Buzz
1. Cervical Cancer
Cervical Cancer is a disease that affects the cervix, the lower part of the uterus, which is covered by a thin layer of tissue formed from cells. Cervical cancer occurs when cells in the cervix begin to grow out of control, causing abnormalities and the formation of tumors in the cervix. It is one of the most common gynecological cancers in women, second only to breast cancer. The disease can leave many painful consequences such as infertility, and in severe cases, it can be life-threatening.
Causes of the Disease:
- Most cases of cervical cancer are caused by infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV). There are many types of HPV, some of which are high-risk viruses that cause diseases such as anal cancer, cervical cancer, vaginal and penile cancer, and head and neck cancers. Other types of HPV can cause genital warts.
- Early sexual activity, giving birth before the age of 17.
- Weak immune system and genetic factors.
Symptoms:
- Cervical cancer often develops silently over a long period (takes several years). During this time, cells in the cervix undergo abnormal changes due to changes in the vaginal environment or HPV infection.
- The deformation of these cells occurs before cancer appears and is called precancerous or cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN).
- The first sign of cervical cancer is usually abnormal vaginal bleeding, such as bleeding between menstrual periods, longer periods than usual, or bleeding after or during sexual intercourse.
- Signs of cancer development may include pelvic pain, abnormal urination, and leg swelling. If cancer has spread to nearby organs or lymph nodes, tumors can affect the functioning of those organs, for example, a tumor pressing on the bladder or blocking veins.
Prevention:
- HPV vaccination, which remains the most effective method of preventing the disease, reducing the risk of infection by 99%.
- Eating a healthy diet.
- Avoiding early sexual activity, practicing good family planning.
- Maintaining good hygiene in the genital area, especially during menstruation and sexual intercourse.
2. Throat Cancer
Throat cancer is a leading disease among head and neck cancers and is often found in various types of cancers in general. The causes of throat cancer have not been clearly identified so far. However, three main risk factors for this disease are Epstein-Barr virus, genetics, and environment. Due to its deep location, throat cancer is often difficult to detect early, and its symptoms often overlap with those of other organs. Therefore, patients often seek medical attention late or have been treated in other specialties such as otolaryngology, ophthalmology, and neurology. The diagnosis of throat cancer is based on clinical symptoms, throat examination, imaging, cytological diagnosis, and histopathology.
Causes of the disease:
- Being infected with the EBV or HPV virus.
- Frequent exposure to smoke, dust, poorly ventilated environments, chemicals.
- Eating a lot of salted fish and fermented foods, drinking a lot of alcohol, smoking a lot of cigarettes.
- Due to genetics, age...
Symptoms:
- Throat cancer is a disease that develops silently with hardly any significant symptoms.
- In the early stages, the disease has symptoms such as intermittent headaches, ringing in one ear, stuffy nose on one side, swollen lymph nodes in the neck...
- In later stages, cancer cells develop aggressively, leading to larger tumors, severe headaches, unclear hearing and vision, loss of sensation in the throat, loss of swallowing reflex, mucus drainage with possible blood, entering the final stage, the disease will invade down into the nasal-throat area, mouth cavity, invade eye sockets causing eye discomfort, eye protrusion, blindness…
- Throat cancer metastasizes to distant sites such as the brain, bones, lungs, liver, and other organs, especially the lungs and bones, indicating that the disease has metastasized.
- When the disease has metastasized, it signals that you have entered the final stage of cancer, and at this point, it is difficult to completely treat the disease.
Preventive measures:
- Avoid smoking, tobacco.
- Limit alcohol consumption and alcoholic beverages.
- Limit consumption of salty foods.
- Avoid eating very hot foods that can damage the throat.
3. Breast Cancer
Breast cancer is a fairly common disease, leading cause of death among women's diseases today. Breast cancer is a form of malignant breast tumor. A tumor can be benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). Most cases of breast cancer start from milk ducts, a small part develops in the milk sacs or lobules. Breast cancer, if detected and treated late, may have spread to bones and other parts, making the pain worse.
Causes of the disease:
- Women who have children late, are unable to reproduce, or do not breastfeed are often prone to breast cancer.
- Due to genetic factors: If there is a mother or grandmother, siblings with this disease in the family, you should also go to the hospital for examination, as this disease can be hereditary among family members.
- Early menstruation or late menopause may also be a cause of the disease.
- People with a history of breast-related diseases such as breast cysts...
- Living in a toxic environment, pollution also creates conditions for breast cancer to occur.
- Obesity, lack of exercise, eating vitamin-poor foods, smoking, and drinking alcohol also increase the risk of breast cancer.
Symptoms:
- Initially, there are no specific symptoms, in some people, a hard non-painful lump can be felt on the breast.
- In the next stages, there will be clear symptoms such as nipple ulceration, discharge, retraction, palpable mass in the breast or armpit, changes in breast shape and color different from the other breast, breast pain in one or more areas.
Preventive measures:
- Limit overcooked foods, foods with too much oil, too sweet, and stimulants.
- Supplement omega-3 fatty acids, green vegetables, and fruits such as lettuce, cabbage, garlic... and combine functional products as advised by doctors.
- Screen for breast cancer and undergo regular health checks: Because the “preclinical” period of breast cancer lasts from 8 to 10 years, screening has high value in detecting and treating the disease effectively.
4. Leukemia
Leukemia or blood cancer is a malignant disease. This is the only cancer that does not create tumors. When afflicted with this disease, the white blood cells in the patient's body will mutate rapidly. Normally, white blood cells perform the task of protecting the body, however, when they mutate rapidly, a large number of white blood cells become 'ferocious' and harmful to us. At that time, white blood cells will lack 'food', leading to the phenomenon of 'eating' red blood cells. This gradually destroys the red blood cells, leading to anemia and eventually death.
Causes of the disease:
- Exposure to sources of radiation, such as in the case of atomic bomb victims in Japan at the end of World War II, the Chernobyl nuclear accident (Ukraine) in 1986, or in patients receiving radiotherapy.
- Cancer patients treated with drugs and chemicals.
- Working in environments with many chemicals such as benzene, formaldehyde.
- Some diseases due to genetic changes such as Down syndrome, caused by viruses or some blood diseases.
Symptoms:
- The symptoms of leukemia depend largely on the number of malignant white blood cells in the blood as well as on the location of these cells affecting the body. Therefore, patients in which form of the disease will have different symptoms.
- When cancerous white blood cells grow rapidly in the marrow, it will cause bone pain. At the same time, they occupy space and inhibit the development of other normal blood cells. At that time, patients may have symptoms such as red spots, headaches, bone pain, swollen lymph nodes, pale skin, constant fatigue, bleeding gums, frequent high fevers, abdominal pain.
Preventive measures:
- Avoid contact with chemicals: Types of chemicals such as herbicides, benzene... are among the main risks for the development of leukemia. In unavoidable cases, try to minimize the time of exposure and wear protective gear such as gloves, masks...
- Avoid exposure to radiation: Radiation can also alter the components in the blood, so it is better to minimize exposure to high-concentration rays.
- Exercise regularly: Should exercise for at least 30 minutes a day, with gentle exercises, suitable because science proves that exercise can prevent cancer and leukemia is no exception.
- Healthy diet: Patients should eat foods such as whole grains, fruits and vegetables, while reducing consumption of saturated fats and trans fats.
5. Lung cancer
5. Lung cancer
