Could cancer win the war?

In the United States, medical advances and education campaigns have helped slash the death rate from cancer by nearly 16 per cent in 20 years, American Cancer Society epidemiologist Susan Gapstur told reporters at the launch of a cancer-themed edition of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

But cancer still struck 1.5 million people and killed 560,000 in the United States in 2009 and experts predict it will this year edge out heart disease to become the most deadly disease worldwide.

One reason is because cancer usually strikes people later in life, from age 55 upwards, so as people live longer and the population ages, the risk of being diagnosed with cancer has risen: nearly half of men and a third of women will be diagnosed during their lifetime with cancer, Gapstur said.

Another reason is the poor lifestyle choices people make. With more and more people around the world taking up smoking, Gapstur predicted a 'worldwide cancer epidemic' that will help cancer to 'overtake ischemic heart disease as the number one cause of mortality in the world this year.'

Quitting smoking helps to reduce the risk of getting or dying of lung cancer, but only a fraction of patients kick the tobacco habit, even after they have been diagnosed with cancer, said Robert Timmerman, who led a study, published in JAMA , on radiation therapy for patients with inoperable lung cancer.

"You would think that one of the biggest motivators to quit smoking would be a life-threatening illness like cancer, but I'm told that fewer than 50 per cent of patients quit smoking, even with a cancer diagnosis," Timmerman said.

"At least 20 per cent of cancer patients who continue to smoke will get another tumor in their lifetime. It's like dodging one bullet and getting hit by another," Timmerman, a professor of radiation oncology and neurosurgery at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, said.

"Our therapy may cure one tumor but that's just a small but meaningful battle, not winning the war on cancer." The lung cancer rate in the United States has fallen sharply since 1990, the year cancer hit a peak here.

Nearly 40 per cent of the decrease in the overall cancer death rate in US men between 1990 and 2006 was due to fewer men dying of lung cancer, which many experts believe is due to a fall in the number of Americans who smoke, said Gapstur.

But Americans have another lifestyle issue to worry about in the war on cancer: obesity and being overweight.
"Current estimates say around two-thirds of US adults are overweight or obese, and obesity and (being) overweight are now known to cause many types of cancer," said Gapstur.

"Avoiding overweight and obesity is going to be critical for keeping our progress going forward in this battle against cancer," she said.

Every year, more than 100,000 incidents of cancer in the United States are caused by being overweight or obese, a study by the American Cancer Society has shown.

Catherine DeAngelis, editor-in-chief of JAMA and a practicing physician, worried that one medical advance could unwittingly help cancer to win the war being waged against it.

"I worry that people are mistaking human papillomavirus vaccine for the cure for cancer," DeAngelis said.

"I'm worried that women will get vaccinated and will stop having pap smears," which have been one of the most successful early detection tools for uterine cancer, she said.

Meanwhile, an article published in the Archives of Internal Medicine said the US media focused too much on battles won in the war against cancer and not enough on failures.

Half the men and women who are diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime will die of the disease or related complications, it said.

And yet, only 7.6 per cent of more than 400 cancer stories published between 2005 and 2007 in the United States were about people who were dying or had died of cancer. Four times more stories were upbeat accounts of cancer survivors.

Here's why you should eat fish

Fish is a wonderful source of essential vitamins and minerals. Numerous studies have shown that it has multiple health benefits. It is high in protein and low in fat.

It is particularly rich in omega-3 fatty acids, or the 'good' fats, which the human body does not produce. It's no wonder that fish is seen by many as an essential part of one's daily balanced diet.

Here are some more reasons why doctors give a thumbs up to fish: Reduces the tendency of blood clotting. Repairs arteries damaged due to lack of oxygen owing to fatty deposits. Lowers blood pressure. Boosts body immunity. Lowers risk of oral and digestive track cancer. Helps reduce chances of breast cancer. Helps pre- and post-natal neurological development. Reduces tissue inflammation. Alleviates symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. Regularises heartbeat. Reduces depression and halts mental decline in elderly people. Keeps the skin, nervous system and red blood cells healthy.

Fish types and benefits

Different types of fish have different health benefits. Fish can be classified into different groups, with each providing a slightly different nutritional value than the other.

Here are some advantages of having each:

White fish

Includes fish such as haddock, plaice, pollack, coley, whiting, sole and monkfish. It is protein rich. Has fewer toxins. Contains some omega-3 fatty acids, but at much lower levels than oily fish. Promotes healthy cells and helps eliminate toxins.

Shellfish

Includes prawns, mussels, shrimp, scallops, cuttlefish, squid, crab and langoustine. Provides selenium, zinc, iodine and copper.

Oily fish

Includes fish such as salmon, mackerel, tuna, herring, sardines and trout. It is rich in omega-3 fatty acids.

Delhi hosts walkathon for public awareness on cancer

To raise public awareness about cancer, a large number of people of Delhi took to the streets on Sunday morning for a walkathon.

Organised by 'Can Support', a non-governmental organization working for cancer patients, the 'Walk For Life' event witnessed participators belonging to different walks of life coming out for a social cause.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's wife Gursharan Kaur and Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, flagged off the four-kilometre walk that started from Vinay Marg in Delhi.

U.S. Ambassador David Mulford, who came along with his wife Jeannie, a breast cancer survivor herself, joined the activists along with eminent celebrities like veteran Bollywood actress and Censor Board head, Sharmila Tagore, actor Rahul Bose and fashion designer Ritu Kumar.

The walkathon was organised with an aim to raise funds for free supportive care services for cancer patients in India.

The event also saw many cancer survivors walk shoulder-to-shoulder to send out the message that there is life after cancer.

The 'Walk For Life is an annual affair and every year lots of enthusiasts take part in it.

"In India, cancer is on the rise and most underprivileged people when they come to the hospital are already in the advanced stage. So, this particular group CanSupport, brings medicines to their houses, make sure there is a home-care team, with collaborative effort nurses, doctors, counsellors and they try. They try and make the last few days of the patient happy and pain-free as possible," said Tagore.

A strong supporter of the cause, actor Rahul Bose, reiterated the importance of living and dying with dignity.

"I believe that the biggest thing that CanSupport understands is to allow people to live with dignity and allow people to die with dignity. I think the sense of dignity is something that CanSupport understands," Bose said.

There are approximately 2.5 million people living with cancer in India and around one million new cases are reported every year.

Lung cancer is very common amongst men in cities like Bhopal, Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad and Kolkata, while stomach cancer is prevalent in Bangalore and Chennai.

Prostrate cancer is also one of the leading cause of death amongst Indian men, and in women, common types are cancer

AIDS DAY

How is AIDS treated?

Antiretroviral treatment can prolong the time between HIV infection and the onset of AIDS. Modern combination therapy is highly effective and someone with HIV who is taking treatment could live for the rest of their life without developing AIDS.

An AIDS diagnosis does not necessarily equate to a death sentence. Many people can still benefit from starting antiretroviral therapy even once they have developed an AIDS-defining illness. Better treatment and prevention for opportunistic infections have also helped to improve the quality and length of life for those diagnosed with AIDS.

Treating some opportunistic infections is easier than others. Infections such as herpes zoster and candidiasis of the mouth, throat or vagina, can be managed effectively in most environments. On the other hand, more complex infections such as toxoplasmosis, need advanced medical equipment and infrastructure, which are lacking in many resource-poor areas.

It is also important that treatment is provided for AIDS related pain, which is experienced by almost all people in the very advanced stages of HIV infection.

Why do people still develop AIDS today?

Even though antiretroviral treatment can prevent the onset of AIDS in a person living with HIV, many people are still diagnosed with AIDS today. There are four main reasons for this:

• In many resource-poor countries antiretroviral treatment is not widely available.
  Even in wealthier countries, such as america, many individuals are not covered by health insurance and cannot afford treatment.
• Some people who became infected with HIV in the early years of the epidemic before combination therapy was available, have subsequently developed drug resistance and therefore have limited treatment options.
• Many people are never tested for HIV and only become aware they are infected with the virus once they have developed an AIDS-related illness. These people are at a higher risk of mortality, as they tend to respond less well to treatment at this stage.
• Sometimes people taking treatment are unable to adhere to, or tolerate the side effect of drugs.

Caring for a person with AIDS

In the later stages of AIDS, a person will need palliative care and emotional support. In many parts of the world, friends, family and AIDS organisations provide home based care. This is particularly the case in countries with high HIV prevalence and overstretched healthcare systems.

end of life care becomes necessary when a person has reached the very final stages of AIDS. At this stage, preparing for death and open discussion about whether a person is going to die often helps in addressing concerns and ensuring final wishes are followed.