EA Sports puts 15-year-old cancer survivor in FIFA 17.

It hasn’t been an easy 14 months for teenager Kenton Doust.

According to reports from whitecaps.com's Farhan Devji, On October 10, 2015, a then 13-year-old Doust wasn’t feeling well after days of throwing up. Eventually, he fainted and was rushed to the hospital in the Comox Valley. Before the night was over he was airlifted to B.C. Children’s Hospital in Vancouver after a CT scan revealed that he had three brain tumors.

He had brain surgery four days later and after four difficult months of chemo, including 25 sessions of radiation, Doust learned that he was cancer free on May 19th, 2016.

Modern medicine played a huge role in Doust beating the devastating disease, but the Vancouver Whitecaps also played a huge role.
source:www.facebook.com

'Jeopardy!' contestant Cindy Stowell dies of cancer week before episode airs ..

A “Jeopardy!” episode airing next week has taken an emotional turn after one of its contestants, Cindy Stowell, died of cancer at the age of 41 on Monday.

Stowell, a science-content developer from Austin, Texas, taped the quiz show back in August, and the episode is set to premiere on Dec. 13, a “Jeopardy!” spokesperson confirmed. This marks the first posthumous airing of a contestant’s appearance.
(source:fox news)

Top 10 Cancer Myths: True or False?

Throughout the years there have been many cancer myths floating around, and they seem to surface again and again. What is the truth? Let's separate fact from fiction and bust a few myths.

1.Cell Phones Cause Cancer
There is both data supporting this statement as well as against it.

The International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies radio frequency electromagnetic fields, like those used for cell phones, as possibly cancer-causing. In addition, a notable 2009 review of studies concluded that there is possible evidence linking mobile phone use with an increased risk for brain tumors; researchers, however, noted that studies indicating a higher level of evidence are needed.

Though animal research findings cannot be reliably applied to humans, findings of a prominent 2016 study conducted by the National Toxicology Program (a division of the National Institutes of Health, or NIH) found a link between cell phone radiation and low incidences of particular tumors in rats; findings were in line with previous epidemiological studies of humans.

In releasing these findings, the NIH reminded us, however, that previous human data culled from large-base studies show limited evidence to support this connection. Swedish researchers reviewing separate data on the matter concluded that this risk may be lower than expected or non-existent as well.
Unproven, though the potential risk may prompt you to rethink your habits.

2.Hair Dye Causes Brain Cancer
There has been a lot of speculation about hair dye and cancer. It has been thought that hair dye caused several different types of cancers like bladder and breast cancer, but there is no evidence of it causing brain tumors. According to a review of studies published in the Journal of the American Medical Association on May 25, 2005, hair dye does not increase the risk of developing cancer. The National Cancer Institute reports that there may be concern for hairdressers who have frequent exposure, but not for personal use.
Unproven

3.If Your Mom Has Cancer, You'll Get it Too
While it is true that some cancers are genetic, this does not mean that one will definitely develop cancer because of their heredity. Cancers such as breast cancer, ovarian cancer and colorectal cancer are a few of the cancers that can be passed down genetically. If a parent has these cancers, the cancer gene may be passed to their child. If a child inherits the gene, it only raises the likelihood of developing cancer, not guaranteeing a cancer sentence.
Risk of some types of cancer may be increased due to genetics, but not others.

4.Cancer Causes Hair Loss
Cancer does not cause hair loss. Hair loss is a side effect of cancer treatments, like chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Not everyone who has chemotherapy or radiation loses their hair, either. Don't rush out to buy a wig after diagnosis.
Untrue

5.Only Women Get Breast Cancer
This is by far the biggest cancer myth of all. Men get breast cancer also! An estimated 2300 men will be diagnosed and about 500 will die from the disease this year. Male breast cancer is uncommon, yet still happens.
Untrue

6.There Is a Cure for Cancer, but Pharmaceutical Companies Are Hiding It
This is one cancer myths that drives every medical professional crazy! If this is true, then why do loved ones of drug company researchers still die of cancer at the same rate as the general population? What some people don't realize is that many forms of cancer are curable, and drug companies are making money off of providing those cures.
Extremely unlikely

7.Cancer Is Almost Always Fatal
Yes, cancer can cause death. But new breakthroughs in early detection of cancer have made it much more treatable. It is estimated that 66% of cancer patients reach or exceed the five-year survivor mark, and that rate has improved from 40 percent in the 1990s.
Untrue

8.Wearing Antiperspirants and Deodorant Can Cause Cancer.
According to the National Cancer Society, there is no conclusive evidence from recent studies that wearing them can cause breast cancer. This cancer myth is by far one of the most popular among women.
Unproven

9.Some Types of Cancer Can Be Contagious
No type of cancer is contagious. However, there are two known contagious viruses, HPV and Hepatitis C, that can cause cancer. HPV is a known risk factor for cervical cancer and Hep C causes liver cancer. Both viruses can be transmitted through unprotected sexual intercourse, although Hep C is more often transmitted through blood to blood contact such as sharing needles. Blood transfusions are now tested for Hep C so they don't transmit it.
Some viruses raise the risk of cancer, but cancer is not contagious.

10.Positive Thinking Will Cure Cancer
While maintaining a positive outlook during cancer treatment is essential, it will not cure cancer. Being optimistic helps with quality of life during treatment. There is no scientific evidence that a positive attitude will cure cancer. However, the National Cancer Institute encourages maintaining positive social relationships and dealing with stress during cancer treatment.
source:www.verywell.com

Underground miners face high risk of lung cancer death from diesel exhaust exposure: study

Diesel exhaust could be causing fatal lung cancer in underground miners at a rate up to 38 times the accepted occupational risk, according to a new study.
Last month, the Cancer Council released new estimates that 130 Australian workers would contract lung cancer caused by diesel fumes each year.

Source: http://ow.ly/VXYW306j1q0

40,000 rubber ducks flood Brisbane River to raise funds for cancer research

The Brisbane River was transformed into a sea of yellow on Saturday afternoon for Australia's largest duck race, raising funds for Princess Alexandra Hospital cancer research.

The race was all about adding some colour to the fight against cancer and was part of the Summertime Riverfest, which has been consistently growing during its 10-year history.

Hollywood actor Ben Stiller reveals he had prostate cancer but is now cancer-free .

The star of Zoolander was diagnosed with a tumour in 2014.
He says he now wants to share his story to lend his support for a controversial test which saved his life.

The actor says the test is criticised because it can lead to unnecessary "over-treatment" but says men should at least be given the option so they stand a chance of early detection.

The NFL’s Pink Publicity Stunt Isn’t About Fighting Cancer .

As it does every October, the NFL is set to “go pink” this Sunday to show support for the American Cancer Society’s efforts to find a cure for breast cancer. But make no mistake: The NFL will not contribute one dime to breast-cancer research in this campaign.

Instead, the NFL “billionaires’ club”—the team owners—will require all of their players and coaches to be political showpieces.

The NFL says it has raised “nearly $15 million” for awareness and screening programs since 2009, much of it from the sale of “pink” merchandise. That’s about $2 million a year from an organization with some $12 billion in annual revenue. But strip away the orchestrated messaging of altruism—and the relatively small amount of money it raises for awareness and screening efforts—and the go-pink campaign is part of a calculated effort to attract more women to become football fans while offering a rose to those concerned about domestic violence.

World Heart Day, 29 September.

Cancer overtakes heart disease as Australia's biggest killer .

Cancer has become Australia's biggest killer, overtaking heart disease for the first time to take more lives than any other ailment, a government health agency said in a report released on Tuesday.

Lung cancer is Australia's most common fatal cancer.

Indigenous infant mortality rates, a key indicator of the general health of a population, fell 9 percent compared with figures in the previous report.

But at 6 deaths per 1,000 live births, they remain much higher than the non-indigenous infant mortality rate of 3.4 deaths per 1,000 live births.


Growth in health expenditure ran at 3.1 percent in 2012-13, well below the decade's average of 5 percent.

source: fox news (internet)

Max Ritvo, poet who chronicled cancer battle, dies at 25

Max Ritvo, a poet who chronicled his long battle with cancer in works that were both humorous and searing, has died. He was 25.

Over 6 Lakh People Die Due To Cancer In India: Government

With over six lakh people succumbing to cancer and more than ten lakh new cases are reported in the country, the government today said air pollution and unhealthy lifestyles are among the major risk factors for the disease.
"As reported by World Health Organisation (WHO), more than 1 million new cases are reported in India while about 6.8 lakh people die due to cancer in India," Minister of State for Health Anupriya Patel said in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha.
She said the Ministry of Petroleum has also initiated a scheme to provide free LPG connection to women belonging to BPL households under 'Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojna' to reduce air pollution.

Jake Bailey delivers inspirational speech at Australian cancer charity dinner .

Christchurch teenager Jake Bailey has delivered another inspirational speech about his battle against cancer.

The former head boy of Christchurch Boys' High School hit headlines around the world in 2015 after delivering a rousing speech at his school's end-of-year prizegiving.

Bailey was not expected to make the ceremony after being diagnosed with Burkitt's non-Hodgkin's lymphoma only a week earlier.

He left the cancer ward in a wheelchair to talk to his peers about making the most of each day.

During Bailey's now-famous speech he told fellow students and the school community: "None of us get out of life alive, so be gallant, be great, be gracious, and be grateful for the opportunities you have. We don't know where we might end up, or when we might end up."

Now Bailey has delivered another powerful speech, filled with wisdom beyond his years, at a cancer charity dinner in Australia.

During the Tour de Cure Australia Snow Ball in Sydney, Bailey talked about his battle with cancer and how he learned to appreciate every day.

"I wake up and I realise that I'm not in another hospital bed and I'm not in a box in the ground and I smile.

"Every day starts with me not being dead, and what a fantastic way to start each day."

Earlier this year, Bailey put plans to attend university on hold, his illness forcing him to "re-evaluate your priorities in life".

"[I'm] looking at opportunities to share my story if it could help other people, particularly young people who are experiencing tough times.

"There have been offers for me to speak to people. No other offers. No movie offers yet."

In his latest speech, Bailey talked about time in an isolation unit and his days spent in hospital.

"The first night there I lay in a slumber, in a strange place, surrounded by complete strangers.

"I did not pray to live. Instead I asked if this was going to be the thing that killed me, that I faced it with strength.

"If it was going to kill me, it would do it on my terms, and I would not die a coward. Not wanting to let fear dictate my death anymore than it had dictated my life.

"But no, no way, there was not a chance in hell that I was going to die of this."

During his treatment Bailey learned some important life lessons, like what it means to embrace each day.

"I was dying to get home from school, I was dying for the weekends, I was dying for the school holidays, and then before I knew it I was dying in Christchurch hospital," he said.

"The most important thing that this has taught me is to take each day at a time."

Bailey has been in remission for four months now and his battle with cancer has put life into perspective.

"There's no excuse to not appreciate life fully.

"You owe it to the people who are unable to."

source:http://www.stuff.co.nz

Leander Paes, Indian cricketers to raise funds for cancer victim, deceased's family .

India's sporting heroes Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Sourav Ganguly and Leander Paes have come forward to support cancer patient Bapi Majhi and the family of deceased Alip Chakraborty.

Majhi is a die-hard Mohun Bagan supporter whereas Chakraborty was an East Bengal supporter. A fundraising charity auction for the cause will be held on Saturday.

30% of Bengaluru youth under risk of oral cancer .

According to a survey conducted by Indus Health in Bengaluru , 25%-30% of youngsters in Bengaluru are under the risk of oral cancer. Around 13,800 people in the age group of 25-35 years were surveyed between January 2015 and April 2016 to understand the ill effects of tobacco among the youngsters at productive age. The study also revealed that 10%-12% of them are prone to the risk of heart diseases.

Breast Cancer Awareness Commemorative Coins for 2018 .

In 2018, the United States Mint will produce and sell commemorative coins in recognition of the fight against breast cancer.

Congress passed bipartisan legislation for the coins, which includes one in pink gold, and President Obama signed it into law on Friday, April 29.

Titled the Breast Cancer Awareness Commemorative Coin Act, H.R. 2722, the bill authorizes commemoratives in collector qualities of proof and uncirculated and in quantities of up to 50,000 $5 pink gold coins, 400,000 silver dollars and 750,000 clad half-dollars.

Coin designs will be emblematic of the fight against breast cancer, and they will be selected through a public competition process.

Of particular interest to coin collectors and cancer activist groups, the bill includes language for $5 gold coins in "pink gold" with at least a 75% gold composition. That’s a significant change from the specifications of standard U.S. commemorative gold coins, because they are produced in 90% gold and 10% alloy.

18-karat pink gold is most often seen in specialized jewelry. The typical color is the result of a mixture of 75% gold, 20% copper and 5% silver. Different copper levels change color intensities. For example, a stronger red color, or 18K rose gold, is achieved by increasing the copper content to 22.25% and reducing the silver content to 2.75%. Just this month and as shown in the short video below, the Royal Canadian Mint introduced its 2016 $3 Queen Elizabeth Rose silver dollar with rose gold plating.

The RCM also issued Farewell to the Penny Silver Commemorative Coins with pink gold plating in 2012 and 25-cent Breast Cancer circulation coins in 2006 with a pink ribbon treatment.

For the United States Mint, coins in pink gold will mark their first.

As an added attraction, H.R. 2722 states that the 2018 Breast Cancer silver dollars shall "contain not less than 90 percent silver." This language is significant because it gives the U.S. Mint leeway to strike them in higher fineness such as .999 silver. For past commemorative silver dollars, the U.S. Mint was specifically instructed to use an exact mix of 90% silver and 10% copper.
source:http://www.coinnews.net/2016/04/29/breast-cancer-awareness-commemorative-coins-for-2018/

Emraan Hashmi will donate money to cancer patients .

Emraan Hashmi, who recently launched his first book, 'The Kiss of Life - How A Superhero & My Son Defeated Cancer', is on to a noble deed. According to reports in HT, the actor will donate the royalty he receives from the sales of his book for the treatment of cancer patients who cannot afford the treatment. While the chalking out of the plan remains to be done, he has decided of giving the funds to either an NGO or a hospital for cancer patients.

The book, which is semi-autobiographical (co-authored by Bilal Siddiqi), speaks of the hardships he had to face along with his family when his six-year-old son Ayaan was diagnosed with cancer in the year 2014. The book fictionalises the ailment by incorporating Ayaan's favourite superheroes, who help him fight back the disease.
But this is not a first time for Emraan. A few months back, he had taken care of two young cancer patients' treatment.

10 Health Tips: માત્ર આ 10 નિયમો માનશો તો, ક્યારેય નહીં પડો બીમાર .

1.

 2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

Source: http://www.divyabhaskar.co.in/

Bradley Cooper gets emotional about losing his dad to cancer .

The 41-year-old actor, whose father died from cancer in 2011, gave an emotional speech about his loss at a star studded gala celebrating the launch of tech guru Sean Parker’s new cancer research foundation, reported People magazine.

“I just want to tell you about my father Charles J Cooper, he passed away from lung cancer in 2011. I was in a very lucky position because I was able to put everything on hold in all aspects of my life and completely focus on taking care of him,” he said.
The star described the process of treating his father’s cancer as “just simply overwhelming, incredibly stressful, complex and all consuming.”
“I can’t even imagine how much more difficult it is for those patients and the families that are less fortunate than I was that simply can’t afford to pay for both treatment and rent,” he added.
Cooper promised that he and Parker will soon come up with a new initiative to help lessen the burden on both patients and their families so that they can focus on treatment.
The “American Sniper” actor was joined by celebs like John Legend, Orlando Bloom, Katy Perry and Sean Penn for the Parker Foundation’s launch.

source:http://indianexpress.com/article/entertainment/hollywood/bradley-cooper-gets-emotional-about-losing-his-dad-to-cancer-2756377/

'Good' gut bacteria can help prevent cancer .

• The mice that received good bacteria lived four times longer and had less DNA damage and inflammation. Also, the mice microbiota produced metabolites that are known to prevent cancer.

Anti-inflammatory properties of gut bacteria can slow or stop the development of some types of cancer, finds a new study conducted on mice.

In mice with more of the beneficial bacteria, the blood cell tumours took significantly longer to form.

The mice that received good bacteria lived four times longer and had less DNA damage and inflammation. Also, the mice microbiota produced metabolites that are known to prevent cancer.

Further, the mice showed increased efficient fat and oxidative metabolism which, the researchers believe, might also lower the risk for cancer.

The study, published online in the journal PLOS ONE, explains how intestinal microbiota might delay the onset of cancer, suggesting that probiotic supplements could help keep cancer from forming.

"Ultimately, doctors might be able to reduce a person's risk for cancer by analysing the levels and types of intestinal bacteria in the body and then prescribing probiotics to replace or bolster the amount of bacteria with anti-inflammatory properties," said Robert Schiestl, professor at the University of California.

Researchers analysed a bacterium called Lactobacillus johnsonii 456 -- the most abundant of the beneficial bacteria.

The study lends credence to the notion that manipulating microbial composition could be used as an effective strategy to prevent or alleviate cancer susceptibility.

"In the future, it is our hope that the use of probiotics-containing (supplements) would be a potential chemopreventive for normal humans, while the same type of microbiota would decrease tumour incidence in cancer susceptible populations," the researchers suggested.

source:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/health-news/Good-gut-bacteria-can-help-prevent-cancer/articleshow/51826330.cms

Tech billionaire Sean Parker announces $250 million in cancer immunotherapy funding .

Facebook co-founder Sean Parker is donating $250 million to cancer immunotherapy research at several hospitals. Dr. Jedd Wolchok, of Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and patient Mary Elizabeth Williams explain the importance of this research .

Cancer immunotherapy will get a hefty dose of its own moonshot Wednesday when a tech billionaire announces he's giving $250 million to six cancer centers nationwide, including Manhattan's Memorial Sloan Kettering and Stanford.

Sean Parker, founder of the music file-sharing service Napster and the founding president of Facebook, says he is putting his money behind cancer immune therapy because it is at a turning point and would benefit from research that is done without regard for the costs.

Immunotherapy, which enhances the body's immune system to kill cancer cells, is best known these days because former president Jimmy Carter was on an immune-based drug treatment when he announced in December that there is no detectable cancer in his body.

Marriage boosts survival chances of cancer patients, say scientists

University of San Diego study adds to weight of research suggesting having a partner significantly improves outcomes for sufferers.

Being married boosts the survival chances of cancer patients, according to new research that analysed data from nearly 800,000 people. While the research backs up a number of studies that have previously highlighted the trend, the new study goes further, exploring the strength of the effect in patients of different race and ethnicity. The results reveal that the benefits of marriage appear to be greatest for non-Hispanic white men. 

“We speculate that it has to do more with issues related to social support than economics,” said the lead author, Professor Maria Elena Martinez of the University of California, San Diego.

Writing in the journal Cancer, the authors report that they used figures from the California Cancer Registry to study data from 393,470 men and 389,697 women who had been diagnosed between 2000 and 2009 with one of 10 types of cancer that most commonly cause death in each sex across populations of different race and ethnicity. The researchers followed up on the patients until the end of 2012.

When adjusted for factors including insurance status and neighbourhood socioeconomic status, the results showed that, while marriage benefited both men and women, the size of the effect varied between the sexes and with race and ethnicity. The greatest effect was found for white patients who were not of Hispanic descent: bachelors had a 24% higher risk of dying than married men, while for women mortality was 17% higher for singletons.

With the number of unmarried adults on the rise, Martinez believes researchers now need to probe why marriage is beneficial – whether it is down to spouses taking patients to appointments, offering support for depression, reminding them to take their medication, or other effects. “We don’t have a handle [on] what it is in regard to social support that we need to go after to equalise everything, “ she said.

The study revealed another trend. For unmarried patients that identified as Asian Pacific Islanders (API) – a group that includes those of Japanese, Chinese and Indian descent – those born in the US had a worse chance of survival compared with married patients than those born elsewhere. The trend was also observed for women of Hispanic descent. Unmarried API men born in the US had a 21% higher risk of dying than those who were married, while for unmarried API men born outside the US, mortality was 9% higher than those who had wed. The authors believe the trend could be down to the immersion of patients in US culture. “It is plausible that social support outside marriage diminishes as individuals acculturate to the United States,” they write.

Martinez believes the study highlights the need for unmarried cancer patients to seek support from family and friends. Clinicians and healthcare providers, she added, should also take note. “We really want to highlight the awareness factor here that unmarried people perhaps could be considered a high-risk, vulnerable population,” said Martinez, who added that clinicians and healthcare providers should make efforts to ask questions of unmarried patients about their social support and consider referring them to support services.

But others believe further analysis is needed. As Dr Bernard Rachet from the the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine points out, the study covers a period before the Affordable Care Act, known as “ObamaCare”, was introduced. What’s more, the research did not take into account whether patients married or divorced after their diagnosis, whether they were in relationships that did not involve marriage, or whether they had other diseases besides cancer. 

Commenting on the research, Dr Alan Worsley, senior information officer at Cancer Research UK, said: “While it’s unclear why married people in the study seemed to have better outcomes, it may in part be because partners can help to prompt their loved ones to go to the doctor early. So it’s important that single people make sure they go to the doctor soon if they develop a symptom they are concerned about.

“Doctors and nurses caring for single people with cancer should also take extra care in asking about their support networks and suggesting other avenues of support, like local groups. If anyone is unsure what to do, they can also ring Cancer Research UK’s nurses to talk things through on freephone 0808 800 4040.”

source:www.theguardian.com

'Mr Nice' Howard Marks Dies Of Cancer Aged 70

Tributes have been paid to Howard Marks, the former drugs smuggler known as Mr Nice, who is said to have died aged 70.

The Guardian reported that the writer died at his home near Bridgend in South Wales.

Marks announced he had inoperable bowel cancer last year.

Friend and former colleague at Loaded magazine James Brown told The Guardian that Marks was a "true modern-day folk hero", who had done "so many funny, shocking, illegal things".

He said: "He stood for everything we loved. Mr Nice was a thrilling book. Howard is a bloody great example to us all."

Marks had a monthly column at Loaded for five years and released his autobiography, Mr Nice, which detailed his many years smuggling cannabis, in 1996.

After years living under as many 43 aliases, he was eventually caught by the American Drug Enforcement Agency in 1988.

He was sentenced to 25 years at one of America's toughest prisons - Terre Haute, Indiana - and was released on parole in 1995 after serving seven years.

After his release from prison he became a prominent campaigner for the legalisation of cannabis and toured a comedy show.

He stood for parliament in four separate constituencies in the 1997 general election on the single issue of the legalisation of cannabis, catalysing the formation of the Legalise Cannabis Alliance.

In an interview with The Observer in January 2015, Marks said he had come to terms with his illness.

He said: "It's impossible to regret any part of my life when I feel happy and I am happy now, so I don't have any regrets and have not had any for a very long time.

"Smuggling cannabis was a wonderful way of living - perpetual culture shock, absurd amounts of money, and the comforting knowledge of getting so many people stoned."

Charlatans singer Tim Burgess tweeted: "A sad day. Howard Marks has died. What a story, what a life. Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night x x"

Daisy Lewellyn: Bravo star dies of rare cancer aged 36.

Daisy Lewellyn, the stylist, former editor and Bravo star, has died from a rare form of cancer aged 36.

The reality TV star was diagnosed with stage three cancer in 2014

Born in California, Lewellyn first appeared in Bravo’s New York-based reality TV, Blood, Sweat and Tears in 2014. She was a former editor at Essence magazine. 

Lewellyn was diagnosed with stage-three bile duct cancer, a rare cancer affecting the liver, aged 34 and underwent a course of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. 

Arvind Kejriwal launches Emraan Hashmi's book on son's battle with cancer.

The book, which Emraan has co-written with author Bilal Siddiqi, tells about his struggle with his six-year-old son Ayaan's cancer treatment. The book has been published by Penguin Books India in three languages."I want to congratulate Emraan and Bilal for writing this book. More than that I want to congratulate Emraan over the battle that he fought with his son. I haven't read the book, but from what all I have heard, I would like to say that Emraan's son is a bigger superstar than his father," Kejriwal said at the launch. 

"This book is about hope. When a cancer patient loses hope, his/her body starts to give up. All cancer patients should read this book. Not only them, even we should read it to defeat all the struggles that we go through in our day-to-day routine."As a chief minister, I feel Emraan had the money to take his child to Canada for treatment. But there are a lot of people in India who don't have money for treatment. In that case, the government needs to help them financially. I wish Ayaan was here as I really want to meet him, he added. 

Born in February 2010, Ayaan, who is Emraan and wife Parveen Shahani's first child, was diagnosed with first stage cancer at the age of four in early 2014.About his struggle with Ayaan's cancer, Emraan said: "It all started before 2013 when I was at the top of the game and had a lot of success in the film industry. On January 13 that year, me, my wife Parveen and Ayaan were having lunch at a restaurant and that's when we noticed peculiar symptoms in my son.

"My wife took him to the washroom and he passed blood in his urine. We as parents freaked out and took him to the nearest hospital. We couldn't see him go through physical trauma as parents."After certain tests, Emraan found out that there was a "tumour growing on top of his (Ayaan's) left kidney".Emraan said that though he was doing everything for Ayaan financially, his chemotherapy treatment created a kind of fear in him. 

"As parents, we fought really hard for several months. Every time there was this fear that when chemotherapy is being given, everything is fine, but what will happen when it stops. I wanted to be sure that he'll be fine after that."Emraan said he was now happy that two years after Ayaan was diagnosed with cancer, he was now cancer free.

Bilal Siddiqi, who was present at the launch, thanked Emraan for letting him tell about his personal life to the public."I want to thank Emraan sir for giving me this opportunity to write this story. I met him slightly over a year ago when Hussain Zaidi took me to his house. It took us around three and half to four months to do it," he said. 

source:http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/

Cancer scare continues, cases twofold in India: study

Shocking and still uncontrollable! The figured statistics shows that cancer cases have increased almost double in the India since last two years. Nearly 5 per cent increase have been witnessed in cancer and things are turning bad as cancer is second big threat to human being after cardiovascular disease.

Reports have confirmed that Indian population statistics shows that the death rate due to cancer in India was alarming and high in 1990 and 2013 but it had been increased 5 percent between in 2012 and 2014. In 1990, the fatality rate was reported to be about 12 percent, later in 2013, it was increased by 3 percent around the world. On Friday, the latest report ‘Global Burden of Cancer-2013′ has been released and as per report, deaths from the cancer have increased by 60% in India.
Health minister JP Nadda has given reports on Friday in which he said, “The increase in cancer cases may be attributed to ageing population, unhealthy lifestyles, use of tobacco and tobacco products, unhealthy diet etc”. Nadda also confirms that the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) is carrying out a National Cancer Registry Programme based on 29 population-based and 29 hospital-based registries.

source:http://www.livepunjab.com

Elephant genes hold big hopes for cancer researchers.

Elephants have 100 times more cells in their bodies than humans, which should make them far more vulnerable to cancer than we are. But less than 5 percent of elephant deaths are linked to cancer, which researchers credit to the animals’ abundance of cell-suppressing genes -- genes that might represent the next step forward in the fight against cancer.

source:http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/elephant-genes-hold-big-hopes-for-cancer-researchers/

'Train rural health workers to detect breast cancer early'- Report

Contradicting the common belief that breast cancer is an urban disease, Dr P Raghuram, Padma Shri, and president of Association of Breast Surgeons of India, said on Saturday that the disease is increasing in rural areas, too.He said that the number of cervical cancer cases, has been catching up with the figures of breast cancer, which accounts for more than 20% of cancer cases in Indian women.
Raghuram, while talking on the sidelines of an event 'Gujarat Breast Meet-2016' here on Saturday , said that there is a need to train health workers to diagnose breast cancer."There is a social taboo about the cancer, and lack of awareness in women. Shockingly , the number of cervical cancer cases are catching up with that of breast cancer," he said.
"As the age of marriage has been raised, the gap between having two children has also increased and there is also a tendency to avoid breastfeeding These could have raised the occurrence of breast cancer among women in rural India," he said.
Raghuram has roped in health workers to screen women in rural areas. These health workers have travelled across 3,700 villages in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana and saved thousands of women from falling prey to breast cancer.
Raghuram said that he has conducted this awareness programme in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Tamil Nadu, and wants the programme to be replicated in other Indian states, too. He said that as the country is highly populated, use of mammography to diagnose breast cancer is not possible. Therefore, health workers should be trained to detect the disease in early stages, he added.
"I have met Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding this issue as we wanted to replicate this screening programme in other states. At present, we want to implement it in Karnataka and Gujarat. If this succeeds, then other states will follow the benchmark," he said.

source: The times of India

Cancer awareness fashion show set for Virginia Beach.

Dozens of models will take to the runway on Saturday to display the latest in fashions, while raising funds for those battling cancer. And, all the models will be cancer patients or survivors.

The annual MTB Hampton Roads Cancer Awareness Fashion Show is organized by Justin Pantophlet, who founded the MTB (More Than Boobs) Cancer Foundation five years ago when his brother-in-law died of lung cancer. “We put on events for people with all types of cancers,” he said. “Even if the name of the cancer is different, many of the struggles are the same.”

During the fashion show, each model walks out to a song of their choosing, while the audience hears their story of personal triumph. The evening includes a remembrance lighting ceremony and music by a local band.

Keisha O’Neal participated in the fashion show several years ago, shortly after she was diagnosed with stage 2 papillary thyroid cancer.

“My diagnosis was so new, that I ended up crying through part of the show,” the Brigadoon resident said. “It tends to be an emotional night, but it’s so very therapeutic.”

O’Neal was being treated for lingering pain as a result of a car accident when a MRI revealed the cause of her pain, and also a soft tissue mass. Now, as a cancer survivor, O’Neal said she tries to take more risks, and modeling in the fashion show is one way of doing that.

MTB Cancer Foundation fundraisers include the Cruising for Cancer pub crawl and Raise Your Voice karaoke contest. Donations provide assistance to cancer patients and survivors who lack necessities during treatment and recovery.

Pantophlet, an Oceanfront resident, begins planning the annual fashion show in August. A staff member at First Colonial High School, he encourages students to volunteer at the event.

“But on the evening of the show, I try to find a few minutes to just sit back and watch everyone smiling and enjoying the moment,” he said.

source:http://pilotonline.com/

Number of people suffering from cancer jumps to 350,000 a year in UK

More than 179,000 men are diagnosed yearly in the UK compared with nearly 173,000 women.

The number of people suffering from cancer has jumped to 352,000 a year with an aging population the main reason for a 12 per cent rise in cases over the last two decades.

More than 179,000 men are diagnosed yearly in the UK compared with nearly 173,000 women.

Although the chance of getting the disease is higher than ever survival rates have doubled since the mid-1990s, according to new figures released by Cancer Research UK today (Wednesday). 

Better treatments, more accurate tests, earlier diagnosis and screening programmes are giving people greater hope they can defeat cancer - and cancer death rates in the UK have fallen by nearly 10 per cent over 10 years.

However, survival rates for lung, pancreatic and oesophageal cancer are examples are still low - partly because they tend to be diagnosed at a later stage when they’re much harder to treat.

Nick Ormiston-Smith, from Cancer Research UK, said: “People are living longer so more people are getting cancer. But the good news is more people are surviving their cancer. There’s still a huge variation in survival between different cancer types and there’s a lot of work to do to reach [our] ambition for three in four patients to survive their disease by 2034.”

source:http://www.independent.co.uk/

6 myths surrounding one of the most deadly diseases :CANCER

Cancer, diabetes, heart diseases and stroke--some of the biggest health slayers that the world is currently fighting. What adds to the misery though, is that full treatment for a disease like cancer (well, most types of cancers) is still not prevalent.

Celebrating #WorldCancerDay today, we need to spread awareness about the preventive measures one can take from the very beginning, in order to keep the life-threatening disease at bay. But first, let us give you a low-down on the most baffling misconceptions about this lethal disease and why we must wipe them out without delay.

Dr. Pawan Gupta, Additional Director, Surgical Oncology, Jaypee Hospital, Noida told us, "Cancer is not a killer. What kills is carelessness and ignorance, delayed diagnosis and denied or wrong treatment. The only thing that can change the prognosis of a cancer patient is early diagnosis and awareness."

Furthermore, he shared these common myths about the disease.

• Cancer means death: One of the most commonly used lines for cancer is that it directly, clearly, strongly refers to death. However, cancer, if detected and diagnosed at an early stage, can be treated. While doctors have not yet found a foolproof cure for all types of cancers, some of the forms of cancer are treatable and can be controlled even at advanced stages.
• Cancer mutilates the whole body: Organ preservation with functional rehabilitation is possible for cancer. The new modalities and advancement in surgeries have made it possible. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy are equally sound measures to add quality years to a patient's life.
• Cancer is painful from the start: Most cancers are present in the body as painless lumps or in the form of ulcers. Cancer is painful in the advanced stages when it invades the local tissues or nerves. One needs to be careful about any such new formation of lumps in any part of the body, which, when unattended, may result in tumours.
• Cancer is contagious: Cancer is not an infection; it develops from the cells within our body. It cannot spread from one person to another by touch or contact. Cancer patients should be allowed to live a normal life and isolation is something that needs to be given extra importance because in most cases, living a life in depression may add to the patient's cause of death.
• Cancer is better treated by alternative medicine: One should aim for an evidence-based treatment. It is often recommended to get proper medical assistance and treatment tests done before reaching any such conclusions. No alternative medicine has been proved effective in treating cancer till date.
• Tumour biopsy spreads cancer: There are very less chances that a cancer can spread to other body parts from biopsy. Surgeons follow a standard procedure and a multi-pronged approach to avoid the spread of cancer cells during biopsy.

source:India Today

Let's beat CANCER sooner :)

#Hope #ADAYTOUNITE #Hope

World Cancer Day: Air pollution, tobacco top cancer causes in India

Air pollution, certain viral infections, along with tobacco in its many forms, are among the top five avoidable causes of cancer in India, concluded an extensive review of close to 500 known carcinogens by the ministry of health and family welfare.

The top three carcinogens are smoking and chewing tobacco, areca nut (supari) and betel quid (paan, paan masala), which together have made oral cancer the most common cancer in India. Of them, tobacco in its three forms — chewing, smoking and second-hand smoke — accounts for 30% of all cancers in India.
“Most people don’t link viruses with cancer, but viruses such as human papillomavirus (HPV) have been proven to cause cervical cancer and Hepatitis B is linked with liver cancer,” said Dr Harit Chaturvedi, director of surgical oncology at Max Healthcare.
Getting vaccinated against both these viruses – Hepatitis B vaccine is a part of routine immunization in India – can protect against cervical cancer in women and liver cancers in both genders, Dr Chaturvedi suggested.
Annually, an estimated 30 lakh people in India suffer from cancer; of these 11 lakh are new cases and the disease claims 5 lakh lives each year. The cancers that claim most lives in India are also the most common, including oral, breast, cervical and lung cancers.
The International Agency for Research on Cancer Monographs lists 481 agents and environmental factors that are carcinogenic, probably carcinogenic, or possibly carcinogenic to humans.
“The international list is massive and some causative agents are not relevant in the Indian context. For India’s monograph, 500 known carcinogens were reviewed and recommendations were given on what is being done and what needs to be done to prevent these cancers,” says a health ministry official who did not want to be named.
India’s National Health Profile 2015 estimates that cancer in men will rise by 19% by 2020, with mouth cancer registering the highest spike. In women, cancer cases will go up by 23%.
source:http://www.hindustantimes.com/

India emerging as top hub for robot-assisted surgeries: Experts

Reasonable costs, less pain, early recovery and increasing awareness have put India on the global map when it comes to robot-assisted surgeries across the health spectrum and the country is poised to take a leap soon, some of the leading robotic surgeons have said.

According to the latest data from hospitals, Mumbai recorded over 70,000 robotic surgeries in 2015 -- mostly on patients from abroad. Delhi and Bengaluru have performed nearly 20,000 and 25,000 robotic surgeries, respectively.

More specifically, patients from the Middle East and Africa appear to be making a beeline for robot-assisted surgeries in India because either they do not have advance robotic surgery facilities in their home country or, if available, its very expensive.

"I get at least one to two inquiries for robotic surgeries every week. These inquiries are usually from the Middle East and Africa. In the last two months alone, I had operated on seven patients with prostate cancer from out of India," Dr Anup Ramani, consultant robotic and uro-oncological surgeon from Saifee Hospital and Breach Candy Hospital, Mumbai, told reporters.

Dr Ramani said that for early prostate cancer the best treatment is through robotic surgery. In India, prostate cancer has seen a sharp rise and it affects the rich and the poor alike. "It is very important for men to do a prostate specific antigen (PSA) test once a year after 50," Dr Ramani said.

In New Delhi, Dr Vipin Tyagi, consultant urologist and robotic surgeon in Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, successfully performed robotic surgery recently on a four-year-old girl suffering from congenital grade 5 bilateral Vesico Ureteric Reflux (VUR), a disease in which urine starts going back from bladder to kidneys.

"She was having high fever with recurrent urinary tract infection since birth and was brought to Sir Gangaram Hospital. Tests confirmed that she had VUR," Dr Tyagi said.

The parents wanted to avoid any big incision in the little girl and it was not easy to do minimally-invasive surgery either. "We decided to go in for robot-assisted bilateral ureteric reimplantation. The use of big robot, especially for VUR, is uncommon in children because it is difficult to get working space for the robotic arm inside the abdomen of a small child," the doctor said.

The team then decided to make certain modifications and improvisation for docking of the robotic arms in the way to get just sufficient working space for the procedure. The girl was back home after two days. Follow-up scans and reports showed the VUR had been cured.

"Robotic assistance provides incomparable 3D vision, better range of movements and it seems as if the surgeon has introduced his wrist inside the abdomen of the patients," Dr Tyagi explained.

According to Dr Meghal Sanghvi, oncologist at Wockhardt Hospital, the setup for robotic surgery is very important for all hospitals considering the rising demands for it in various parts including bypass surgery, transplants, cancer and gynae procedures.

source:http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/health-news/India-emerging-as-top-hub-for-robot-assisted-surgeries-Experts/articleshow/50817853.cms