Renal cell carcinoma or RCC is the most prevalent type of kidney cancer among adults and obesity is one of the well-established risk factors for RCC. Those who are obese or overweight, run double the risk of having kidney cancer compared to those with a healthy body weight. Hypertension is another dominant risk factor. The reason obesity elevates kidney cancer risk so much is that excess body fat spikes the insulin levels and the insulin growth factor-1, known to trigger some cancer types. With the widespread use of CT scan as a diagnostic tool, more kidney cancers are being detected these da ..read more

Cancer which originates in the kidneys is called kidney cancer, with renal cell carcinoma being the commonest type among adults. Thanks to advanced imaging techniques, many more kidney cancers are now being detected early before they can metastasize. Are there any telltale signs and symptoms to be aware of? Early-stage kidney cancer often doesn’t produce any symptoms. However, symptoms might develop at a later stage like: # Blood in urine which might seem like the colour of cola # Nagging pain in the back # Appetite loss # Unplanned weight loss # Unexplained fatigue # Fever What are the known ..read more

Bone cancer is marked by the formation of an atypical tissue mass or tumor in a bone, also called bone sarcomas. The most common starting points are the pelvic bone or the long bones of the limbs like the femur, shinbone or upper arm. However, it can originate in any bone in the body. The cancer can also originate in another part of the body and spread or metastasize to the bones. What are the known types of bone cancer? Primary bone cancers which start directly in the bones or the surrounding tissue, although less common, are the most sinister and aggressive. More common are cancers that met ..read more

Cervix is the organ connecting the uterus with the vagina. Cancer which forms in the tissues of the cervix is known as cervical cancer. The best chance of detecting cervical cancer early and achieving maximum treatment success is through screening tests. Screening can even detect abnormal or pre-cancerous cells and thus help in preventing cancer through immediate treatment. Screening saves lives. There are two types of cervical cancer – squamous cell cancer which affects the outer surface of the ectocervix, and adenocarcinoma of the cervix, which is cancer of the endocervix. Nearly all cervic ..read more

Ovarian cysts are sacs of fluids which could form on and in the ovaries. Most such cysts that occur before menopause are benign and resolve on their own. Post-menopause, a small percentage of new cysts could be cancerous, but that percentage is extremely small. The incidence of malignancy in post-menopausal patients with unilocular cysts (without a solid component) is a mere 0.3%. Malignant changes have been noticed in a very small percentage of dermoid cysts and endometriomas. Pregnant women who have simple cysts less than 6cm in diameter, have a malignancy risk of below 1%. What are the kno ..read more

Liver cancer contributes a major chunk to cancer-related deaths worldwide and scientists have observed that the mean onset age, as well as incidence of liver cancer of varied etiologies, has gradually increased over the past three decades. Hepatitis B virus or HBV is a major risk factor for liver cancer in Asia, while other primary causes include hepatitis C virus (HCV), alcohol consumption, nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, etc. Available data shows that the age-adjusted incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma in India for men ranges from 0.7 to 7.5 and for women 0.2 to 2.2 per 100,000 po ..read more

There has been a steady rise in the incidence of skin cancers over the past few decades, with between 2 and 3 million non-melanoma skin cancers and over 132,000 cases of the more dangerous melanoma skin cancers diagnosed around the world every year. And contrary to popular perception, the sun is not always the villain of the piece. A clutch of other factors, including certain chemicals, other diseases, the fast ubiquitous-becoming tattoos, a seemingly harmless session of manicure, tanning beds or booths (favoured in very cold climate) and even the so-called environment-friendly light-bulbs hav ..read more

When we think of lung cancer, the first trigger thought puts smoking as the greatest risk factor. However, air pollution is an equally potent cause for lung cancer. WHO (World Health Organization) has labeled air pollution in its entirety as a human carcinogen, just like tobacco smoke, asbestos and arsenic. According to studies on the subject, exposure to air pollution increases the risk of lung and bladder cancers. This risk factor could even resemble breathing in secondhand tobacco smoke, based on the level of exposure. So now we know the link for sure This only corroborates research spannin ..read more

When we talk of the pet perils of smoking, lung cancer usually sits right at the top of the pecking order. However, tobacco use is also a major trigger for oral cancer around the world and smoking cigarettes, chewing tobacco and snuff can cause cancer in the cheek, gums and lips. With pipe smokers, cancer can appear where the tobacco is held in the mouth. In India Khaini, gutka, zarda, and some forms of paan masala are widely used forms of chewing tobacco that increase risk of oral cancer. Research shows the risk of oral cancer is nearly 5 to 10 times higher among smokers than those who never ..read more

Before being diagnosed with prostate cancer, Swarn Singh had no knowledge of it. He didn’t even have symptoms. When Swarn Singh had visited the GP for a general check-up because of his age (66 at the time) the doctor had asked him to get a Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test done. When the result came back, the doctor asked him to go for some more tests. He had a biopsy and remembers receiving a phone call from the consultant who confirmed that he had prostate cancer. Mr. Singh was in shock. Thankfully, the cancer was not aggressive and, after discussion with the physician, Mr. Singh d ..read more