Pharmasweblog. Medical Weblog » Cancer

CAUSES OF CANCER: CHEMICALS IN FOODS

admin — Sat, 02 Apr 2011 09:22:48 +0000

Among the food additives suspected of causing cancer is sodium nitrate, a chemical used to preserve and give color to red meat. Research indicates that the actual carcinogen is not sodium nitrate but nitrosamines, substances formed when the body digests the sodium nitrates. Sodium nitrate has not been banned, primarily because it kills the bacterium Clostridium botulinum that causes the highly virulent food-borne disease known as botulism. It should also be noted that the bacteria found in the human intestinal tract may contain more nitrates than a person could ever take in from eating cured meats or other nitrate-containing food products. Nonetheless, concern about the carcinogenic properties of nitrates has led to the introduction of meats that are nitrate-free or that contain reduced levels of the substance.Much of the concern about chemicals in foods today centers on the possible harm caused by pesticide and herbicide residue left on foods by agricultural practices. While some of these chemicals cause cancer at high doses in experimental animals, the very low concentrations found in some foods are well within established government safety levels. Continued research regarding pesticide and herbicide use is essential for maximum food safety, and the continuous monitoring of agricultural practices is necessary to ensure a safe food supply. Scientists and consumer groups stress the importance of balance between chemical use and the production of quality food products. Policies protecting consumer health and ensuring the continued improvement in food production through development of alternative, low-chemical pesticides and herbicides and reduced environmental pollution should be the goal of prevention efforts. *11/277/5*

CONVULSIONS (FITS, SEIZURES) – HAVING FITS

admin — Mon, 18 May 2009 06:55:39 +0000

The possibility of having fits is a frightening one I know, but they are not as bad as they look. They are not painful, they usually last only a few minutes, and you are not likely to die while having one.

A fit happens when part or all of the brain becomes abnormally irritable. If it is only part of the brain, there may just be jerky movements of part of the body — say one arm or leg— without loss of consciousness. A generalised fit involves jerking movements of the whole body and loss of consciousness for a few minutes. There may be some warning immediately before the fit in the form of strange feelings — anxiety, flashing lights, unusual smells, noises in the head or some other unusual feeling. When people come to from a fit they usually feel rather strange and tired for some hours and just want to sleep. Some part of their body may be paralysed when they first come to but this usually goes back to normal over the next few hours.

*215/40/1*

SURGERY FOR BREAST CANCER: SIMPLE TOTAL MASTECTOMY

admin — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 05:31:40 +0000

In this operation an ellipse of skin is taken from around the cancer and the nipple. The incision used tends to be in line with the nipple and wherever the cancer is. So if the cancer is in the upper outer quadrant, as is usually the case, the skin ellipse is usually in an oblique direction from the armpit, aiming downwards towards the midline. But if the lump is to one or other side of the nipple, then the incision will be a transverse one.

If too much skin is removed, the skin that remains may die, and there is a risk that a skin graft will be required. Therefore, only as much skin as necessary is removed. The subcutaneous fat is kept in place to give a cosmetically acceptable scar, and to allow for the painless use of prosthesis in the bra later. It is uncertain whether or not leaving more skin to facilitate a later reconstruction of the breast is dangerous in terms of ensuring the removal of all cancerous tissue, but most surgeons will err on the cautious side in any cancer operation.

The whole breast is then removed, together with the tail of the breast which goes into the armpit, and its associated lymph nodes. If all the lymph nodes are excised, one of the chest wall muscles – the pectoralis minor – must be split or removed to allow good access to the armpit. Radiotherapy is not necessarily required, although there is controversy here. Some surgeons believe that if all the lymph nodes are removed from the armpit, radiotherapy is unnecessary and, indeed, that if it were given, there would be a risk of swelling of the arm post-operatively. Other surgeons believe that only sampling of the lowest-lymph nodes in the armpit is necessary. If the nodes are found not to be involved, then it is clear that the cancer is probably confined to the breast and radiotherapy is therefore unnecessary. If, however, the nodes are involved, radiotherapy is indicated. The decision between these two types of treatment is a difficult one, both for the patient and the surgeon, and needs to be discussed carefully.

*39/39/5*