Two people with the same pains have different pain levels. For example both back pain but one can still indulge while others could only lay there. This apparently caused by different genes.

Scientists have struggled to explain why some people are more sensitive and less able to withstand pain. A gene known as SCN9A responsible for this. These findings could be expected in future gene therapy as an alternative in patients who experience severe chronic pain.

"By finding the gene that is responsible for the pain, it can increase the ability to conquer and control it," said Dr. Geoffrey Woods of the Cambridge University, as quoted from the Telegraph, Tuesday (03/09/2010). Dr Woods added this for biomedical researchers and doctors are looking for analgesics (pain relievers) is effective with an acceptable side effects. Therefore required a significant development of therapies and even better.

Many people in the world suffer from chronic pain resulting from injury or arthritis that affects their lives and some even cause depression.

Scientists find a gene in a study involving 578 people who suffer from osteoarthritis, pain rheumatic pain, sore pungung and other pain problems.

Discovered a protein made by this version of the gene mutations known as SCN9A open longer than usual. This could increase the activation of the nerve resulting in pain or pain sensation.

"The pain serves as an adaptive mechanism that protects us from damage to tissues and as a warning to the possibility of injury," said Dr Woods.

 With the discovery of genes of this pain, so the researchers can modify the function of SCN9A that could potentially treat conditions such as osteoarthitris. The results of this study have been published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

There are some diseases that derivative is automatically lowered to the child or the next generation, namely:

1. Haemophilia

Haemophilia is one instance of disease due to deficiency of blood clotting factor 8 or 9. Commands have blood clots in the X chromosome, so hemophilia patients are mostly men. Because the majority of women as carriers only. The disease is difficult to prevent because every child has one sex chromosome from the mother and one sex chromosome from the father, hence the disease is always starting from the children. 

Before further discussion about appendicitis which in medical language is called Appendicitis, then it first must be understood what is meant by the appendix. Appendix, as the name suggests that this is really the tip intestinal tract is clogged. This gut of approximately pinkie finger, is connected to the large intestine that is located in the lower right abdomen.

Appendectomy in Latin referred to as Appendix vermiformis, this organ is found in humans, mammals, birds, and several species of reptiles. This organ was originally considered as an additional organ that has no function, but when it is known that the function of the appendix is an organ imunologic and actively play a role in the secretion of immunoglobulin (an immune system) which has / contains lymphoid glands.

Like the organs of the body another, appendix or the appendix of this disorder can suffer damage or disease attack. It is that often we know the name of appendicitis Disease (Appendicitis).

Disease Causes of appendicitis (Appendicitis)

Appendicitis disease is generally caused by bacterial infection, but there are several possible factors originators who until now could not clearly known. Among the factors blockage (obstruction) in the lining of the channel (lumen) appendix by feces pile / hard fecal material (fekalit), hyperplasia (enlargement) lymphoid tissue, worm diseases, parasites, foreign bodies in the body, the primary cancer and stricture.

Among the factors above, the most frequently found and is strongly suspected as a factor penyabab blockage by stool / feces and lymphoid tissue hyperplasia. Obstruction or enlargement is at the media for bacteria to breed. Please note that in the feces / human fecal material is likely to have been contaminated by the bacterium / bacteria Escherichia coli, is that often lead to infection resulting in inflammation of the appendix.

Eating chilies with cashew seeds or seeds with guajava s epiderm often not digested in the feces and slipped kesaluran appendices as salty things, Nor hardening stool / feces (constipation) in a very long time there may be parts tucked into kesaluran appendices which eventually became the media germs / bacteria nest and breed as the infection that causes inflammation of the appendix.

Someone who experienced worm disease (intestinal worms), if the worm that breeds in the large intestine and then strayed into the appendix, it can cause disease of appendicitis.

The disease picture of appendicitis (Appendicitis)

Inflammation or pembengkakaan that occurred in the appendix causing lymph fluid and blood flow is not perfect in the appendix (appendices) as a result of pressure, finally the appendix and damage occurred decay (gangrene) because it did not get food again.

This appendix decomposition produces purulent fluid, if not immediately dealt with the consequences appendix will rupture (perforation / tear) and pus, which contains the bacteria spread to the abdominal cavity. Impact is a widespread infection, ie infection of the abdomen wall (peritonitis).

Signs and symptoms of appendicitis disease

Symptoms vary depending on the stage appendix;
Acute appendicitis disease (sudden).
In this condition, which caused symptoms of high body heat, nausea, vomiting, stomach pain right bottom, make the walk so sick, so rather terbongkok, but not everyone will show symptoms such as these, can also only be feverish, or nausea-vomiting only.

Chronic appendicitis disease.
At this stage the symptoms of heartburn a little like where there is a faint pain (dull) in the area around the navel and sometimes fever that come and go. Often accompanied by nausea and sometimes vomiting, and pain it will move to the right lower abdomen with signs typical of acute appendicitis is pain point PD Mc Burney (medical term).
The spread of pain will depend on the direction of the position / location of the appendix to the colon itself, When the tip touches the appendix ureter ureter, the pain will be the same with colicky pain sensation of the urinary tract, and there might be trouble urinating. If the appendix to the rear position, the pain came on rectal examination or puncture the vaginal puncture. In the appendix another position, the pain may not be so specific.

Inspection diagnosis of appendicitis disease

There are several checks that can be done by the health team to determine and diagnose the disease of appendicitis (Appendicitis) by the patient. Among them are physical examination, laboratory and radiological examinations;
Physical examination.
In acute appendicitis, with observations would seem there is swelling (swelling) of the abdominal cavity where the walls seem to tighten the abdomen (distention). On touching (palpation) the lower right abdominal area, often feels pain when pressed and released when the pressure will also be a pain (Blumberg sign) which is the key to the diagnosis of acute appendicitis.

With the action right leg bent and strong thighs / leg in lifting it high, then the abdominal pain was getting worse. Suspicion of appendicitis inflammation increases when the inspection or the rectum and the vagina leading to pain, too. Rectal temperature (rectal) temperature is higher than the armpit (axilla), further supporting the longer presence of appendicitis.

Laboratory examination.
On laboratory examination of blood, which can be found is an increase of white blood cells (leukocytes) to around 10 000 - 18.000/mm3. If the increase is more than that, then chances are the appendix had perforated (burst).

Radiological examination.
Plain photo abdomen may reveal a fekalit. But this examination is rarely helpful in the diagnosis of appendicitis. Ultrasonography (USG) was quite helpful in the diagnosis of appendicitis (71-97%), especially for pregnant women and children. The highest level of accuracy is by CT scan (93-98%). With the CT scan can clearly picture the appendix.

Handling and Nursing appendicitis

 When the diagnosis is certain, then the standard treatment for the disease of appendicitis (appendicitis) is operating. Early on when this condition can be immediately diagnosed the possibility of giving antibiotics can only be done, however kekambuhannya level reaches 35%. 

Many people keep asking if sex can be very helpful to prevent prostate cancer. This article is looking into and examining how and why sex can help in the prevention of prostate cancer or not. But of course - before you take the advice of this article, make sure you consult with your doctor. The doctor believes the end of the advice because they are experts and they should know more about you to provide the right health advice.

There is true that sex can help in the prevention of this condition. It's very simple, if you look at it closely. The fact that the prostate should be in good health to prevent prostate cancer. With enlargement and the unhealthiness of the prostate that typically contribute to this disease. Needless to say, that keep the prostate healthy and clean as possible will help prevent prostate cancer and even species. If you want to know what could have sex with maintaining a healthy prostate and clean - keep reading. You see, the more you have sex, you kind of "cleanse" your prostate. With sex and ejaculating, you will "clean out" your prostate and it can help, a little, in preventing this disease.

Although all health and prostate cancer expert who was not accepted sex can actually help prevent prostate cancer, but many of them argued that it could. But whether he can prevent prostate cancer, he really does not hurt you to do a healthy sex as often as possible. Please note that I said - sex healthy - and it is sex with one partner or safe sex.

Prevent Diabetes With Tea And Coffee Consumption By Organized

Leukemia (blood cancer) is a type of cancer that attacks white blood cells produced by bone marrow (bone marrow). Bone marrow or bone marrow in the human body produces three types of blood cells including white blood cell (functioning as an endurance fight infection), red blood cell (function to bring oxygen into the body) and platelets (small part of blood cells that help blood clotting process ).

Leukemia is generally appear in a person since the days his small, bone marrow without clear cause has been producing white blood cells do not develop normal or abnormal. Normally, white blood cells to repeated reproduction when the body needs it or no room for the blood cell itself. The human body will give signs / signals on a regular basis when will the blood cell-reproduction is expected to be back. In cases of leukemia (blood cancer), white blood cells do not respond to the sign / signal is given. Finally, uncontrolled excessive production (abnormal) will exit from the bone marrow and can be found in the peripheral blood or peripheral blood. The number of abnormal white blood cells of this excessive amount can disrupt the normal function of other cells, Someone with this condition (leukemia) will show some symptoms such as susceptible to infectious diseases, anemia and bleeding.

# Acute Leukemia and Chronic Disease

Acute leukemia is marked by a very rapid course of the disease, deadly, and worse. If this is not treated immediately, it can cause death within weeks to days. While chronic leukemia have a disease that does not travel so quickly that it has a longer life expectancy, up to more than one year.

# Leukemia is classified according to cell type

When the audit reveals that affects lymphocyte leukemia or lymphoid cells, it is called lymphocytic leukemia. While the leukemia that affects cells such as neutrophils mieloid, basofil, and eosinophils, called chronic myelogenous leukemia.

From this classification, the Leukemia is divided into four types of designation;
1. Acute lymphocytic leukemia (lla). Is the most common type of leukemia in children. The disease is also found in adults who primarily have been aged 65 years or older.
2. Acute myelogenous leukemia (LMA). It is more common in adults than children. This type formerly called nonlimfositik acute leukemia.
3. Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (LLK). This is often suffered by adults older than 55 years. Sometimes also suffered by young adults, and almost none in children.
4. Chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) often occurs in adults. Can also occur in children, but very little.

# Cause Disease Leukemia

Until now the cause of leukemia is not known with certainty, but there are several factors affecting the frequency of occurrence of leukemia.
1. Radiation. This is supported by some reports from some studies that deal with cases of leukemia that radiology staff more often suffering from leukemia, Penerita with radiotherapy more often suffering from leukemia, leukemia incidence was found in atomic bomb survivors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan.

2. Leukemogenik. Several chemicals have been identified are reported can affect the frequency of leukemia, eg environmental toxins such as benzene, a chemical such as insecticide inustri, drugs used for chemotherapy.

3. Hereditary. Down Syndrome sufferers have an acute leukemia incidence 20 times greater than normal people.

4. Viruses. Some types of viruses can cause leukemia, such as retroviruses, feline leukemia virus, HTLV-1 in adults.

# Signs and Symptoms of Leukemia Disease

Leukemia Symptoms are generally caused differ between the patients, however, can generally be described as follows:
1. Anemia. Patients will soon appear tired, pale and breathing fast (red blood cells below normal causing less oxygen in the body, resulting in the patient breathes faster to compensate for the fulfillment of oxygen deficiency in the body).

2. Bleeding. When Platelets (blood clotting cells) are not produced naturally as dominated by white blood cells, then the patient will experience bleeding skin dijaringan (number of larvae wide red / dijaringan little skin).

3. Esophageal infection. White blood cells act as protective immunity, especially against infectious diseases. In Leukemia Patients, white blood cells diterbentuk is not normal (abnormal) so can not work properly. As a result the body of the patient vulnerable to viral infection or bacteria, even by itself will reveal the existence of a complaint of fever, white-out fluid from the nose (runny) and cough.

4. Bones and Joints Pain. This is caused as a result of bone marrow (bone marrow) urged by the solid white blood cells.

5. Stomach pain. Abdominal pain is also one indication of the symptoms of leukemia, where the leukemia cells may collect in kidney, liver and bile that causes enlargement of these organs and emerge the pain. This may cause abdominal pain loss of appetite patients with leukemia.

6. Swollen Glands Lympa. Patients likely to experience swelling of the glands lympa, whether it is under the arm, neck, chest and others. Lympa duty gland filter blood, leukemia cells can be collected here and cause swelling.

7. Difficulty breathing (dyspnea). Patients may exhibit symptoms of difficulty breathing and chest pain, if this happens it should immediately get medical help.

# Diagnosis of Disease Leukemia (Blood Cancer)

Leukaemia disease can be ascertained with some checks, such as; biopsy, Blood tests (complete blood count (CBC)), CT or CAT scan, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), X-ray, Ultrasound, Spinal tap / lumbar puncture.

# Handling and Treatment of Leukemia

Handling cases of leukemia disease usually starts from the symptoms that arise, such as anemia, bleeding and infection. Broadly speaking the handling and treatment of leukemia can be done by a single or a combination of several methods below:

1. Chemotherapy / intrathecal medications
2. Radiation Therapy. This method is rarely used
3. Bone marrow transplantation (bone marrow)
4. Provision of drugs and hypodermic tablets
5. Transfusion of red blood cells or platelets.

Therapy systems that are often used in dealing with patients with leukemia is a combination of chemotherapy (chemotherapy) and the provision of drugs that focuses on the dismissal of production of abnormal white blood cells in the bone marrow. Next is the treatment of some symptoms and signs have been displayed by the patient's body to monitor the komprehensive.

Cancer Lung cancer is categorized in the deadly disease, for both men and women. Compared with other cancer types, such as prostate cancer, colon cancer, and breast cancer, lung cancer nowadays tend to rise faster development.

Lung cancer is a form of very rapid growth of cells (abnormal) in lung tissue caused by changes in tissue form cells or expansion of the cells themselves. If left to this abnormal growth can be spread to other organs, both near and far with a Pulmonary example bone, liver, or brain. Lung cancer caused by smoking more (87%), while the remainder is caused by the substance of asbestos, radiation, arsenic, chromate, nickel, klorometil ethers, mustard gas and coke oven emissions can cause lung cancer, although usually only occurs on workers who also smoked.

# Classification for Lung Cancer

There is the classification of lung cancer, is viewed from both dijaringan lung diffusion rate itself and to other organs. But basically the lung cancer is divided into two levels of criteria based on their distribution:

1. Primary lung cancer
Has two main types, namely Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). SCLC is the kind of small cells (many) which has a very rapid growth in power until engorged. Usually called "oat cell carcinomas" (wheat cell carcinoma). This type is closely associated with smokers, Handling responds well enough through the action of chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

While the growth of NSCLC cells is a single, but often strike more than one area in the lungs. For example adenoma, Hamartoma kondromatous and Sarcoma.

2. Secondary lung cancer
Lung cancer is a disease that arises as a result of the spread of cancer from other organs, most often breast cancer and colon cancer (stomach). Cancer spreads through the blood, lymphatic system or due to closeness of organs.



# Signs and Symptoms of Lung Cancer

Signs and symptoms of lung cancer will only occur when the abnormal growth of cells was more severe towards a more advanced stage, and this will take many years since the beginning of its development. There's even a possibility did not show any specific signs and symptoms, but only visible if the X-ray done. But if some of the signs and symptoms below when perceived, should immediately see a doctor:

1. Old coughing in people smoking
2. Difficulty breathing (shortness of breath)
3. Cough out blood (even though small amounts)
4. Frequent lung infections (pneumonia or bronchitis)
5. The presence of chest pain, shoulder and back section
6. Change from the usual voice
7. Cough for more than two weeks in people who do not smoke
8. Others, such as difficulty swallowing, neck and face appeared swollen, decreased appetite, weight loss, quickly tired or weak.


# Causes Lung Cancer

The biggest cause is smoking, while others are caused by contamination of the surrounding air by the substance of asbestos, air pollution by fumes or combustion including tobacco smoke. There are several cases of diseases that trigger lung cancer, namely tuberculosis and pneumonia. Both diseases can cause organ injury in the lung tissue cells supports the growth of abnormal cells inside the cavity. Lung cancer usually develops from this case is a type of adenocarcinoma (adenoma).

# Handling and Lung Cancer Treatment

Handling and treatment or treatment performed on people who have undiagnosed lung cancer will depend on the level stage, the possibility of operation, and general condition of the patient. This is not apart of history and the causes of lung cancer is certainly there.

Some typical steps are:

* Actions cancer cells lift surgery
* Actions of Radiation Therapy
* Action Therapy Kemotherapy
* (Photodynamic Action injections (PTD))

Providing Nutrition and supplements can reduce symptoms caused by lung cancer. Vitamin D and Fe is very good to be administered by lung cancer patients, so it is with antioxidant foods like blueberri, cherri, and tomatoes. Source: Lung Cancer Disease

Elephant Leg Disease (or Elephantiasis Filariasis) is a group of infectious disease caused by Filaria worms that are transmitted through various species of mosquitoes. After biting mosquito, the parasite (larvae) will spread and when it comes to network lympa system then develops into the disease. This disease is chronic (chronic) and if not treated, can cause permanent disabilities such as enlargement of the legs, arms and genitals both women and men. Elephant Leg Disease is not a deadly disease, however, for patients may be something that feels shameful even can interfere with daily activities.

Elephant Leg Disease commonly found in many tropical regions. According to information from WHO, the order states that there are patients experiencing disease elephantiasis is South Asia (India and Bangladesh), Africa, the Pacific and the Americas. Later, many states also occur in Thailand and Indonesia (Southeast Asia).

# Transmission Elephant Leg Disease

The disease is transmitted by mosquitoes which suck the blood of someone who had contracted earlier. Infected blood and contain larvae and would be transmitted to another person when an infected mosquito bite or suck the blood of that person.

Unlike malaria and dengue fever, filariasis can be transmitted by 23 species of mosquitoes of the genus Anopheles, Culex, Mansonia, Aedes & Armigeres. Because of this, filariasis can spread very quickly.

# Signs and Symptoms of Elephant Leg Disease

A person infected with elephantiasis disease usually occurs in childhood, where in a long time (many years) began to be felt development.


The acute symptoms that can occur include:

* Fever over and over for 3-5 days, fever may be lost if the break and came back after working hard

* Swollen lymph nodes (without any cuts) areas thigh folds, armpits (lymphadenitis), which are reddish, hot and painful

* Inflammation of lymph channels that feels hot and the pain that spreads from the base of the foot or base of the arm towards the end (retrograde lymphangitis)

* Filarial abscesses often suffer due to swollen lymph nodes, it can burst and release pus and blood

* Enlarging the legs, arms, breasts, testicles that look a little flushed and feels hot (early lymphodema)


While the symptoms of chronic diseases such as elephantiasis, is a permanent enlargement (elephantiasis) of the legs, arms, breasts, testicles (elephantiasis skroti).

# Elephant Leg Disease Diagnostic Examination

Elephantiasis disease is generally detected through microscopic examination of blood, Till this moment it is still considered difficult because of microfilaria just come and present themselves in the blood at night for several hours (nocturnal periodicity).

In addition, various method of examination was also performed to diagnose the disease elephantiasis. Among them is the system known as membrane Penjaringan, Knott concentration method and the deposition technique.

Inspection method which is closer towards the diagnosis and recognized by the WHO is a road inspection system "test card" This is very simple and sensitive for detecting the spread of the parasite (larvae). That is by taking a finger prick blood sample droplets diwaktu system anytime, not necessarily at night.

# Handling and Treatment Elephant Leg Disease

The main goal in early treatment of patients with elephantiasis, the disease is to eradicate parasites or larvae that developed in the patient's body, so the rate of transmission can be suppressed and reduced.

Dietilkarbamasin (diethylcarbamazine (DEC)) is the only potent drugs for filariasis bancrofti or malayi filariasis, is makrofilarisidal and mikrofilarisidal. These drugs are relatively cheap, safe and no drug resistance. Patients who received this drug therapy may provide local and systemic side reactions are temporary and easily resolved with symptomatic medication.

Dietilkarbamasin not be used for khemoprofilaksis. Treatment is given orally after dinner, quickly absorbed, reaching peak concentration in blood in three hours, and excreted through urine. Dietilkarbamasin diberikanpada no children younger than 2 years, pregnant / lactating, and patients with severe pain or
in a position of weakness.

However, in cases of elephantiasis disease severe enough (already enlarged) because it is not detected early, in addition to giving drugs would require further steps such as surgery.

# Elephant Leg Disease Prevention

For patients with disease awareness elephant expected to check their medicine and get medical treatment so as not to disseminate obtan transmission to other communities. For this reason there should be education and the introduction of diseases to patients and residents nearby.

Eradication of mosquitoes each region is very important to break the disease transmission chain. Maintain environmental hygiene is of paramount importance to prevent the development of mosquitoes that area.

Spelled breast cancer the most common cancer attacking women, though men also have the possibility of having this disease with a comparison between the 1000. Until now it is not certain what causes this cancer occurs, but several factors likely are:

1. Age, disease increases breast cancer at the age of teenagers and upwards.

2. Genetically, there two types of genes (BRCA1 and BRCA2) that sagat possibly as a risk. If the mother or female relatives of breast cancer, then you likely have an increased risk of breast cancer two-fold compared to the other women in her family there was no single patient.

3. Use of drugs, for example a woman who uses hormone replacement therapy drugs (hormone replacement therapy (HRT)), such as exogenous hormones can cause increased risk of getting breast cancer.

4. Another factor that is suspected as the cause of breast cancer "are not married, married but no children, gave birth to her first child after age 35 years, never breastfeed.SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF DISEASE BREAST CANCER

For those of you who feel any strange lumps around the breast tissue or even one of the breasts look bigger, better consult a doctor quickly. These bumps are generally painless, ranging from small size that became large and palpable as embedded in the skin. Some cases of breast skin changes around the lump or change in the nipple.

When the lump started to grow, then cause pain (pain) when pressed. If you feel pain in the breast and nipple that does not go away, you should immediately consult a medical. Nipple into the contract, which was pink and finally become brown and even the existence of edema (swelling) around the nipple is one strong sign of breast cancer. Another thing is often out of fluid from the nipple when not nursing your baby. TYPE DISEASE OF BREAST CANCER

Through the examination of the call with mammograms, so this type of breast cancer can be categorized into two parts, namely:


1. Non-invasive breast cancer, cancer that occurs in the bag (tube) milk (a liaison between the alveoli (milk producing glands) and nipples). In the language of medicine called 'ductal carcinoma in situ "(DCIS), to which cancer has not spread to the outside of the network of the milk bag.

2. Invasive breast cancer, cancer that has spread beyond the milk bags and attack the surrounding tissue may even lead to the spread (metastases) assigned to other bodies such as the lymph lympa and others through blood circulation.

HANDLING AND TREATMENT OF BREAST CANCER

Handling and treatment of breast cancer depends on the type and stage experienced by sufferers. Generally known someone new breast cancer after stepping up a fairly severe stadium, due to lack of knowledge or shame so late to the abnormalities seen by medicine is facing.

1. Surgery, at which breast cancer is found early, the surgery was the appropriate action. The doctor will take a bump and a small area surrounding the then replace it with another muscle tissue (lumpectomy). Broadly speaking, there are three surgical intervention or surgery such as breast cancer;

- Radical Mastectomy, ie surgical removal of part of the breast (lumpectomy). This operation is always followed by the provision of radiotherapy. Lumpectomy is usually recommended in patients with large tumors less than 2 centimeters and situated on the edge of the breast.
- Total Mastectomy, ie surgical removal of the entire breast, but not the glands in the armpit.
- Modified Radical Mastectomy, ie surgical removal of the entire breast, breast tissue in the sternum, collarbone and ribs, and lumps around the armpit.

2. Radiotherapy (Radiation / radiation), ie the process of irradiating the areas affected by cancer by using x-rays and gamma rays that aims to kill remaining cancer cells in the breast after surgery. These actions have unfavorable effects as the body becomes weak, appetite decreased, the color of the skin around the breast to be black, and Hb and leukocyte count tends to decline as a result of radiation.

3. Hormone Therapy, This is known as 'anti-estrogen therapy' that the system works memblock existing capabilities in the hormone estrogen tends to stimulate the development of breast cancer.

4. Chemotherapy, This is a process of giving anti-cancer drugs in the form of pills or capsules or liquid through the infusion aimed at killing cancer cells. This system is expected to reach the target in the treatment of cancer that has spread goto the possibility of other bodies. Impact of kemoterapy are patients experience nausea and vomiting and hair loss due to the influence of drugs given during chemotherapy.

5. Herceptin treatment is biological therapy is known to be effective against HER2-positive in women who got breast cancer stage II, III and IV with cancernya cell spreading.

DISEASE PREVENTION BREAST CANCER

For those of you who feel there are things that look different in the breast, get it checked out to doctors not to be late. For example the next enlargement, the presence of surrounding breast lump, pain in nipple continuously and so forth as in the caption above signs and symptoms of breast.

Common Diabetes Drug may cause Heart Disease


heart diseaseAccording to an article published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, a commonly used diabetes drug may increase the chances of having heart disease or a stroke.

In a study that consisting of about a quarter million Type 2 diabetic patients, patients who were taking Avandia were at a higher risk of having a heart attack than those who were on Actos, a competitor drug. The risk of heart failure was about 25 percent more and that of stroke was 27 percent higher in those patients who were on Avandia.

This is not the only time Avandia has been in the limelight for all the wrong reasons. A study in England in 2007 had suggested the same thing. This incident had also prompted an inquiry by the United States Food and Drug Administration.

But doctors are still sceptical about the evidence against Avandia. According to Dr. Richard Bach, the director of the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, “In my opinion the data is inconclusive. The weight of the evidence needs to be considered while judging a drug. And I would not say that the evidence against the drug is strong enough to say that the drug is harmful“

What Are Symptoms and Signs?

A symptom is an indication of disease, illness, injury, or that something is not right in the body. Symptoms are felt or noticed by a person, but may not easily be noticed by anyone else. For example, chills, weakness, achiness, shortness of breath, and a cough are possible symptoms of pneumonia.

A sign is also an indication that something is not right in the body. But signs are defined as observations made by a doctor, nurse, or other health care professional. Fever, rapid breathing rate, and abnormal breathing sounds heard through a stethoscope are possible signs of pneumonia.

The presence of one symptom or sign may not give enough information to suggest a cause. For example, a rash in a child could be a symptom of a number of things including poison ivy, an infectious disease like measles, an infection limited to the skin, or a food allergy. But if the rash is seen along with other signs and symptoms like a high fever, chills, achiness, and a sore throat, then a doctor can get a better picture of the illness. In many cases, a patient's signs and symptoms do not provide enough clues by themselves to determine the cause of an illness, and medical tests such as x-rays, blood tests, or a biopsy may be needed.

How Does Cancer Produce Signs and Symptoms?

Cancer is a group of diseases that may cause almost any sign or symptom. The signs and symptoms will depend on where the cancer is, the size of the cancer, and how much it affects the surrounding organs or structures. If a cancer spreads (metastasizes), then symptoms may appear in different parts of the body.

As a cancer grows, it begins to push on nearby organs, blood vessels, and nerves. This pressure creates some of the signs and symptoms of cancer. If the cancer is in a critical area, such as certain parts of the brain, even the smallest tumor can produce early symptoms.

Sometimes, however, cancers form in places where there may be no symptoms until the cancer has grown quite large. Pancreas cancers, for example, do not usually grow large enough to be felt from the outside of the body. Some pancreatic cancers do not produce symptoms until they begin to grow around nearby nerves, causing a backache. Others grow around the bile duct, which blocks the flow of bile and leads to a yellowing of the skin known as jaundice. By the time a pancreatic cancer causes these signs or symptoms, it has usually reached an advanced stage.

A cancer may also cause symptoms such as fever, fatigue, or weight loss. This may be caused by cancer cells using up much of the body’s energy supply or releasing substances that change the body’s metabolism. Or the cancer may cause the immune system to react in ways that produce these symptoms.

Sometimes, cancer cells release substances into the bloodstream that cause symptoms not usually thought to result from cancers. For example, some cancers of the pancreas can release substances which cause blood clots to develop in veins of the legs. Some lung cancers make hormone-like substances that affect blood calcium levels, affecting nerves and muscles and causing weakness and dizziness.

How Are Signs and Symptoms Helpful?

Treatment is most successful when cancer is found as early as possible. Finding cancer early usually means it can be treated while it is still small and is less likely to have spread to other parts of the body. This often means a better chance for a cure, especially if initial treatment is to be surgery.

A good example of the importance of detecting cancer early is melanoma skin cancer. It is easily removed if it has not yet grown deeply into the skin, and the 5-year survival rate (percentage of people living at least 5 years after diagnosis) at this stage is nearly 100%. But once melanoma has spread to other parts of the body the survival rate drops dramatically.

Sometimes people ignore symptoms either because they do not recognize the symptoms as being significant or because they are frightened by what they might mean and don’t want to seek medical help. General symptoms, such as fatigue, are more likely to have a cause other than cancer and can seem unimportant, especially if they have an obvious cause or are only temporary. In a similar way, a person may reason that a more specific symptom like a breast mass is probably a cyst that will go away by itself. But neither of these symptoms should be discounted or overlooked, especially if they have been present for a long period of time or are getting worse.

Most likely, any symptoms you may have will not be caused by cancer, but it’s important to have them checked out by your doctor, just in case. If cancer is not the cause, your doctor can help figure out what is and treat it, if needed.

In some cases it is possible to detect some cancers before symptoms occur. The American Cancer Society and other health groups encourage the early detection of certain cancers before symptoms occur by recommending a cancer-related checkup and specific tests for people who do not have any symptoms. For more information on early detection tests, see our document, "American Cancer Society Guidelines for the Early Detection of Cancer." Keep in mind, however, that these recommended tests do not diminish the importance of reporting any symptoms to your doctor.

General Cancer Signs and Symptoms

It is important to know what some of the general (non-specific) signs and symptoms of cancer are. They include unexplained weight loss, fever, fatigue, pain, and changes in the skin. Of course, it’s important to remember that having any of these does not necessarily mean that cancer is present -- there are many other conditions that can cause these signs and symptoms as well.

Unexplained weight loss: Most people with cancer will lose weight at some time with their disease. An unexplained (unintentional) weight loss of 10 pounds or more may be the first sign of cancer, particularly cancers of the pancreas, stomach, esophagus, or lung.

Fever: Fever is very common with cancer, but is more often seen in advanced disease. Almost all patients with cancer will have fever at some time, particularly if the cancer or its treatment affects the immune system and reduces resistance to infection. Less often, fever may be an early sign of cancer, such as with leukemia or lymphoma.

Fatigue: Fatigue may be a significant symptom as cancer progresses. It may occur early, however, in cancers such as with leukemia or if the cancer is causing a chronic loss of blood, as in some colon or stomach cancers.

Pain: Pain may be an early symptom with some cancers, such as bone cancers or testicular cancer. Most often, however, pain is a symptom of advanced disease.

Skin changes: In addition to cancers of the skin (see next section), some internal cancers can produce visible skin signs such as darkening (hyperpigmentation), yellowing (jaundice), reddening (erythema), itching, or excessive hair growth.

Specific Cancer Signs and Symptoms

In addition to the above general symptoms, you should be watchful for the following common symptoms, which could be an indication of cancer. Again, there may be other causes for each of these, but it is important to bring them to your doctor’s attention as soon as possible so that they can be investigated.

Change in bowel habits or bladder function: Chronic constipation, diarrhea, or a change in the size of the stool may indicate colon cancer. Pain with urination, blood in the urine, or a change in bladder function (such as more frequent or less frequent urination) could be related to bladder or prostate cancer. Any changes in bladder or bowel function should be reported to your doctor.

Sores that do not heal: Skin cancers may bleed and resemble sores that do not heal. A persistent sore in the mouth could be an oral cancer and should be dealt with promptly, especially in patients who smoke, chew tobacco, or frequently drink alcohol. Sores on the penis or vagina may either be signs of infection or an early cancer, and should not be overlooked in either case.

Unusual bleeding or discharge: Unusual bleeding can occur in either early or advanced cancer. Blood in the sputum (phlegm) may be a sign of lung cancer. Blood in the stool (or a dark or black stool) could be a sign of colon or rectal cancer. Cancer of the cervix or the endometrium (lining of the uterus) can cause vaginal bleeding. Blood in the urine is a sign of possible bladder or kidney cancer. A bloody discharge from the nipple may be a sign of breast cancer.

Thickening or lump in breast or other parts of the body: Many cancers can be felt through the skin, particularly in the breast, testicle, lymph nodes (glands), and the soft tissues of the body. A lump or thickening may be an early or late sign of cancer. Any lump or thickening should be reported to your doctor, especially if you’ve just discovered it or noticed it has grown in size. You may be feeling a lump that is an early cancer that could be treated successfully.

Indigestion or trouble swallowing: While they commonly have other causes, these symptoms may indicate cancer of the esophagus, stomach, or pharynx (throat).

Recent change in a wart or mole: Any change in color or shape, loss of definite borders, or an increase in size should be reported to your doctor without delay. The skin lesion may be a melanoma which, if diagnosed early, can be treated successfully.

Nagging cough or hoarseness: A cough that does not go away may be a sign of lung cancer. Hoarseness can be a sign of cancer of the larynx (voice box) or thyroid.

While the signs and symptoms listed above are the more common ones seen with cancer, there are many others that are less common and are not listed here. If you notice any major changes in the way your body functions or the way you feel, especially if it lasts for a long time or gets worse, let your doctor know. If it has nothing to do with cancer, your doctor can investigate it and treat it, if needed. If it is cancer, you’ll give yourself the best chance to have it treated early, when treatment is most likely to be effective.