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Is Cancer a Death Sentence? |
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Usually people consider Cancer as a Death sentence. Fear of Imminent death that comes with cancer is mostly out of ignorance. Cancer in most cases is preventable and if detected early is also completely curable.
Early Detection is the most important factor that will determine the outcome of cancers especially of the Head and Neck.
Making conscious lifestyle choices will certainly reduce the risks of acquiring several cancers. This is especially true for head and neck cancers which are strongly associated with environmental and behavioral factors.
Major factors implicated in these cancers which can be prevented are Alcohol Consumption, smoking Tobacco and chewing tobacco. Prolonged exposure to the Sun can cause cancer of the Lips and skin.
In the United States alone, more than 200,000 people die each year from smoking-related illnesses. While this figure is dwindling as an increasing number of Americans are kicking this habit, some smokers are switching to smokeless or spit tobacco, assuming it is a safe alternative. But this is a grave mistake, for, by doing this, they are merely shifting the risk of cancer to a different part of their body; from their lungs to their mouth.
More than 55,000 Americans will develop cancer of the head and neck (most of which is preventable) this year; nearly 13,000 of them will die from it.
One of the commonest cancers in the world, Head And Neck cancer refers to a group of cancers originating in the upper respiratory and upper digestive tract — mouth, nose, sinuses, salivary glands, throat and lymph nodes in the neck.
The most common type of Head And Neck cancer is Squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (referred to as SCCHN) which arises in the cells that line the inside of the nose, mouth and throat. Other less common types of Head And Neck cancers include Sarcomas, Salivary gland tumours and Lymphomas.
The good news is that Head And Neck cancers are highly preventable and also highly curable if detected early. Since prevention and early detection hold the key to the occurrence and successful treatment of Head And Neck cancers, let us see how we can defend ourselves from their onslaught.
Cancer prevention, which refers to the actions we can take to lower the chances of getting cancer, consists of two things - Protective and Risk Factors. While anything that lowers chances of developing cancer is a protective factor, anything that increases chances of developing cancer is a risk factor.
While we can avoid most risk factors, we cannot avoid some. For example, both smoking and inheriting certain genes are risk factors for some types of cancer, but only smoking can be avoided. Regular exercise and a healthy diet are protective factors.
In as many as 90 per cent of the Head And Neck cancer cases, the disease arises after prolonged exposure to avoidable risk factors. Eighty-five percent of head and neck cancers are linked to tobacco use. People who consume both tobacco and alcohol are at greater risk for developing these cancers than those using tobacco or alcohol alone.
People who chew tobacco or betel nuts have a higher risk of developing cancers in the oral cavity. Moreover, a poor diet that contains very little fresh fruit and vegetables can increase the risk of getting certain types of mouth cancer. Breathing in certain chemicals and hardwood dusts increases the risk of cancers of the nose and sinuses.How to Prevent Head And Neck Cancers? Early Diagnosis by recognizing the possible warning signs of cancer and taking prompt action is the most important factor.
Some early signs of cancer include lumps, sores that fail to heal, abnormal bleeding, persistent indigestion, and chronic hoarseness. Such lumps are generally painless and continue to enlarge steadily.
Any hoarseness or other voice changes lasting more than two weeks should not be ignored.
While bringing up blood is often caused by something other than cancer, tumours in the nose, mouth, throat, or lungs can also cause bleeding.
Cancer of the throat or oesophagus (swallowing tube) may make swallowing solid foods difficult.
Screening refers to the use of simple tests across a healthy population to identify individuals who may have early disease, but do not yet have the symptoms. There are a number of new screening tools that enable either identification of pre-symptomatic status or indicate early onset.
So remember, avoid tobacco and Ask A Doctor before it is too late!Better safe than sorry. - Don’t smoke or use any other tobacco products
- Don’t drink alcohol frequently or heavily
- Don’t combine alcohol and tobacco use
- Don’t go back to smoking or drinking after treatment
- Have a healthy diet comprising fruits and vegetables and induct regular exercise into your daily regimen
- Avoid long sun exposure
- Maintain good oral hygiene and see your dentist regularly
- Be aware of the danger of HPV (human papilloma virus)
For more information fell free to Ask A Doctor.
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