Can you cure cancer? Top oncologist Dr Pritesh Munot answers 12 such questions
Whereas some forms of most cancers will be handled efficiently, they could relapse, which means a whole treatment for most cancers isn’t at all times attainable. This World Most cancers Day, a number one physician addresses frequent myths and solutions ceaselessly requested questions in regards to the illness.
Most cancers is the main reason for demise worldwide, liable for practically 10 million deaths in 2020, or about one in six deaths, in response to the World Well being Group. It’s an umbrella time period for a broad vary of ailments that may have an effect on any a part of the physique, sometimes called malignant tumors or neoplasms. It develops when adjustments in cells result in their uncontrolled progress and division, which might weaken the immune system and disrupt regular features of the physique. The most typical forms of most cancers embrace breast, lung, colon, rectum, and prostate. Whereas some varieties trigger seen tumors, akin to breast or lung most cancers, others akin to leukemia don’t. It’s a lethal illness that continues to be undetected till it reaches a sophisticated stage. This makes it important to remain knowledgeable in regards to the fundamentals of this life-threatening illness, together with the way it develops, its danger components, and methods to stop it.
On this World Most cancers Day, we’re diving into among the most typical questions and misconceptions surrounding the illness, with insights from Dr Pritesh Munot, Advisor Medical Oncologist and Hemato Oncologist.
Query 1: Most cancers is a number one reason for demise worldwide. How does it develop and unfold all through the physique?
Dr Pritesh Munot: The human physique is made up of varied forms of cells that usually develop, divide, age, and die in an organized manner. Often, previous or broken cells are changed by new ones. Nevertheless, typically cells bear mutations and begin to develop uncontrollably, forming a mass known as a tumor. Tumors will be benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). Malignant tumors have the potential to invade surrounding tissues and destroy them. Moreover, these tumors can unfold to different elements of the physique, forming new tumors elsewhere in a course of known as metastasis, which signifies advanced-stage most cancers.
Query 2: What are some frequent signs of most cancers?
Dr Pritesh Munot: Since there are over 200 differing kinds, signs can differ tremendously relying on its location, dimension, and impact on close by tissues or organs. If this illness has unfold (metastasized), signs can seem in numerous elements of the physique. It may well press on surrounding organs, blood vessels, and nerves, resulting in localized signs like ache within the stomach or pores and skin adjustments. Nevertheless, there are additionally extra normal signs, together with unexplained weight reduction, fatigue, fever, or persistent ache. Illness cells can eat a whole lot of the physique’s power, which might contribute to those normal signs. Whereas some indicators, like a lump, are extra generally related to most cancers, it doesn’t essentially imply you’ve gotten this lethal illness. Should you discover any uncommon adjustments in your physique or one thing that doesn’t go away, it is very important seek the advice of along with your physician.
Query 3: Is most cancers contagious, or can it’s transmitted by means of contact with an contaminated particular person? Can it develop in individuals with no household historical past of the illness?
Dr Pritesh Munot: No, it isn’t contagious. Not like the flu or different infectious ailments, you can not catch it from one other particular person by means of bodily contact, akin to touching, kissing, or sharing meals. Most cancers cells from somebody with this illness can not survive within the physique of a wholesome particular person. Whereas it could run in households, that is usually because of shared genetic components or related environmental and life-style components, like eating regimen and smoking habits, somewhat than direct transmission. Even people with no household historical past of most cancers can nonetheless develop it because of a wide range of different danger components.
Query 4: In 2022, there have been an estimated 20 million new most cancers circumstances and 9.7 million deaths. So, how can it’s prevented, and what steps can people take to cut back their danger?
Dr Pritesh Munot: Though not every kind will be prevented, round 30–50 % will be averted by means of wholesome life-style decisions and by minimising publicity to danger components, in response to the World Well being Group. Key preventive measures embrace sustaining a wholesome weight, staying bodily lively, quitting smoking, defending your pores and skin from UV radiation, and getting vaccinated or taking medicines that may assist cut back the chance. Common screenings are additionally vital, as they will detect the illness early when it’s extra treatable. Avoiding publicity to recognized carcinogens and residing a wholesome life-style are key methods in lowering your general danger.
Query 5: What are the frequent danger components for growing most cancers?
Dr Pritesh Munot: A danger issue is one thing that will increase the chance of growing a illness. Every kind of most cancers has its personal particular danger components. Whereas it’s usually unclear why one particular person develops this illness and one other doesn’t, analysis has recognized a number of components that will elevate the chance. These embrace publicity to chemical compounds or dangerous substances, sure life-style behaviours, and uncontrollable components like age and household historical past. Household historical past might point out an inherited most cancers syndrome. Frequent danger components additionally embrace alcohol consumption, weight problems, human papillomavirus (HPV), and tobacco use.
Query 6: The variety of most cancers circumstances in India is predicted to rise from 1.46 million in 2022 to 1.57 million by 2025. What are probably the most generally identified forms of most cancers in India?
Dr Pritesh Munot: In India, one in each 9 individuals is predicted to develop most cancers of their lifetime. Lung most cancers is mostly identified in males, whereas breast most cancers leads in ladies. Amongst kids (ages 0-14), lymphoid leukemia is probably the most frequent kind, with greater charges in boys (29.2 %) than ladies (24.2 %). The variety of circumstances in India is projected to extend by 12.8 % by 2025 in comparison with 2020. Moreover, cervical most cancers, tobacco-related cancers, and oral cancers stay main considerations within the nation.
Query 7: Whereas most cancers is rising in each men and women, what are among the most typical varieties that have an effect on ladies worldwide?
Dr Pritesh Munot: Most cancers impacts each women and men, however sure varieties are extra prevalent amongst ladies. The most typical is breast most cancers in ladies, adopted by colorectal, lung, cervical, endometrial, ovarian, and pores and skin cancers. Cervical most cancers is especially prevalent in growing nations because of restricted entry to screening and vaccination. Early detection by means of common screenings and HPV vaccinations has helped cut back the incidence of a few of these in ladies, particularly cervical most cancers.
Query 8: What are the potential unintended effects of chemotherapy, and the way can they be managed?
Dr Pritesh Munot: Chemotherapy targets fast-growing most cancers cells, however it could actually additionally injury wholesome, fast-growing cells within the physique, resulting in unintended effects. Frequent chemotherapy unintended effects embrace fatigue, nausea, hair loss, weakened immune system, and digestive points. These can usually be managed with medicines akin to anti-nausea medicine, together with life-style changes like staying hydrated, consuming a balanced eating regimen, and getting loads of relaxation. Scalp cooling strategies might assist cut back hair loss, and oncologists fastidiously monitor unintended effects, adjusting therapy or offering further assist to enhance the affected person’s high quality of life throughout therapy.
Query 9: Fatigue, nausea, and hair loss are frequent unintended effects of most cancers therapy, however is hair loss skilled by each affected person?
Dr Pritesh Munot: Hair loss is likely one of the most feared unintended effects of most cancers therapy, notably chemotherapy. Chemotherapy may cause hair loss not simply on the scalp but additionally in different areas of the physique, together with the eyebrows, eyelashes, and even pubic hair. The chance of hair loss relies on the precise chemotherapy medicine used, their dosage, and the way the person responds to the therapy. Whereas some sufferers might expertise hair loss, it isn’t a assure for each affected person. Hair usually begins to fall out 2 to 4 weeks after therapy begins.
Query 10: Why does most cancers therapy typically cease working, and what choices can be found afterward?
Dr Pritesh Munot: Whereas therapies have made vital progress, they will typically cease working because of components like drug resistance, tumor mutations, or the illness’s skill to adapt. Most cancers cells can develop resistance to chemotherapy or focused therapies over time. When therapy stops being efficient, docs might advocate various therapies, together with totally different chemotherapy regimens, immunotherapy, or focused therapies geared toward overcoming the resistance. Medical trials for brand spanking new therapies might also be an possibility for sufferers whose present therapies have stopped working.
Query 11: Can most cancers be utterly cured, and which varieties have a better likelihood of profitable therapy?
Dr Pritesh Munot: Whether or not it may be utterly cured relies on a number of components, together with the kind, stage, and placement of this illness, in addition to the therapy choices obtainable. Some varieties, akin to testicular most cancers, thyroid most cancers, and early-stage breast most cancers, have a better likelihood of being efficiently handled with long-term survival. Nevertheless, sure varieties, akin to pancreatic and ovarian most cancers, are tougher to treatment. In such circumstances, therapies give attention to extending life and enhancing the affected person’s high quality of life, even when a whole treatment isn’t attainable.
Query 12: What are some frequent misconceptions or myths about most cancers that you just usually encounter in your apply, and the way would you prefer to debunk them?
Dr Pritesh Munot: Many misconceptions about this illness contribute to worry and confusion. One frequent fable is that it’s at all times a demise sentence, when in actual fact, many sorts will be handled efficiently, particularly when detected early. One other false impression is that every one cancers are attributable to life-style decisions, however genetics additionally play a big position within the growth of the illness. Some individuals consider it’s contagious, which isn’t true. You will need to educate the general public that early detection and therapy enhance outcomes, and never every kind will be prevented by means of life-style adjustments. By debunking these myths, we are able to cut back stigma and assist individuals method it with a clearer, extra knowledgeable perspective.
