Top Cancer Hospitals in India: September 2014

Saturday 13 September 2014

HIFU in India : HIFU Ultrasound Hope for Prostate Cancer Patients

HIFU Ultrasound Hope for Prostate Cancer Patients

Soundwaves could help 95% of prostate cancer patients … without affecting sex life,” Its story comes from a small study that looked at an experimental treatment using high-intensity focusedultrasound (HIFU) to target areas of prostate cancer in men where the disease had not spread.

Standard treatments for prostate cancer often lead to undesirable side effects, in particular erectile dysfunction and urinary incontinence. Researchers found that a year after this experimental treatment, 89% of men still had erectile function and all were still continent. Ninety-five per cent of the men showed no evidence of disease on an MRI scan.

The results of this small study look promising. Men with early (localised) prostate cancer that has not spread can often live for years without developing life-threatening symptoms, and are often faced with a difficult decision about whether or not to have conventional treatment, which can have side effects. A treatment that can target areas of cancer without damaging healthy tissue might enable more men to have treatment for prostate cancer at an early stage.

However, it’s important to point out that this is an early “proof of concept” study and that a far larger trial is required to assess both its effectiveness and safety.This was an early (prospective development) study looking at a new treatment for localised prostate cancer called high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU).

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men, yet, as the authors point out, treating localised prostate cancer is difficult since the disease often progresses slowly and may not cause any symptoms for many years. There are several standard treatments for localised prostate cancer. Some involve treating the whole prostate with radiotherapy or removing it with surgery, and these can damage surrounding healthy tissue. The more destructive treatments of the whole prostate gland lead to undesirable side effects, in particular, erection problems (affecting 30-70% of men treated) and urinary incontinence (affecting 5-20%). One alternative for men at present is to have no active treatment but to undergo regular checks. This is known as active surveillance.

The new treatment, say the authors, is less aggressive and able to target the cancer site rather than the whole organ. In this respect, it is similar to treatment for other malignancies, such as localised breast cancer (where a lumpectomy is now an alternative to mastectomy). They say that in a previous study they had used HIFU to destroy one half of the prostate where the cancer was situated. But they point out that only one in five men have disease in one half of the prostate only. Their new study looked at whether HIFU could be used for treating cancer at specific sites within the prostate.

Advantages of HIFU Treatment :-

• No blood loss

• Quick recovery

• Non surgical

• Radiation free

• An outpatient procedure

This is most modern technique ideal for treatment of low grade prostate cancer. It involves no surgery, no radiation , good cancer control, minimal morbidity. HIFU helps to improve the quality of life after Treatment and there are some more advantages like early return of erections and good urinary control.

For more information visit: http://www.medworldindia.com
https://www.facebook.com/medworld.india

Please scan and email your medical reports to us at care@medworldindia.com and we shall get you a Free Medical Opinion from India’s Best Doctors.

Call Us : +91-9811058159

Mail Us : care@medworldindia.com

Monday 8 September 2014

The most common cancer of a reproductive system of a woman is known as uterine cancer.

EndometrialCancer (Uterine Cancer)

Uterine (Endometrial) cancer originates in the female reproductive system and generally affects postmenopausal women between ages 50 and 60;. It develops in the body of the uterus or womb whose wall has an inner lining (called the endometrium) and an outer layer of muscle tissue (called the myometrium).

Endometrial cancer (Uterine Cancer) is often detected at an early stage because it frequently produces vaginal bleeding between menstrual periods or after menopause. If discovered early, this slow-growing cancer is likely to be confined to the uterus. Removing the uterus surgically (Hysterectomy) successfully eliminates endometrial cancer, if detected and carried out in the initial stages.

The most common cancer of a reproductive system of a woman is known as uterine cancer. This cancer starts in cell layers that form the lining of the uterus. This cancer can be detected in its early stage as it causes abnormal vaginal bleeding. The surgical removal of the uterus can cure uterine cancer.

Types of Uterine Cancer :-

Sarcoma: Sarcoma cancer grows in the supporting tissues of the uterine glands or in the myometrium. This cancer accounts for 2-4% of uterine cancers.

Adenocarcinoma: This cancer is considered as the main type of uterine cancer that grows from the cells in the uterus lining. Endometrial cancer is the other name of this cancer.

The Symptoms of Uterine Cancer include :

Unusual Vaginal Bleeding or Discharge
Trouble Urinating
Pelvic Pain
Pain during sexual intercourse
Discomfort or pain in the lower abdomen

Diagnosis of Endometrial Cancer (Uterine Cancer)

A pelvic exam is performed by the doctors checking the vagina, uterus, ovaries, bladder, and rectum for Endometrial Cancer (Uterine Cancer). An instrument called a speculum is used to widen the vagina so the doctor can see the upper portion of the vagina and the cervix.

The Pap Smear test is often performed during a pelvic exam Endometrial Cancer (Uterine Cancer). The doctor uses a wooden scraper (spatula) or small brush to collect a sample of cells from the cervix and upper vagina. The cells are then sent to a medical laboratory to be checked for abnormal changes. Because uterine cancer begins inside the uterus, it may not show up on a Pap test, which examines cells from the cervix.

A biopsy may be needed for a definitive diagnosis where the doctor removes a sample of tissue from the uterine lining. In some cases, a woman may require a dilation and curettage (D&C), which is usually a day care procedure. During a D&C, the opening of the cervix is widened and the doctor scrapes tissue from the lining of the uterus. A pathologist examines the tissue to check for cancer cells, hyperplasia, or other conditions.

Common Endometrial Cancer (Uterine Cancer) Symptoms

Abnormal bleeding- heavy bleeding between periods, or heavy bleeding during irregular periods
Pain during intercourse, pelvic pain or pain in the legs or back
Difficulty urinating or pain during urination
Enlarged uterus , Vaginal discharge and or unexplained weight loss

Surgical Treatment of EndometrialCancer (Uterine Cancer)

Surgery is the best option when Endometrial Cancer (Uterine Cancer) is diagnosed in its very early stages. At this time, the location and the stage of cancer make removal easy. Sometimes patients are treated with a combination of surgery and radiation therapy. Laparoscopy Assisted Vaginal Hysterectomy - involves the minimally invasive or open surgery to remove the uterus. If required teh surgeon may decide to remove both ovaries and the fallopian tubes if there is a risk of Endometrial cancer spread to the ovaries.

In most cases, uterine cancer is an Adenocarcinoma that metastasizes late, usually from the endometrium to the cervix, ovaries, fallopian tubes, and other peritoneal structures. It may spread to distant organs, such as the lungs and the brain, through the blood or the lymphatic system. In such cases advanced tratement post Hystrectomy like Chemotherapy and Radiation are advised

Chemotherapy

Involves modern cancer drugs that are administered intravenously or orally to kill cancer cells and to reduce the chances of the tumour returning elsewhere in the body.

Radiation therapy

India's leading Cancer hospitals now have some of the world's moset advanced radiation equipment like Linac, Novelis, Gamma Knife and Cyberknife for treating Cancers. High technology radiation is used to kill cancer cells without affecting the healthy tissues. Radiation may be used to reduce the tumor prior to surgery or to obviate the symptoms of cancer such as pain, bleeding, or blockage.