Can Cancer be hereditary? Many people ask this question especially another member of the family develops cancer when either a parent or a sibling had also suffered from the disease earlier.
The question is very natural and understandable but the answer unfortunately is not so simple or black and white. Though it has been widely understood by the cancer researchers and the scientific community that most cancer are not genetic yet there is a 5--10% chance of an inherited gene change leading to a cancer. So, just because a relative in your family has a cancer, there is no reason for you to panic thinking that you might also get that cancer.
However, cancer is such a complex disease to fully understand and to actually determine how it develops that even the most accomplished cancer scientists sometimes struggle to explain the basic questions that patients or their relatives put to them on the reasons behind their cancer.
So, overall, cancer is a result of the interaction between the genes of a person and his/ her environment. A genetic / DNA test determines the order in which the chemical letters of the genetic code are found in a gene. Mutations or the changes in the sequence /order can be used to predict the likelyhood of a person developing a partuculat cancer.
Cancer researchers, for example, have been able to find the genes called BRCA 1 and 2 that are linked to hereditary breast cancer. How exactly these mutations occur are also not an easy area for researchers.
There are two types of genetic mutations---germline ( that are passed on from generation to generation) and somatic ( that happen in the lifetime of a person and do not pass on).
The cancers that may develop due to germline mutation are breast , ovarian , bowel and womb(endometrial) . Genetic testing can be helpful in finding out some of the genes responsible for these cancers. There are some other cancers such as prostrate, pancreatic and testicular that may also be caused due to germline mutation but unfortunately genetic testting for these cancer is yet to be developed.
Overall, however, just because someone inherits a known cancer gene does not mean that that perosn will definitely get cancer. At best it only means that such a person has a significantly higher risk of developing cancer compared to the rest of the population. So you don't inherit cancer from your family, but you might inherit a predispostion or susceptibility to developing that particular cancer.
Good luck and God bless. "Every Life Matters"
Pradeep K Jaisingh
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Sunday, April 19, 2009
Cancer Diagnosis-------Should you take a second opinion?
The news of cancer diagnosis is an extremely serious and almost all cases a very difficult blow both for the patient as well as his/her family members. It can be devasatating emotionally and most people react in shock and in fact many of them go initially into denial and then it is generally followed by anger.
Many people wonder whether they should get a second opinion about their diagnosis?
I think, in general, it is a very good idea to go for a second opinion for a number of reasons.
First and foremost among them is that an accurate assessment of the specifics of your cancer is a major pre-requisite for the effective treatment plan that will give you the very best shot at dealing with your cancer.Unfortunately,in the field of oncology, that is not always easy. Even in a country like US with the world's best diagnostic and clinical infrastucture for cancer care, a study estimated that 1 in 5 cases of cancer is either mis-diagnosed or improperly staged. ( You must know that accurate staging of the cancer is as important as the correct diagnosis for the treatment to be effective).
In India while there is no such comparable study available to give relevant statistics, my assessment is that the figure is at least 2 in 5 or 40% . That really is a rather unfortunate and alarming situation but then we must not forget that in India an extremely large number of cancer go completely undetected or undiagnosed.
The other major reason for suggesting a second opininon is that cancer is rarely detected by an oncologist. In most cases it is detected by a general physician, a gynaecologist, a urologist or any other such specialists. They in turn then refer you to an oncologist---either a medical oncologist or a surgical oncologist or in some cases to a radiation oncologist. In a large number of cases most of these oncologists do not agree amongst themselves and therefore if you got referred to a surgeon, you will most likely be recommended a surgical removal of your tumour. On the other hand, a medical oncologist is very likely to recommend you a chemotherapy regimen . A radiation therapy course may be recommended by the both.
So, you see it gets really complicated and poses a big dilemma for the patient and the family members to decide on the future course of action.
My recommendation is that choose a comprehensive cancer centre for getting the second opinion. Approach a medical oncologist for an overall opinion but before that make sure that the medical oncologist is a properly qualified one. If he or she has had some international experience either in US or in Western Europe then that is really preferrable. Ask your medical oncologist whether they a tumour board at that cancer centre or not. A tumour board consists of specialists from all three branches of oncology mentioned earlier as well as the specialists from the diagnostic branch/ nuclear medicine area and also from pathology / lab. support areas.
Make sure that your case gets taken up in the tumour board. The suggested treatment plan from the tumour board will generally be the best way forward for you.
Presently, there are also options available for a tele-consult from an international cancer centre/ specialist in US and that might be a very cost effective option as well compared to the cost of going overseas. The NCCN( National Comprehensive Cancer Network---a non profit alliance for the world's 21 leading cancer centres) treatment guidelines are now widely available and the treatment plan suggested can easily be administered here.
So, overall if you or any of your family members ( or a near and dear one) has been diagnosed with cancer then please follow the suggestions given above because it is a matter of a precious life for "Every Life Matters".
Good luck and God bless.
Pradeep K Jaisingh
Many people wonder whether they should get a second opinion about their diagnosis?
I think, in general, it is a very good idea to go for a second opinion for a number of reasons.
First and foremost among them is that an accurate assessment of the specifics of your cancer is a major pre-requisite for the effective treatment plan that will give you the very best shot at dealing with your cancer.Unfortunately,in the field of oncology, that is not always easy. Even in a country like US with the world's best diagnostic and clinical infrastucture for cancer care, a study estimated that 1 in 5 cases of cancer is either mis-diagnosed or improperly staged. ( You must know that accurate staging of the cancer is as important as the correct diagnosis for the treatment to be effective).
In India while there is no such comparable study available to give relevant statistics, my assessment is that the figure is at least 2 in 5 or 40% . That really is a rather unfortunate and alarming situation but then we must not forget that in India an extremely large number of cancer go completely undetected or undiagnosed.
The other major reason for suggesting a second opininon is that cancer is rarely detected by an oncologist. In most cases it is detected by a general physician, a gynaecologist, a urologist or any other such specialists. They in turn then refer you to an oncologist---either a medical oncologist or a surgical oncologist or in some cases to a radiation oncologist. In a large number of cases most of these oncologists do not agree amongst themselves and therefore if you got referred to a surgeon, you will most likely be recommended a surgical removal of your tumour. On the other hand, a medical oncologist is very likely to recommend you a chemotherapy regimen . A radiation therapy course may be recommended by the both.
So, you see it gets really complicated and poses a big dilemma for the patient and the family members to decide on the future course of action.
My recommendation is that choose a comprehensive cancer centre for getting the second opinion. Approach a medical oncologist for an overall opinion but before that make sure that the medical oncologist is a properly qualified one. If he or she has had some international experience either in US or in Western Europe then that is really preferrable. Ask your medical oncologist whether they a tumour board at that cancer centre or not. A tumour board consists of specialists from all three branches of oncology mentioned earlier as well as the specialists from the diagnostic branch/ nuclear medicine area and also from pathology / lab. support areas.
Make sure that your case gets taken up in the tumour board. The suggested treatment plan from the tumour board will generally be the best way forward for you.
Presently, there are also options available for a tele-consult from an international cancer centre/ specialist in US and that might be a very cost effective option as well compared to the cost of going overseas. The NCCN( National Comprehensive Cancer Network---a non profit alliance for the world's 21 leading cancer centres) treatment guidelines are now widely available and the treatment plan suggested can easily be administered here.
So, overall if you or any of your family members ( or a near and dear one) has been diagnosed with cancer then please follow the suggestions given above because it is a matter of a precious life for "Every Life Matters".
Good luck and God bless.
Pradeep K Jaisingh
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Seven Things You Can Do To Minimize The Cancer Risk
There is a lot of anxious curiosity these days about the life style and general habits amongst people and their impact on the risk of cancer. There are things that range from food/eating habits to smoking,drinking and exposure to sun etc. One week people see a study that talks about the positive effect of red wine on health and then the very next week there is another study linking alcohol consumption to enhanced risk of breast cancer for example.
All this tends to get very confusing for people and creates more questions than answers in terms of what they could do in terms of bringing about changes in their daily habits and overall lifestyle to protect themselves or at the very least minimizing their risk for cancer.
Here are the 7 recommendations that could help.
1. Quit smoking.----If you are a smoker, the SINGLE biggest thing that you can do to minimize yours and your family's risk to a large number of potential cancer is to give up smoking immediately. This is quite simply a no brainer and the most important positive change you can make in your life.
If you are not a smoker, please DO NOT even think about taking up smoking as a habit for just for social outings.
2. Say NO To Pan Masala ---- Pan Masala is by far the leading cause of head and neck ( oral) cancers in India and certain regions in UP, Bihar, Rajasthan, Gujarat,West Bengal and several other states in India have a very high degree of mouth and throat cancers on account of consumption of pan masala. The very jazzy advertising that some of these companies undertook in earlier years got even the middle class ( and indeed some pretty affluent industrialists) to take up the habit of chewing pan masala and and a very large number of people have paid the price by acquiring this deadly disease in the bargain.
3. Fruits, Vegetables and Tea have been found to have a positive impact on reducing the cancer risk and therefore it is a very good idea to have plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables in your diet.The natural chemicals--Flavonoids found in different fruits and vegetables and teas reduce the risk of lung cancer even amongst the smokers. Strawberries, green and black teas, brussels sprouts, apples, beans and broccoli are good sources of flavonoids.
4. Alcohol consumption must be in moderation. Even if it is wine--red or white or any other drink, the idea is to limit your consumption to not more than 10 -15 drinks per month and that too on a very well spread out basis. The better option would be to have a glass of wine 2/3 days per week and not to drink on an empty stomach.
5. Protect yourself from direct exposure to sun. Sunbathing has been found to be the leading cause of skin cancer and prolonged exposure to sun without adequate sun protection lotions is highly dangerous. Tanning salons that use chemicals to induce tans are not recommended at all as they could potentially be quite risky as well.
6. Red meat in general and burnt meat ( barbeque / open fire / over heated) frozen and re-heated meat have all been founf to be enhancing the risk of various types of cancers in different studies and therefore they all must be avoided. Overall, it has also been found that vegetarians have a lower risk of getting cancer than the non-vegetarians.
7. Finally, one must lead a balanced life with pleanty of exercise, physical activity and nutritious meals. Stress, though in some form, is unavoidable in our lives these days, must me minimized and social interaction with family and friends goes a long way well. Avoid very hot liquids ( tea/coffee/soups etc.) as they can damage the inner lining of the stomach and lead to acid reflux ( commonly known as acidity). Acid reflux must be treated comprehensively as well and not dismissed merely as acidity tackled with anatcids. Esphegeal cancer is a very serious condition with very limited treatment success.
Overall, though a disease like cancer continues to be a major challenge for clinicians and researchers alike and there is no guaranteed and fool proof check list possible for its avoidance, these seven suggestions can certainly help minimize one's risk to various cancers.
Good luck and God bless.
Let us keep working for a healthier world for "Every Life Matters"
Pradeep K Jaisingh
All this tends to get very confusing for people and creates more questions than answers in terms of what they could do in terms of bringing about changes in their daily habits and overall lifestyle to protect themselves or at the very least minimizing their risk for cancer.
Here are the 7 recommendations that could help.
1. Quit smoking.----If you are a smoker, the SINGLE biggest thing that you can do to minimize yours and your family's risk to a large number of potential cancer is to give up smoking immediately. This is quite simply a no brainer and the most important positive change you can make in your life.
If you are not a smoker, please DO NOT even think about taking up smoking as a habit for just for social outings.
2. Say NO To Pan Masala ---- Pan Masala is by far the leading cause of head and neck ( oral) cancers in India and certain regions in UP, Bihar, Rajasthan, Gujarat,West Bengal and several other states in India have a very high degree of mouth and throat cancers on account of consumption of pan masala. The very jazzy advertising that some of these companies undertook in earlier years got even the middle class ( and indeed some pretty affluent industrialists) to take up the habit of chewing pan masala and and a very large number of people have paid the price by acquiring this deadly disease in the bargain.
3. Fruits, Vegetables and Tea have been found to have a positive impact on reducing the cancer risk and therefore it is a very good idea to have plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables in your diet.The natural chemicals--Flavonoids found in different fruits and vegetables and teas reduce the risk of lung cancer even amongst the smokers. Strawberries, green and black teas, brussels sprouts, apples, beans and broccoli are good sources of flavonoids.
4. Alcohol consumption must be in moderation. Even if it is wine--red or white or any other drink, the idea is to limit your consumption to not more than 10 -15 drinks per month and that too on a very well spread out basis. The better option would be to have a glass of wine 2/3 days per week and not to drink on an empty stomach.
5. Protect yourself from direct exposure to sun. Sunbathing has been found to be the leading cause of skin cancer and prolonged exposure to sun without adequate sun protection lotions is highly dangerous. Tanning salons that use chemicals to induce tans are not recommended at all as they could potentially be quite risky as well.
6. Red meat in general and burnt meat ( barbeque / open fire / over heated) frozen and re-heated meat have all been founf to be enhancing the risk of various types of cancers in different studies and therefore they all must be avoided. Overall, it has also been found that vegetarians have a lower risk of getting cancer than the non-vegetarians.
7. Finally, one must lead a balanced life with pleanty of exercise, physical activity and nutritious meals. Stress, though in some form, is unavoidable in our lives these days, must me minimized and social interaction with family and friends goes a long way well. Avoid very hot liquids ( tea/coffee/soups etc.) as they can damage the inner lining of the stomach and lead to acid reflux ( commonly known as acidity). Acid reflux must be treated comprehensively as well and not dismissed merely as acidity tackled with anatcids. Esphegeal cancer is a very serious condition with very limited treatment success.
Overall, though a disease like cancer continues to be a major challenge for clinicians and researchers alike and there is no guaranteed and fool proof check list possible for its avoidance, these seven suggestions can certainly help minimize one's risk to various cancers.
Good luck and God bless.
Let us keep working for a healthier world for "Every Life Matters"
Pradeep K Jaisingh
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Cancer Treatment: Does Positive Mental Attititude Have a Role To Play
Cancer is a tough disease by any standards and both patients and physicians always wonder if there are things other than just clinical protocols and well defined regimens that might have any role to play in the overall effectiveness of the treatment.Specifically, people always ask about the role of the attitiude of the patient in his or her treatment. Some patients, diagnosed with cancer, develop a negative even hostile attiitude towards life and their surroundings in general and find it very difficult to come to grips with their new reality. There are others though who respond to their cancer with a very positive approach and demonstrate an attitude of mental strength and hope.
So, the question is "Does it really help and how much?"
The answer is not a simple yes or no.One has to look at what really does one mean by Positive Mental Attitude or PMA ?
PMA is not about developing an attitude that their cancer is just a result of some bad phase or "karma" and it will go away just by some rituals or some sudden miracle that might happen. That kind of approach is plain wishful thinking and will not help at all.
PMA is first and foremost about acknowledging the seriousness of one's condition and then developing a whole new determination to do everything possible to find all facts and details about one's cancer, discussing in-depth with one's cancer specialist the very latest in clinical options and their pros and cons, agreeing to the treatment plan devised by the oncologist and adhering to in totality and following his/her advise on diet,lifestyle and other aspects and extending total co-operation to the discipline of the clinical regiment-----all with a firm belief that I am going to fight it and I am going to do everything within my power to face this very serious and tough disease and I am going to get better because of this. One may include anything and everything in it--prayers, hope , music whatever you like. It all could work for you --at the very least it will improve and enhance your quality of life and make it easier and better on your near and dear ones who are helping you from your family and relations.
Remember, it is very very tough on them as well.
In our cancer support group "Saarthak" a lady cancer survivor shared about her own approach to the side effects of chemotherapy and how it was leading to a state of depression for her. An army wife she was used to a very active social life and enjoyed her weekend get-togethers and lunches/dinners at friends' places. When our oncologist suggested to her that unlike the advice given by her previous oncologist, she was free to resume her lifestyle while following her chemo-regimen, she responded so positively and not only she came out of her depression but developed a very strong resolve to fight her cancer.
Today, she is a three year cancer survivor and is doing extremely well while enjoying her old life style with friends and families. Additionally. she is a very active member of "Saarthak" and is very willing to help other cancer patients.
Her positive attitude, certainly, seems to have made a difference to her and it can definitely work for many other.
That is certainly my hope and my belief.
God bless and let us ,together,do everything to save another life from cancer.
Please join me because "Every Life Matters"
Pradeep K Jaisingh
So, the question is "Does it really help and how much?"
The answer is not a simple yes or no.One has to look at what really does one mean by Positive Mental Attitude or PMA ?
PMA is not about developing an attitude that their cancer is just a result of some bad phase or "karma" and it will go away just by some rituals or some sudden miracle that might happen. That kind of approach is plain wishful thinking and will not help at all.
PMA is first and foremost about acknowledging the seriousness of one's condition and then developing a whole new determination to do everything possible to find all facts and details about one's cancer, discussing in-depth with one's cancer specialist the very latest in clinical options and their pros and cons, agreeing to the treatment plan devised by the oncologist and adhering to in totality and following his/her advise on diet,lifestyle and other aspects and extending total co-operation to the discipline of the clinical regiment-----all with a firm belief that I am going to fight it and I am going to do everything within my power to face this very serious and tough disease and I am going to get better because of this. One may include anything and everything in it--prayers, hope , music whatever you like. It all could work for you --at the very least it will improve and enhance your quality of life and make it easier and better on your near and dear ones who are helping you from your family and relations.
Remember, it is very very tough on them as well.
In our cancer support group "Saarthak" a lady cancer survivor shared about her own approach to the side effects of chemotherapy and how it was leading to a state of depression for her. An army wife she was used to a very active social life and enjoyed her weekend get-togethers and lunches/dinners at friends' places. When our oncologist suggested to her that unlike the advice given by her previous oncologist, she was free to resume her lifestyle while following her chemo-regimen, she responded so positively and not only she came out of her depression but developed a very strong resolve to fight her cancer.
Today, she is a three year cancer survivor and is doing extremely well while enjoying her old life style with friends and families. Additionally. she is a very active member of "Saarthak" and is very willing to help other cancer patients.
Her positive attitude, certainly, seems to have made a difference to her and it can definitely work for many other.
That is certainly my hope and my belief.
God bless and let us ,together,do everything to save another life from cancer.
Please join me because "Every Life Matters"
Pradeep K Jaisingh
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