radial treatment lacks immunity power so there remains the only way to protect yourself by avoiding the contact of an infected person. Besides, follow the COVID-19 preventive measure more strictly. 

  • Every time you cough, sneeze, or blow your nose, wash your hand with soap for 20 seconds or use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60 percent alcohol. 
  • Always wear a mask in public places. Even you can use a homemade mask but be sure that you are not removing your mask while outside. And yes, don’t touch the outside of the mask even after coming back home. 
  • Main social distancing, even of wear a mask. If you feel comfortable it’s better to use a face shield over the mask. 
  • If you have a plan of surgery, discuss it with your doctor if you can be delayed. 
  • Try to do routine breathing exercises as per your doctor’s instruction to maintain your lung health and reduce the probability of the clinic visit. 

Hope this session has helped you out to understand the link between COVID-19 and lung cancer. Although we can’t prevent the infection in extreme cases, at least we can try to protect your selves. So stay home, stay safe, and hope for the best. It’s time to bid goodbye but doesn’t hesitate to write to me if you have further questions. 

Also Check out other blogs:


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FAQ on lung cancer

Best Lung Cancer Doctor in Bangalore | Dr Murali Subramanian

Cancer has become the evilest word for this world. In the last few years, the rate of lung cancer is on a rapid hike. Repeated attacks of cough and cold, mild chest pain are very common but these might be symptoms of lung cancer also.

1. What are the risk factors of lung cancer?

We all know both first-hand and second-hand smoking and the use of tobacco is the most identified risk. Apart from this, you should be aware of 

  • Family history.
  • Smoking
  • Exposure rate to a cancer-causing agent like air pollution, arsenic, and radioactive elements (such as radon). 
  • Some of the dietary supplements like beta carotene. 

2. What are the most common symptoms? 

Cough staying for a long time and getting worse with time is the foremost symptom of lung cancer. However as the cancer cell approach the advance stage you might experience continuous chest pain, breathing problem, blood with cough, repeated attack of pneumonia or bronchitis, swelling of neck and face, and weight and appetite loss.

3. Do lung tumors always indicate cancer?

Non-cancerous lung tumors also exist but unfortunately, they are very rare. Moreover, before surgery, it’s quite hard to identify if the tumor is cancerous or not. So, in most of the case, we treat the non-cancerous tumors in the same way as of the cancerous one. 

4. Do large doses of antioxidants prevent lung cancer?

Nowadays, before consulting a doctor, most of us keep searching the internet if we experience any unusual health symptoms. There has been a myth those antioxidants like vitamin E lowers the risk of lung cancer.

However, the fact is a bit different. At present, no medically proven concept indicates the lowering of lung cancer risk with the help of vitamin E, rather ongoing studies reveal that few antioxidants, like vitamin-A, beta-carotene foster the risk, mainly in the case of smokers.

5. Do death is the destiny of lungs cancer patients?

In, 2020, the answer is ‘no.’ The treatments like, radiation therapy, immune therapy, surgery targeted therapy, and chemotherapy are now too advanced. These can now completely cure cancer in some cases. For the rest of the cases, patients can live significantly longer with this disease. 

6. Does a negative chest X-ray confirm that I don’t have lung cancer?

Unfortunately ‘no’. The tumors might appear as just shows behind the ribs, which is hard to detect. 

7. How many types of lung cancer are there?

Two main types are there.

  • Non-small cell
  • Small-cell

Non-small cell lung cancer is the most common one. The growth and spread of this type of cancer are much slower than those of the other type. Non-small cell has three subtypes.

The first one is adenocarcinoma. In most cases, women and non-smokers get attacked by this. There remain no symptoms at the earlier stage and spread at the slowest rate. 

The second one is squamous cell carcinoma. This type is very common in smokers and starts showing the signs at an earlier stage.

The third one is ‘large-cell carcinoma.’ This type is rarely identified and shows the fastest growth. It spread  to distant body parts. 

8. Can lung cancer be prevented?

Sorry, but the answer is ‘no.’ Yet, you can lower the risks by avoiding the mentioned risk factor. Early detection always offers a better chance to fully recover but as discussed, in the most common type of lung cancer, there remain almost no signs. 

Book your appointment with Dr. Murali Subramanian for Best Lung Cancer Doctor in Bangalore today: +91 9686418750.

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Frequently asked questions about breast cancer

In today’s article, I will be talking about some of the frequently asked questions about breast cancer.

As the rate of breast cancer is increasing rapidly so, people are getting afraid nowadays. To identify or detect the onset of this disease everyone asked lots of questions to us. I will try my best to answers all of those questions in this episode. 

Breast Cancer | Best Breast Cancer Doctors in Bangalore
Breast Cancer | Best Breast Cancer Doctors in Bangalore

What is breast cancer?

It’s the cancerous tumor formed within your breast tissues or ducts.

What causes breast cancer?

Till now there is no clear idea about the causes of breast cancer. Medical science has only identified risk factors. Those include:

  • Hormonal changes
  • Lifestyles
  • Growing age
  • Having a baby after the age of 30.
  • Use of oral contraceptives for a longer time.
  • History of chest radiation therapy.
  • Long-term combined hormone therapy.
  • Excessive alcohol consumption.
  • Obesity
  • Hormonal changes after menopause.

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms of Breast Cancer | Best Breast Cancer Doctors in Bangalore
Symptoms of Breast Cancer | Best Breast Cancer Doctors in Bangalore

Formation of a new lump is the most common symptom. But it might happen that the lump does not form in the earlier stage because sometimes the cancerous cell remains tender or soft. So you have to be aware of the other symptoms too. 

Swelling of the entire or a part of the breast, excessive nipple discharge other than breast milk, redness or scaliness of nipples, breast pain, irritation of breast skin, and swelling of lymph nodes might be your sign of breast cancer.

When should I go for breast cancer screening?

You should not wait for screening until you face any of the above symptoms. Because sometimes the symptoms become visible only at the advanced stage. So it’s recommended that once you cross the age of 40, start annual screening. 

How to lower the risk of breast cancer?

Risk of Breast Cancer | Best Breast Cancer Doctors in Bangalore
Risk of Breast Cancer | Best Breast Cancer Doctors in Bangalore

Here you should keep one thing in mind; nothing can eliminate the risk of breast cancer. The preventions I am going to tell can only lower the risks. 

  • Try to avoid alcohol consumption as much as possible.
  • Do regular physical exercises.
  • Breastfeed at least up to 12 months’ age of your baby.
  • Try maintaining healthy body weight.
  • You can discuss hormone replacement therapy with your doctor. 

I feel a movable lump in my breast, is it breast cancer?

It’s not always true that movable lumps might not be cancerous. Whatever the type of your lump is, immediately visit your doctor and get the all prescribed screening done. 

What kinds of treatment options are available?

Presently two options are there.

  1. Surgery
  2. Radiation therapy

In surgery, depending on the specific situation several sub-options are available. The doctor might remove your entire breast or might remove a part of breast tissue or the tumors. But no need to worry, you can go with oncoplastic or breast reconstruction surgery to rebuild your breast shape. 

In radiation therapy, you have to bear a high-energy radiation wave that destroys your cancerous tumor. 

Apart from these two options, depending on your cancer type your doctor might provide you with Chemotherapy or hormonal therapy options. In the first one anti-cancer drug are delivered to your body for killing the cancerous cell. In the second hormone therapy, the drug used prevents the growth of cancer cells.

However, there is another latest therapy that is targeted therapy about which I have already discussed in detail in one of my earlier sessions. 

Treatment for Breast Cancer | Best Breast Cancer Doctors in Bangalore
Treatment for Breast Cancer | Best Breast Cancer Doctors in Bangalore

What are the possible side-effects of these treatments?

Whatever treatment you have to choose you can’t avoid sides-effects.

  • Surgery: Common side-effects include short-term pain and swelling, weakness and swelling of arms, or lymphedema.
  • Radiation therapy: Excessive skin irritation and breast pain. Some of the patients face this discomfort at the beginning of the treatment; however, in case of the good immunity power, these symptoms might be visible in the latter settings.
  • Chemotherapy: The most common side-effect of chemotherapy is vomiting, diarrhea, lowering of blood count, and even nerve damage.

Do breast cancer treatments affect my ability to conceive?

Unfortunately yes. Both chemotherapy and radiation therapy affect the functionality of your ovary. In the case of radiation therapy, the radiation kills some of the healthy tissues also that might make you temporary or permanently fertile.

Through this article, I have tried to cover the most frequently asked questions about breast cancer.

Also, check out other blogs related to breast cancer:

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Common myths and facts of Breast cancer

Breast Cancer Doctors in Bangalore | Dr. Murali Subramanian is one of the Best Cancer Specialist in Bangalore. Breast cancers have become a very common disease nowadays. People are getting conscious about this disease. However, there are lots of myths that create misconceptions among the general public and hamper their preventive effort toward this evil disease. Let’s know the fact against those myths.

Myth 1: Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, e.g. healthy diet, regular exercises, limited alcohol consumption, and regular exercise eliminate the risk of breast cancer.

Fact: These lifestyle behaviors lower the risk but can’t eliminate it. 

Presently no one is 100% safe from breast cancer. Yes, it’s always better to take precaution and lots of evidence is there that proves a healthy lifestyle lowers the risk of breast cancer to a greater extent. But again I am saying it can’t assure you that you will not have it. So, I would suggest, besides your healthy lifestyle also do a regular screening of breast cancer. This disease can be treated better as early as it gets disorganized. 

Myth 2: Use of underarm antiperspirants can cause breast cancer.

Fact: No evidence is found until now. But yes, studies are under process.

The fact it few studies have revealed absorption of aluminum and other chemical containing product through the lymph increase the concentration aluminum in breast tissues. Sometimes, not always, a higher concentration of aluminum in breast tissue might cause cancer. Harmful chemical free antiperspirant has a connection with breast cancer.

Myth 3: If my family history is free from breast cancer, I am safe.

Fact:  Most of the diagnosed patient has no such family history of breast cancer.

Only 5 to 10% of breast cancer patient owns a family history of the same disease. Rests don’t have any cancer patient in their family.

Myth 4: Wearing a tight bra causes breast cancer.

Fact: No evidence is there.

It’s true, extra tight bra hampers limit the flow of lymph flow out of your breast and encourage the toxic substance build-up. But no evidence is there that proves the direct link between wearing a bra and breast cancer.

Myth 5: Keeping mobile phones inside the bra causes breast cancer.

Fact: No evidence yet. But the safety measures of mobile phone rays are under study.

Researchers are going on to evidence if there is any link between the radiofrequency of mobile phones and cancer but still not proved. However, it better not to carry a mobile in bra.

Myth 6: Annual mammogram guarantees the early detection of breast cancer.

Fact: Although it’s not false completely. Yet, there have been cases in which mammograms failed to detect breast cancer at an early stage.

There is no doubt mammography has been the best tool for detecting breast cancer till death but still, there are 20% cases, in which mammograms missed out on the early-stage detection of this disease. 

Myth 7: Consumption of excessive sugar causes breast cancer.

Fact: No such evidence is there that proves sugar-rich food cause breast cancer.

Cancer cell consumes for sugar than normal cells but it doesn’t mean eating more sugar-rich food will cause cancer.

Myth 8: I don’t have any lump in my breast so I don’t have breast cancer.

Fact: The lump might not form in case of breast cancer, especially during the early stage.

In some cases we find, cancer gets already spread to lymph but there is no lump in the breast. 

Myth 9: If treated at an early stage there will be no chance of recurrence. 

Fact: There always remains the possibility of cancer to reappear. 

The chances of recurrence lie between 15 to 20%.

Myth 10: Breast cancer attack only to women of middle and older age. 

Fact: Breast cancer does have age preferences; even it can attack the men.

As you grow older the risk of breast cancer gets increases but you can have this disease at any age. Even men can also experience breast cancer.

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Smoking and Lungs Cancer

Lung Cancer Treatment in Bangalore | Dr. Murali Subramanian | Get Lung Cancer Treatment and diagnosis from our Cancer Specialist in Bangalore. This blog is to all smokers, past smokers who are living with the fear of lung cancer, and those who are very confident about not getting attacked by this disease even after smoking.

Cancer has already become evil to our civilization. Apart from several risk factors smoking is the topmost risk factor of lung cancer. Around 90% of lung cancer deaths cause due to smoking.

  • Risks in active smokers. Smoking cigarettes increase the risk of lung cancer by 15 to 30 times. Even you smoke 1 to 2 cigarettes a day; you take yourself closer to the risk of lung cancer by the risk 3 to five times. Trachea and bronchus are the two parts of the lungs that get mostly affected by smoking caused cancer.
  • Risk in second-hand smokers. Some people think that only active smoking causes lung cancer. But researches show the majority of non-smoker lung cancer patients have a history of staying around or living with regular or chain smokers.
  • In actual the traces of cancer-causing chemicals in tobacco smoke has a greater occurrence in a second-hand smoker than the active smoker. If you are living with a chain smoker then your risk of getting lung cancer increases by 20 to 30 percent.
  • The most alarming point is that there is no ‘safe’ level in case of such second-hand smoker.
Smoking and Lung Cancer | Lung Cancer Treatment in Bangalore
  • Risk in Smokers who already quit smoking. I have heard a lot of people saying, ‘I have smoked for long. So quitting now will not provide any effect on my lung cancer risk.’ Somehow it’s true. Long-term smoking causes permanent damage to different parts of our lungs making it more feasible to cancer attack but quitting smoking at any stage lower the risk of severity of this disease. It benefits you with better tolerance power to the cancer treatments. Even quitting smoking at age of 30 might lower your cancer risk by 90 percent while quitting at 50 lower the risk by 50 percent.
  • Pipe, cigar, bidis, or hookah.  I found a very common myth among people that smoking cigar, bidis, or hookahs are associated with a lower risk of lung cancer. This is completely wrong. These tobacco materials contain more tar than cigarettes, leading to a greater risk of lung cancer than cigarette smokers.
  • Antioxidant vitamins. If you think that you will continue smoking and consume antioxidant vitamins at the same time to inhibit lung cancer risk. Yes, you can reduce the risk but can’t undo it. Even there are lots of proofs that reveal the activities of antioxidant vitamins are lower in the case of a smoker than the nonsmokers.
  • E-cigarettes. This has already been banned in India. If you from another country and using as an option of quitting smoking then you should be aware of a few facts.
  • FDI found several cancer-causing substances in half of the sample they tested.
  • Most of the components are still unknown.
  • Since you are getting nicotine hit, hence it’s discouraging your smoking quitting effort.

Tips to lower the risk of lung cancer from smoking

Smokers | Lung Cancer Treatment in Bangalore

For Non-smokers

  • Don’t start smoking, even occasionally.
  • Avoid standing around the person, who is smoking.
  • Follow a healthy diet, rich in antioxidant vitamins, do an ample amount of physical exercise.
  • Try to generate awareness among smokers.

For Ex-smokers

  • Apart from following the recommendation for non-smokers, carry out an annual lung cancer screening test for at least 15 years after smoking cessation.

For smokers, the only suggestion as of now is, ‘Stop smoking immediately.’

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Risk Factor for Breast Cancer

Breast Cancer Specialist in Bangalore | Dr. Murali Subramanian

The rate of new breast cancer cases is in rapid hike nowadays. As per WHO’s analysis, this rate might increase to 50% by the end of 2020, with around 15 million new cases.

While things are going beyond our hands, still we can at least remain conscious about this disease to ensure a better handling plan for it.

In this article, let’s know about the various risk factors that boost up the possibility of breast cancer.

Risk Factors | Breast Cancer Specialist in Bangalore

The risk factor for breast cancer is mapped under two types:

  1. Controllable
  2. Uncontrollable

1. Controllable factors

  • Obesity. Besides breast cancer, obesity has become an additional threat to the entire world. Among all of its downsides, the increased risk of breast cancer is the most concerning one. Apart from general obesity, most of the women face post-menopausal weight gaining. Excessive fat tissues boost up the estrogen level, leading to a higher risk of breast cancer. Weight gain during adulthood and excessive fat around the waist also increase the risk.
  • Diet. Ongoing researches indicate consumption of foods with a higher level of fat increase the risk of breast cancer. Tans-fat rich foods, processed meat, smoked foods fall under this category.
Controllable Factors | Breast Cancer Specialist in Bangalore
  • Alcohol consumption. I have found many women saying that they consume a limited amount of alcohol. But the fact is, even a small amount of alcohol opens up the possibility of breast cancer. The percentage of risk rises as the alcohol consumption amount increases.  
  • Smoking: Although it has the lowest effect on breast cancer, still it smoking boosts the risk of breast cancer by 1 percent. 
  • Oral Contraceptive pill: Use of oral contraceptive pill also increases the risk of breast cancer to some extent. However, the risk persists only up to 10 years after you stop taking the pills. 

These were the risk factors that you can control by changing your lifestyles a bit.

2. Uncontrollable Factors

  • Age: Here, you have to accept a hard truth. As you are growing older, the more you are getting exposed to the risk of breast cancer. The possibility of breast cancer is 1 in 225 women between the ages of 30 to 39 but for age above 60, the number becomes 1 in 29.
  • Gender: While women are more exposed to breast cancer due to ever-changing breast cell growth and the activities of the female hormone, men can also suffer from this disease.
  • Race: Researches and surveys reveal that European women are more likely to get attacked by breast cancer than Asian and Native American women. 
  • Family and personal history of breast cancer. Sorry to say, but if your first degrees relative like mother, father, sister has a history of breast cancer then you are at a high risk of disease. The risk factor becomes stronger for you if your relative had breast cancer before the age of 50.
  • Radiation therapy. If you received any chest radiation therapy in your childhood and young adult stage of life, then you might get breast cancer at a later age. 
Uncontrollable factors | Breast Cancer Specialist in Bangalore
  • Exposure to estrogen. Estrogen exposure for a longer period, without any break, facilitates the risk of breast cancer. Due to this reason, if your menstrual cycle starts earlier than normal age, like at 12 or lasts for late ager, after 55, you might have greater degrees of breast cancer risk. 
  • Pregnancy and breastfeeding. Women having no history of full-term pregnancy or pregnancy after 30 are more prone to the breast cancer risk. Breastfeeding also plays a vital role in this regard. Women, who stopped breastfeeding before the 1.5 year or 2 years age of their baby bear the greater risk of breast cancer than the women, those could continue the breastfeeding up to this certain age.  
  • DES exposure. From the year 1940 to 1971, diethylstilbestrol (DES) was randomly used to prevent miscarriages. Women, who consumed these medicines, are now bear a very high risk of breast cancer. 
  • Combined post-menopausal hormone therapy (PHT). I found women are now becoming more interested in PHT to get rid of the irritating symptoms they face after menopause. As the biggest side-effect of this therapy, you become more exposed to breast cancer risk. Besides, you might be diagnosed with breast cancer at a more advanced stage due to this therapy.
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Managing fear of cancer recurrence

There is always a fear in cancer survivors that the cancer will come back. Though we cannot control whether the cancer will come back, we can control how much this fear will affect our life.  This is Dr. Murali Subramanian, Medical Oncologist in Bangalore, this blog is dedicated to the various ways cancer survivors and how to manage the fear of cancer recurrence.

Tips for coping with the fear of recurrence

We know that living with uncertainty is never easy. However, it is important to remind yourself that fear and anxiety is normal factors of survivorship. Worrying about cancer recurrence is normally most intense the first year after treatment. In most patients, this worry usually gets better over time.

I will today share with you a few ideas to help you or your loved one cope with the fear of recurrence:

  • Recognize your emotions. It is recommended that you never hide your emotions. Many cancer survivors I have seen try to hide or ignore negative feelings like fear and anxiety. When you ignore them, it only allows them to become stronger over a period of time and more overwhelming. We usually recommend our patients to talk about their fears with a trusted friend, family member, or counselor. When you talk out loud about your feelings, it may help you figure out the reasons behind your fears. You will be able to know why you are feeling this way- the fear of having to repeat cancer treatment, losing control over your life, or facing death. Another way our fighters have coped with fear is by writing down their feelings.
  • Don’t ignore your fears. It is normal to experience fears. So do not be hard on yourself for not being brave enough. By criticizing yourself for these emotions will only suppress your strength. Accept your feelings and focus your energy on managing them. Know that these emotions cannot always be managed and may increase temporarily. It may flare up before follow-up visits and if you hear other’s stories. Your fears may never come true.
  • Do not worry alone. We know that most people lead busy lives and may not always be there to hear your concerns. Hence we suggest our fighters join support groups. People in these groups are usually more understanding and less judgemental. Joining these groups also allow you to exchange practical information and helpful tips. The experience often creates a sense of belonging that helps survivors feel less alone.
  • Reduce stress. Every person deals with stress differently. Finding ways to manage the stress that suits your personality will help lower your overall level of anxiety. You could try different ways of reducing stress to find out what works best for you. This could include:
    • Quality time with family and friends
    • Focus on hobbies and other activities you enjoy
    • Meditation and other relaxing techniques
    • Exercising
    • Reading a book or watching a comedy movie
  • Be well informed. Some people tend to worry that every ache or pain is an indication of cancer recurrence. Remember that most cancers have a predictable pattern of recurrence, hence talking to your doctor can tell you clearly about the chances of cancer coming back. Being informed will help you get rid of unnecessary fear and anxiety. You must know about what symptoms to look out for.
  • Talk with your doctor about follow-up tests. Follow-up visits should not be avoided as they are intended to check for a recurrence of cancer. Your follow-up visit may include physical examinations or medical tests to keep track of your recovery. Having a regular schedule of follow-up visits can help you get a sense of control.
  • Make a healthy lifestyle choice. Healthy habits like eating nutritious meals, exercising regularly, and getting enough sleep help people feel better both physically and emotionally. Avoiding unhealthy habits, like smoking and excessive drinking, helps people feel like they have more control over their health. You might find yourself overwhelmed by fear or anxiety even after your best efforts to cope with it.
Cancer Recurrence | Top Medical Oncologist in Bangalore
Cancer Recurrence | Top Medical Oncologist in Bangalore

But if you are feeling the below feelings for a prolonged time, please talk to your doctor or visit Top Medical Oncologist in Bangalore:

  • Worry or anxiety that gets in the way of your relationships and daily activities or prevents you from going to your follow-up appointments
  • Feeling hopeless about the future
  • Having trouble sleeping or eating well
  • Not participating in activities you used to enjoy
  • Having trouble concentrating or making decisions
  • Feeling that you have nothing to look forward to
  • Being unusually forgetful

If you are concerned about anything on this list, talk with your doctor or write to me. This is Dr. Murali Subramanian, Medical Oncologist in Bangalore.