The Latest Updates on Cancer Treatment

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

Cancer treatment is considered as one of the highly discussed topics in the medical industry. In light of the above, it is extremely important to figure out the treatment options available for cancer in order to provide the best possible treatment accordingly.

Finding the best possible cancer treatment is essential as it can help healthcare professionals to treat tumors while causing the least damage to the body. In other words, proper cancer treatment can minimize the changes of cancer cell redevelopment within the body as well as side-effects. 

Understanding the Treatment Options Available for Cancer

The treatments available for cancerous infections are severe and need to be handled with extreme attention and with reference to the patient's medical background. As a result, they should be done in the appropriate manner according to individual needs and not be identical for all patients. Taking unreliable or unsuitable treatments for cancer can be risky and has the potential to cause irreversible damages to your body tissues and cells. Healthcare professionals have paid special attention towards this fact in the recent past. 

As a result, they offer the treatments based on growth and character of malignant tumors. It has been empirically found that cancer cells can be treated effectively when they are detected at an early stage. However, it should be noted that the chances of curing cancer cells reduce with age. 

The increasing intensity of cancerous infections has contributed a lot towards the aforementioned fact. Therefore, an appropriate diagnosis of cancer is extremely important to plan out the proper treatment option available. Treatment options are available for almost all types of cancers and it is possible to reverse it and recover from the illness when detected at an early stage and the person is relatively young. 

Cancer treatment rotates around the efforts taken to diagnose cancers as well as the treatment method used to cure abnormal cells. One of the primary objectives of cancer treatment is to restrict the spread of cancer cells. Some harsh medical techniques are being used to restrict it, based on the condition. If the cancer cells are not treated properly, they invade the healthy body tissues and cells as well. Lack of vital resources such as blood and oxygen contribute a lot towards this abnormal behavior. This can cause a tremendous damage to the vital parts of your body in the long run. 

The most convenient option available for patients to stay away from this damage is to control the growth of cancer cells in time. The latest updates on cancer treatment have given more attention towards cancer detection as a result of it. In the meantime, necessary steps are being taken in order to strengthen your immune system. This can help the victim to create a body that is more resistible to future attacks. It will also help to gain maximum benefits out of prescribed medications. 

The Dimensions of Modern World Cancer Treatment

It is extremely important for the patient to take an appropriate treatment as such action can restrict the abnormal growth of cancerous cells. In this regard, more attention is paid towards the origin of cancer cells during the treatment process. Not all types of cancers metastasize at the same speed. Some forms of cancer, such as the ones that develop in your breast, lymph nodes, abdomen, lungs, bloodstream, neck, head and bones develop at a faster rate when compared to those that develop in other parts of your body. A closer look into stats, indicates that the above types of cancers have given rise to cancer deaths that are registered yearly around the world. Therefore, it is considered best that people who suffer from cancers in those areas need to get an aggressive treatment done. 

The treatment options available for cancer depend a lot on the type of tumor and location and size. The tumors are either cancerous or benign. The benign tumors are defined as pre-cancerous or non-cancerous because of their harmless nature to the human body. In other words, they do not have the ability to invade or kill the ordinary cells of your body. The pre-cancerous cells can easily be controlled because they do not have the ability to metastasize. Regular medication or minor surgeries are in a position to control such tumors. They have very little chance of redeveloping as well. 

On the other hand, cancerous tumors are responsible for the development of cancers within your body. They can damage the live tissues and cells in your body. Those cells would get abnormal along with time and accumulate to create a tumor or lump. They are associated with a high chance of reoccurrence as well. Therefore, you will need to opt for a drastic treatment in order to restrict their growth. 

Latest Updates on Cancer Treatments

Different types of cancer can affect human beings and the type of treatment should be based upon it. Surgery can be considered as the most common treatment that is offered to the modern world for cancer patients. It has the potential to treat the cancerous tumors that belong to an initial stage in an effective manner. 

The surgical methods for cancer treatments have gone through some significant developments throughout the past couple of years and they can even be used to treat tumors that are in their second or third stages. However, it would be better to accompany a surgery with other treatment methods such as radiation therapy or chemical therapy in order to receive the best possible results. 

Chemotherapy is another cancer invasive and toxic treatment, which has received a lot of attention in the recent past. People who suffer from cancers that have reached an advance stage are encouraged to go for this treatment. Chemotherapy is also prescribed to patients who have second and third stage cancer. 

Radiotherapy is thought of as the most advanced cancer treatment method available at the moment. In fact, it is known as the last resort of treatment for malignant tumors. Radiotherapy focuses on killing the cancer cells while destroying infected areas. This can cause severe damage to the adjacent tissues however it does attack healthy body cells as well. There have been medical case reported where permanent damage can impact the overall functioning of the body. 

As time passes by, the proliferation of technology leads to significant advances in research and practice around cancer treatment. In this sense, people should not hesitate to visit a healthcare professional if they suspect the existence of tumor or in order to get a treatment done once they are diagnosed. There are less invasive forms of treatment including alternative medicine which has become a growing trend. This type of approach focuses on the use of specific diet and a healthy lifestyle among others as a way to treat cancer. Nevertheless, it has not been extensively proven that such treatment can be more effective in comparison to traditional medicine. 

Summary

Overall, depending on the type and stage of cancer, different treatments are available to eradicate the tumor or slow its development. This could include surgery, radiation therapy, chemotherapy or hormone therapy. It is important that above all, appropriate supportive care is available for the patient and the family as they go through this difficult stage in their lives.

DON'T MISS OUT: An Overview of the Human Genome Project

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*by andreascy*

An Overview of the Human Genome Project

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

Mapping human genome can be considered as one of the main endeavors of modern world bio scientists. They have been pursuing this for decades and so far have achieved some measurable results. In simple terms, human genome can be defined as a map of how the cells of human beings are made up. If human genome is properly documented and researched, it could deliver answers to a myriad of mysteries.

Human genome is significant as it can provide with answers to questions like why we age, what genetic markers are, what causes and cures illnesses and many more. As a result, finding answers for this scientific puzzle has become part of an interesting competition. Entrepreneurs who start working on this field will be able to learn a lot of new things.

History of the Human Genome Project

The National Institute of Health in United States has established a partnership with the British government in order to solve the mysteries that are associated with the human genome project. They have hired the finest bio-scientists from different parts of the world and have created excellent equipment and facilities to complete their work successfully. A substantial amount of funds were approved generously to contribute to this project by both governments. According to statistical information, the government of United States has spent about $3 billion on this project. The British government has spent even more. 

1998 was an important year for the human genome project. In this year, a scientist named Dr. Craig Ventner was going through some published papers of the project and figured out that a different approach can be followed in order to get quick results. This method also had the ability to deliver more accurate answers for the complex issues and therefore he decided to undertake a project on this area himself. Nevertheless, as Dr. Craig Ventner was in need of financial assistance, he sought to get help from capitalist funding sources. His efforts became successful and was able to make $300 million within a short period of time. This motivated Dr. Craig Ventner to start working on his unique approach in the human genome project. His venture was named as “Celera” and it was charged with mapping the human genome to commercialize the findings. 

The Main Objective of the Human Genome Project

The primary objective of the human genome project is to figure out the consequence of chemical base pairs that are responsible for making up human DNA. It also focuses on mapping the genes of human genome through a functional and physical standpoint. As mentioned earlier, a lot of parties are involved in this project. Therefore, it can be considered as the world’s largest collaborative biological project. It was declared complete during 2003. At the early stage of this project, the main objective was to map the nucleotides in human body to reference genome. The genomes that can be found in human beings differ from one another. Hence, mapping the human genome is an extremely complex process for which scientists involved in this project hoped to succeed to eliminate that complexity.

State of Completion

The human genome project was not focused in sequencing the entire DNA that can be seen in human body cells. It only focused on the euchromatic areas of genome. In fact, euchromatic areas make up about 90 percent of human genome. The remaining area of the genome was called as heterochromatic and they were not considered in this project. 

As mentioned earlier, the human genome project was completed in 2003. The initial draft of the human genome was available by 2000 and a working draft was completed one year later. The final consequence mapping took place in 2003. This project was completed with a success rate of 99.99%. However, further analysis is being carried out at the moment and researches are scheduled to be carried out on HGP. 

Proposed Benefits of the Human Genome Project

The findings of the human genome project can be used for a variety of applications. These applications in turn have the potential to deliver tons of benefits, which range from molecular medicine up to human evolution. For instance, these findings can help people gain a better understanding about diseases. In other words, people will be able to get a clear view of the genotyping process of specific viruses that can be directed to appropriate treatments. It can also be used to identify mutations that are connected to different types of cancers. 

On the other hand, the human genome project is being used to design medication in an appropriate manner while ensuring their accuracy. The effects of medication on different people can also be predicted based on this theory. Commercial development of genomics is another major advantage that is associated with the human genome project. Therefore, it can be considered as a multibillion dollar industry. 

The sequence of DNA figured out from this method is stored in a database. The database is then being uploaded to the Internet, so that anyone can access. This database is well known as GenBank and it is being managed by the United States National Center for Biotechnology Information. Some other organizations are contributing towards it as well. 

Summary

It becomes apparent that the human genome project is one of the most important and useful projects in the biotechnology industry. It is in a position to deliver a variety of benefits for every human being that exists on the planet. From this project, it has been identified that around 20,500 genes can be found in human beings. The same range of genes can be found in mice as well.

On the other hand, the human genome consists of a large amount of segmental duplications. These duplications are nearly identical and can be defined as repeated sections of DNA. Even though the human genome project is completed at the moment, more and more studies are yet to be conducted on the same field to discover additional benefits that can be reaped out of it.

YOU MIGHT LIKE: 7 Great Natural Pain Relievers

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*by andreascy*

7 Great Natural Pain Relievers

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

If you've ever been debilitated by a sore back, you aren't alone: back pain is a very common problem. In fact, it is among the most common health complaints by Americans. 

The reason for this is simple: back pain can affect anyone.

The Causes of Back Pain

Though back pain can happen regardless of a person's age, gender, or physical health, according to the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, there are certain things that increase the risk. These include getting older, being out of shape or overweight, genetics, underlying medical conditions (such as arthritis or tumors), jobs that involve physical exercise, poor posture, and smoking (smokers tend to heal from injuries slower than nonsmokers).

Ways to Relieve Back Pain Naturally

No matter how back pain affects you - whether it is acute or chronic, minor or extreme - it's likely that you want it gone. While help may be found through trips to a chiropractor, surgical intervention, and ingestion of anti-inflammatory medications, there are also natural ways to find relief.

Releasing Endorphins

Endorphins are natural pain relievers: they are chemicals the body releases to help block pain signals (in addition to pain, they can also ease anxiety, stress, and depression). One of the most effective ways for the body to produce endorphins is through aerobic exercise. Thus, regularly working out can help ease back pain. If the back pain prohibits you from certain types of exercising, consider something low impact, such as walking or water therapy.

Exercising Abs

The abdominal muscles play a major part in supporting your lower back, but they aren't generally exercised through normal, everyday activities. Thus, you must go out of your way to exercise them. You don't need to be so intense that you develop abs of steel, but exercising your core moderately can reduce discomfort significantly. After you're injured? Take it easy for a few days, then engage in gentle exercise until you feel better. 

Applying Ice and Heat

Ice and heat may be two of the oldest tricks in the injury book. This is because they serve different purposes that work together to eliminate soreness. Applying ice reduces inflammation and acts as a local anesthetic while heat helps blood circulate (which helps in the healing process) and inhibits the brain from receiving message of pain. Alternating these two treatments can be very helpful in easing all kinds of discomfort, including back pain.

Distract Yourself

Many of us, as children, probably scraped our knees and didn't realize we were in pain until we looked down to see gushing blood. This concept can apply to all kinds of pain, not just those that are the staple of childhood. Because pain isn't just a sensation, but also an interpretation by your brain, it does allow for some manipulation. You may find that distracting yourself from your pain can help ease it. Try doing this by working on a crossword, watching a comedy, or cooking a complicated meal.

Natural Herbs

In addition to the above, natural herbs may also serve as strong pain relievers.

Per NBC News, some of these herbs include:

Capsaicin

Found in chili peppers, capsaicin may be effective in reducing back pain, particularly if it is caused by arthritis. Topical capsaicin applied to the skin can temporarily reduce sensitivity in nerve receptors of the skin.

Fish Oil

Often taken for the heart, fish oil also contains chemicals that are successful in reducing inflammation. In a University of Pittsburgh study, two thirds of people suffering from neck and back pain were able to stop taking NSAIDS after ten weeks of ingesting cod-liver oil.

Arnica

Like fish oil, arnica also has anti-inflammatory properties. Those who orally take arnica often find decreased pain after suffering acute injuries and less swelling after surgery.

We hope to provide helpful advice to those with health related questions. If you need further medical help or information, we suggest visiting a professional or feel free to contact us for some guidance. 

*by andreascy*

Fitness Apps For Life

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

You are set for your morning jog. Your sportswear’s on, running shoes laced up, sunscreen applied, baby jogger occupied, and the beagle’s in tow. As you rush out the door and down the drive, you realize you left behind the most important tool for a successful workout - your smartphone. 

It has everything you need to map your route, log your exercise time, track your distance, measure your heartbeat and your pulse, and then provide you with a refreshing smoothie recipe after you return home. You log your consumption, count your calories and fat, and post an update for your fitness pals, and then you use your Internet service to get online and check your overall fitness progress.

Fitness On The Brain 

Health and fitness are on the minds of almost everyone as we struggle to diet, exercise, and eat right while balancing work, play, and the kiddos. Medline Plus reminds us that physical exercise on a regular basis can help to control our weight, improve our mental state, lower our risks for heart disease, diabetes, and cancer, and strengthen our muscles and bones. The more activity we engage in, the more likely we can continue to exercise and live longer. 

Reader’s Digest concludes that people should try to exercise for about 30 minutes five to seven days a week. The magazine recommends walking briskly or gardening, at a minimum. For weight loss, a more aggressive schedule of 90 minutes of intense activity, such as aerobics or jogging, is preferred. In preparation for an exercise solution that fits with your business schedule, it may be time to tap into your mobile device. Now, more than ever before, fitness apps are not only readily available but also free! 

Apps for Fitness Monitoring 

• MyFitnessPal — Track food intake, calories, fat and nutrition, makes notes, and share updates with your fitness pals. 

• Nike Training Club — Select a fitness level and goal for more than 100 workouts that last 15, 30, or 45 minutes, with audio from Nike athletes and trainers. 

• Endomondo — A GPS-type system for tracking how far you bike, run, walk, or travel while engaging in physical activity. It also connects with social media. 

Apps for Diet 

• Epicurious — More than 30,000 professional recipes, with an option to set favorites and create a shopping list. 

• Zipongo — For healthier eating, locate discounts on healthy food items, plan meals, and enjoy rewards. 

• TrackNSlim — Tracks and reports your food intake and habits, including calories, carbs, fats, protein, sodium, and cholesterol. 

Apps for Abs and Cardio 

• Runtastic — A robust personal sports and fitness app for biking, hiking, running, skating, or skiing. Track activities, use built-in GPS, run reports, create graphs, listen to music, configure dashboard, get voice feedback, monitor heartrate, and more. 

• Adidas miCoach — Provides audible coaching and GPS for customized training and workouts. Save and view workout data, measure distance, pace, calories, and time. Access music, track shoe usage and wear, and set alerts. 

• Gym Technik — Guidance and tracking for workouts including body statistics, workout schedule planning, workout routines, progress charting, and summaries.

RECOMMENDED: The Hottest Fitness Gadgets on the Market

If you are looking for a great way to get started with a winning fitness routine, count calories, or manage your health data, this section is the best place to start. 

*by andreascy*

10 Stories You Shouldn't Miss This Weekend

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

Who's awesome? You're awesome! 😍 😍

We wanted to just take a second and say thank you to everyone. Have a wonderful weekend!

It is good to have spent sometime reading this week and i had a tough task to pick through many dozens of shortlisted stories. I guess the ones here are those pieces that had a lasting impact (click the headlines to read the full story). Hope you like this selection.

1. Brands - it's time to stop being faceless and start showing character on social media. There was a time when brands could get away with all-out self-promotion. Things have changed a lot in the last couple of years. Now, businesses really need to take into consideration what audiences want - especially personality. A great piece that is worth reading.

2. Why is Android’s growth rate suddenly flat? (Hint: Android is not the same as Google Android). Mobile phone technology exploded over the last 7 or so years,… the whole industry is much slower now. Saturated, and a bit non-plussed at this point.

3. The Psychology of Color in Marketing and Branding. We love color, it makes life so much better. This is one of the best info graphs we've seen in a long time! Read this extensive discussion about the impact of color on ‪marketing‬. 

4. Social media giants' features compared. Google+ comes on top with 50 features vs 30 supported by Facebook and 20 by Twitter. One of the best things I have read this week.

5. Brands: Who Owns What? Ever wonder what massive corporation controls all of the other companies? This crazy-amazing graphic shows who owns what and how.

6. Why Social media actually works for small business [Infographic]. Social Media is a powerful tool for small businesses and startups to market themselves with the right intent. It's easy, effective and the fastest way to approach the intended customer base.

7. A Smooth, 3D Printed, Multicolored, High-Resolution Vaze. The ProDesk3D from botObjects, an unreleased 3-D printer, says they've conquered the problem of crappy resolution in 3-D printed objects. Watch out the video that demonstrates the beauty and finish quality of 25 micron printing, using PLA (Not ABS) thermoplastics.

8. Smart Surgical Knife Detects Cancerous Tissue. Surgeons may have a new way to smoke out cancer! An experimental surgical knife can help surgeons make sure they've removed all the cancerous tissue. This knife could be a groundbreaking development in cancer surgery.

9. Spell Check on Paper With Lernstift's Digital Pen. Digital Pen points out spelling errors with a subtle vibration to help kids (and adults) acquire better writing skills! This is possibly the smartest pen we've ever seen.

10. Mural.ly loves Evernote. Evernote is fast becoming my go to organization tool. Linking it to mural.ly makes it even more useful. I can now use the material in my Evernote account to create a mural.ly presentation. 

Looking forward to hearing your feedback and insights in the comments below. Please don't forget to like our Fan page and show your love like always! 

Peace out. ✌

*by andreascy*

The True Picture of Health

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description : 

The health sector is projected to account for $13,000 per capita spending in 2020, which is well over $4 trillion. Current spending is $8,311 per capita, and many are wondering where all this money comes from and where it goes. The largest share of spending is by the federal government at 29 percent with states picking up another 16 percent. Private sector spending, including out-of-pocket spending, health savings accounts, and insurance plans, comes from households at 28 percent of the total and business at 21 percent.

Where the money goes is a more difficult picture. The two largest chunks nominally go to hospitals at 37 percent and physicians/clinics at 23.6 percent. The size of the chunk taken by health insurers and administrators is a contentious topic. Spending is only part of the story as well. Heart disease alone is estimated to cost $444 billion each year, and this number includes lost income alongside surgeries, services and medications.

Source: Best Masters in Healthcare

*by andreascy*

TED : Mina Bissell - Experiments that point to a new understanding of cancer

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description : 

For decades, researcher Mina Bissell pursued a revolutionary idea - that a cancer cell doesn't automatically become a tumor, but rather, depends on surrounding cells (its microenvironment) for cues on how to develop. 

She shares the two key experiments that proved the prevailing wisdom about cancer growth was wrong.

Check more interesting TED Performances.

*by andreascy*

Science Nation - This Breathalyzer Reveals Signs of Disease

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

Hello THE OFFICIAL ANDREASCY lovers. I hope you are doing well! This invention could give new meaning to the term "bad breath!" 

It's the Single Breath Disease Diagnostics Breathalyzer, and when you blow into it, you get tested for a biomarker - a sign of disease. 

For as amazing as that sounds, the process is actually very simple thanks to ceramics nanotechnology. All it takes is a single exhale. 

With support from the National Science Foundation (NSF), Professor Perena Gouma and her team at Stony Brook University in New York developed a sensor chip that you might say is the "brain" of the breathalyzer. 

It's coated with tiny nanowires that look like microscopic spaghetti and are able to detect minute amounts of chemical compounds in the breath. 

You can't buy this in the stores just yet -- individual tests such as an acetone - detecting breathalyzer for monitoring diabetes and an ammonia-detecting breathalyzer to determine when to end a home-based hemodialysis treatment are still being evaluated clinically. 

However, researchers envision developing the technology such that a number of these tests can be performed with a single device. 

Within a couple of years you might be able to self-detect a whole range of diseases and disorders, including lung cancer, by just exhaling into a handheld breathalyzer. Have a look:

We love this kind of experiments. So promising! Discover more research topics on our Newspaper.

Thank you so much for your support! 💝💝

*by andreascy*