Colon cancer

 It's in the top 3 for the most common types of cancer developed, as well as cancer-related deaths. It is a malignancy that arises from the inner lining of the colon. Most, if not all, of these cancers develop from colonic polyps. Removal of these precancerous polyps can prevent colon cancer.. It is, in most cases, slow-growing cancer, and early-stage colon cancers that are found by routine screening prior to the development of symptoms have an improved prognosis, are easier to treat, and have a lower death rate than those that are detected after symptoms develop. Also, through routine screening, detecting and removing precancerous polyps can prevent their transformation into cancer later in life.

 Screening is recommended for colon cancer beginning at age 50 and continuing until age 75. Screening after age 75 should be determined through shared decision-making with your provider. There are also indications for screening prior to age 50, primarily due to family history with the disease, so make sure that your primary care provider has an updated, thorough family history to the best of your knowledge at each visit.

Knowing if you are at an average risk vs. higher risk for colon cancer helps develop an individualized screening strategy. Some questions that can determine your risk category are, but not limited to:
1. Have you ever had colon cancer or an abnormal polyp?
2. Have any family members had colon cancer or abnormal polyps?
3. Do you have family members with any genetic syndromes that can cause colon cancer?
4. Do you have inflammatory bowel disease?
5. Did you receive abdominal radiation for childhood cancer?

Do you know your options when it comes to preventive screenings? Many are aware of colonoscopy, but there are several options ranging from invasive to noninvasive techniques. Each method has its own risks/benefits, as well as the recommended screening frequency. For example, the gold standard colonoscopy is the most invasive screening test, but a normal result could prevent additional screenings for up to 10 years. There are several excellent options and it is a matter of personal preference that should be discussed with your provider after determining your risk category.
 Keep in mind that any abnormal result with a noninvasive screening method requires a colonoscopy for direct visualization and possible biopsy.
Your annual physical is an excellent time to discuss all of your recommended health screenings and to ensure all new family history is added to your medical record. If you have been experiencing any abnormal symptoms or would like to discuss your risk for colon cancer, please schedule an appointment with your provider for a full, personalized evaluation.
If you have any general questions regarding this disease process or would like more information about any potential alternative screening tests, please leave a comment below.

cancer des os

Différents types de cancer proviennent généralement des os.
La plupart des os commencent comme cartilage. Le corps dépose du calcium sur le cartilage pour former l'os. Chez l'adulte, le cartilage se trouve principalement à l'extrémité de certains os qui font partie d'une articulation. Le cancer des os est très rare chez l'adulte. Cela commence dans les cellules qui composent l'os.

Le cancer commence alors lorsque les cellules commencent à se développer de façon incontrôlée. L'os est composé de deux types de cellules: l'ostéoblaste; la cellule qui dépose de l'os nouveau et l'ostéoclaste; la cellule qui dissout les vieux os. Dans certains os, la moelle n'est que du tissu adipeux.

Dans d'autres os, c'est un mélange de cellules adipeuses et hématopoïétiques. Les cellules hématopoïétiques produisent des globules rouges, des globules blancs et des plaquettes sanguines. Nous avons également les plasmocytes et les fibroblastes trouvés dans la moelle osseuse, et n'importe laquelle de ces cellules osseuses peut se transformer en cancer. Les facteurs de risque comprennent: (NB: Un facteur de risque est tout ce qui affecte vos chances de contracter une maladie) - Les troubles génétiques - Maladie de Paget - Radiation - Greffe de moelle osseuse et, etc. La cause exacte de la plupart des cancers osseux n'est pas encore connue. Il a été constaté que les cancers osseux sont liés à plusieurs autres conditions (facteurs de risque). Aucun test spécial n'est disponible pour détecter précocement les cancers osseux. La seule meilleure façon est de consulter un professionnel de la santé si vous en remarquez des signes et des symptômes. Les signes et symptômes comprennent: - Douleur - Gonflement - Fractures - Engourdissement, picotements, faiblesse due à une pression sur les nerfs si son cancer dans les os de la colonne vertébrale. Les approches de traitement courantes comprennent: - Chirurgie - Radiothérapie - Chimiothérapie - Thérapie ciblée, etc. Le traitement du cancer des os peut éliminer ou détruire le cancer, mais il est difficile de ne pas s'inquiéter de son retour. Dans certains cas, il peut ne jamais disparaître complètement et pour d'autres, c'est le cas.
Construisons des os sains en mangeant beaucoup de légumes, en faisant des exercices réguliers, en consommant suffisamment de protéines, en mangeant des aliments riches en calcium, en évitant les régimes hypocaloriques, en maintenant un poids stable et en consommant des aliments riches en vitamine D, vitamine K, magnésium et zinc.

Bone Cancer

Different cancer types usually originate in the bones. 
Most bones start as cartilage. The body lays calcium down onto the cartilage to form bone. In adults, cartilage is mainly found at the end of some bones that are part of a joint. 

Bone cancer is very rare in adults. It starts in the cells that make up the bone. Cancer then begins when the cells start growing out of control. The bone is made up of two kinds of cells: The osteoblast; the cell that lays down new bone, and the osteoclast; the cell that dissolves old bone. 

In some bones, the marrow is only fatty tissue. In other bones, it is a mixture of fat and blood-forming cells. The blood-forming cells make red blood cells, white blood cells and blood platelets. We also have the plasma cells and fibroblasts found in the bone marrow, and any of these bone cells can develop into cancer.

Risk factors include: (NB: A risk factor is anything that affects your chance of getting a disease)

- Genetic disorders

- Paget disease

- Radiation

- Bone marrow transplantation and, etc.

The exact cause of most bone cancers is still not known. It has been found that bone cancers are linked to several other conditions ( risk factors). 
No special tests are available to find bone cancers early. The only best way is to see a health care provider if you notice signs and symptoms of it.

Signs and symptoms include:

- Pain

- Swelling

- Fractures

- Numbness, tingling, weakness due to pressure on the nerves if its cancer in the bones of the spine.


Common treatment approaches include:

- Surgery

- Radiation therapy

- Chemotherapy

- Targeted therapy, etc.

Bone cancer treatment may remove or destroy cancer, but it is hard not to worry about it coming back. In some cases, it might never go away completely and for others it does.

Let us build healthy bones by eating lots of vegetables, doing regular exercises, consuming enough proteins, eating high-calcium foods, avoiding low-calorie diets, maintaining a stable weight, and consuming foods high in vitamin D, vitamin K, magnesium, and zinc.

World cancer day.

The world cancer day is an initiative of the Union for International Cancer Control(UICC). The world cancer day was written into the charter of Paris against cancer. The document was signed in the French capital by the country's president at the time ( February 4th, 2000 ), Jacques Chirac and the then Unesco general director, Koichiro Matsuura.

Twenty years after and at the start of a new decade, the 20th anniversary of the world cancer day offers an opportunity for the international cancer community to reflect and take stock of the achievements that have been made over recent years.

Data, science, knowledge, policy, and understanding of cancer have come a long way since the turn of the millennium. Today in 2020, we know more about cancer than we have ever before. This increased level of awareness, knowledge, and understanding is being translated into greater prevention of the disease, earlier diagnosis, more effective treatment.

Today, more than half of cancer deaths are happening in the least developed parts of the world. Even if you live in a higher income country, inequities still exist among lower-income, indigenous, and rural communities. Equal access to cancer prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and care will save lives. By raising the public understanding of cancer, we constantly reduce fear, increase understandings and forge positive attitudes.

 Over the past twenty years, the scientific community has built a growing body of evidence on cancer risk factors. In 2015 the International agency for research on cancer (IARC) established convincing evidence of the link between the consumption of red meat and cancer and much more. A research study on "Unleashing the immune system to attack cancer cells" by the immunotherapy researchers James P. Allison and Dr. Tasuku Honjo promises "life-changing possibilities" for those diagnosed at an advanced stage where the chances of survival are typically lower. 

There is always hope. Let our concern keep driving us into action. We should continue learning, small steps every day. The primary purpose of celebrating this day is to reduce the number of cancer patients and death rates by 2020.

Cervical Cancer

Cervical cancer is the third most common type of cancer affecting women worldwide. It can be successfully treated if detected in the early stages and women must be aware of its signs and symptoms including what is normal for their bodies. If detected early, cervical cancer is one of the most successfully treatable cancers. Cervical cancer tends to appear during midlife. Over half of the women diagnosed are between the ages of 35 and 55. It rarely occurs in women under 20 and only 20% of the infected women are over 65 years of age.

Cervical cancer is a disease in which cells in the cervix become malignant (cancerous). The two main types of cells covering the cervix are squamous cells (on the exocervix) and glandular cells (on the endocervix). The place where these two cell types meet is called the transformation zone. Cervical cancer is slow-growing and does not have immediate symptoms but with regular Pap smear tests (a procedure in which cells are scraped from the cervix and looked at under a microscope) it can be found. Cervical cancer is almost always caused by the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection. Cervical cancer starts as a pre-cancerous condition called dysplasia. This pre-cancerous condition can be detected by a Pap smear and is 100% treatable. That is why it is so important for women to get regular Pap smears done. Most women who are diagnosed with cervical cancer today have not had regular Pap smears or they have not followed up on abnormal Pap smear results. Undetected pre-cancerous changes can develop into cervical cancer. From there it can spread to the bladder, intestines, lungs, and liver. Patients usually start experiencing problems when the cancer is already advanced and has spread.

Risk factors for cervical cancer include:

- HPV infection: Cervical cancer is mainly caused by the Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), a common virus spread through skin to skin contact, body fluids, and sexual intercourse, which increases risk.

-Women living with HIV are at increased risk of developing cervical cancer and experience a much more rapid progression of the disease.

- Having sex at an early age.

-Having many sexual partners.

-Smoking tobacco products increases one’s risk.

- Using oral contraceptives. 

- Having a weakened immune system. 

- Poor economic status (may not be able to afford regular Pap smears or have limited access to 

screening services).

- Sexual partners who have multiple partners or who participate in high-risk sexual activity. 

-Parity: HPV is less common among women with decreased parity .

- Ineffective management and treatment of sexually transmitted infections (STI’s).

Furthermore, being overweight, inactive, consuming alcohol, poor dietary habits, smoking and exposure to chemicals increases risk. 

The above risks can be lowered by:

• Having regular pap smears that can detect abnormal cells in the cervix (lower part or mouth of the womb), that could develop into cervical cancer. Screening involves taking a swab of the cervical cells. It is uncomfortable but painless.

Who should have a pap smear?

-All women sexually active should start having Pap smears.

-Every eligible woman should preferably have a Pap smear at least every 3 years.

• Reduce risks by educating the community about the importance of vaccination of all girls against HPV.

-The primary underlying cause of cervical cancer is the Human Papilloma Virus which is transmitted through skin to skin contact and is a very common virus infecting most people at some point in their lives. So getting the HPV vaccine before becoming sexually active is an important thing to do. The human papilloma virus vaccination should be offered to all girls and boys aged 11 to 12 years, and can also be given as early as age 9 and through 26 years of age.

 HIV positive people are at higher risk of HPV infection and persistence. Research shows that they are infected with a broader range of HPV strains. Research has also found that those who are treated with Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART), have a longer lifespan and are at a significantly higher risk to develop cancer of the cervix.

High -risk HPV is estimated to cause 70% of cervical cancers, 50% of vaginal & vulvar cancers and 20% of head and neck cancers. Medical male circumcision helps to reduce Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) acquisition and transmission, and is protective for Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) in males, thus reducing the risk of initial or re-infection of HPV among women.

Early signs and symptoms of cervical cancer In women include:

•  Abnormal vaginal bleeding between periods, after intercourse, or after menopause.
• Any bleeding after menopause. 
• Continuous vaginal discharge, which may be pale, watery, pink, brown, bloody or foul-smelling.
•  Periods becoming heavier and lasting longer than usual (Signs and symptoms of progressed cervical cancer).
•  Some of the common symptoms observed during the later stages of cervical cancer are Vaginal bleeding after sexual intercourse.
• Pelvic pain: Pain during sexual intercourse.
•  Offensive vaginal discharge may occur (pink, pale, brown, blood-streaked, and foul-smelling).
•  Abnormal bleeding between menstrual periods.
• Heavy bleeding during the menstrual period.
• Increased urinary frequency.
•  Bleeding after menopause.
• Painful urination.
• Pelvic pain that is not related to the normal menstrual cycle.
• Low back pain.
• Leg pain.
•  Single swollen leg.
•  Bone fractures.
•  Weight loss.
•  Urethritis or urinary infection can be a sign of cervical cancer.

Treatment of cervical cancer depends on:

- The stage of the cancer.

- The size and shape of the tumor.

- The woman’s age and general health and,etc.

- Hysterectomy (removal of the uterus).

-Internal Radiation Therapy.

Radiation Therapy may be used to treat cancer that has spread beyond the pelvis, or cancer that has returned.

 Follow-up checks will continue for some years after treatment. At first, follow-up checks may be conducted every few months, becoming gradually less and less frequent. Follow-up checks may include:

• Having a physical examination by the medical practitioner. 
• Pap smear.
• Colposcopy.
• Blood tests for tumor markers