A 67-year-old man showed two scars on each side of his chest. Both were left by lung cancer surgeries, which also shows the development of medical technology and theories, doctors said on Tuesday, the International Lung Cancer Day.

The left side, which received a traditional lung cancer surgery eight years ago, left the man a 25-centimeter scar and poor memory due to complications left by anesthesia and surgery.

The man surnamed Mei said he had planned to forgo a second surgery after another suspicious nodule was found on his right side in 2018. “I was so afraid of the sickness and suffering from the previous surgery and I would rather die than receive another one,” he said.

But under the guidance of doctors, Mei went to Shanghai Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, which conducted a minimally invasive surgery with acupuncture anesthesia early this year.

The procedure left only a 3-centimeter scar without any complication, as acupuncture and medicine were combined with anesthesia without tracheal intubation developed by the hospital, which is the nation’s largest medical center for carrying out acupuncture anesthesia, to help patients better endure surgery. They also suffer less trauma and potential complications from anesthesia and enjoy a quicker recovery.

Dr Chen Tongyu, director of Yueyang’s cardiothoracic surgery department, said acupuncture anesthesia is a special anesthetic measure supporting surgery, as it can sedate, control pain, stabilize circulation and protect organs. No intubation is used in the surgery and the use of anesthesia medicine is reduced under the effects of acupuncture.

“About 60 to 70 percent of our patients adopt such anesthesia,” he said. “They can wake up quickly and eat and drink soon after the surgery. The hospitalization time is only three day, compared to the traditional five days, and the medical bill is one third less due to reduced use of medicines and quicker recovery.”

With the prevalence of CT scans and people’s rising awareness of lung cancer, more and more lung cancer cases are detected in early stage. “We are adopting a theory called Enhanced Recovery After Surgery, or ERAS, for patients’ smaller trauma and quicker recovery,” he said. “Acupuncture anesthesia is an important tool to help achieve ERAS. Through acupuncture anesthesia and minimally invasive technology, we have entered an ear of super minimally invasive surgery.”

Officials urge caution with cold-storage, imported food

Local health authorities are calling on the public to be cautious of cold-storage foods, especially imported foods, after confirmed cases of coronavirus contamination involving such items.

Shoppers are recommended to go to official supermarkets and wet markets, and pay attention to the origins of their food, as well as inspection information on imported food.

Avoiding direct hand contact with frozen food and wearing disposable gloves and masks is suggested. Using separate packages for food and keeping raw and cooked food in different parts of the refrigerator are also useful to prevent the spread of the virus, said Shanghai Health Promotion Center.

Officials also warn residents of receiving goods from high-risk regions. Using disposable gloves, disinfecting packages and hand washing are important.

Proper hand washing is the most effective measure for infectious disease prevention and control and self awareness is important, officials said.

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PEMBROKE PINES, Fla. – While ovarian cancer is rare in women of childbearing age, when it happens, it can create fears about a woman’s future fertility.

In an effort to preserve the ability to conceive, more doctors are performing fertility sparing procedures in cases of borderline ovarian tumors, one-third of which affect women under the age of 40.

“In instances where these are diagnosed, there’s a possibility to remove only one ovary while leaving in the other ovary and fallopian tube, as well as the uterus to maintain fertility in these patients,” said Dr. Jonathan Black, with The Center of Gynecologic Oncology in Pembroke Pines.

Black said studies have shown a 99% chance of survival, even with a cancer recurrence in the remaining ovary for women who undergo fertility sparing surgery.

Also in today’s health news, a University of Miami study found that the coronavirus may affect male fertility.

Researchers found the virus present in both living men previously infected with COVID-19, as well as six men who died from the virus.

“What was most surprising about our study was that we found the virus in the testes of a man who was previously infected and now recovered and was asymptomatic,” said Dr. Ranjith Ramasamy, the study lead author with the UHealth-Miller School of Medicine.

Investigators said it makes sense that the testes are a target for infection because the virus is drawn to receptors in many of the body’s organs, including the lungs, heart, intestines, kidneys and testicles.

Questions still remain about whether the virus can be sexually transmitted and the exact impact on fertility.

The post Doctors preserve fertility while treating ovarian cancer; does coronavirus affect fertility? appeared first on MyMedicPlus.

Two-time survivor, current patient talk about cancer experiences

While most people will relate 2020 with COVID-19, Kelly Harrell will remember it for an entirely different disease.

Harrell, 31, was diagnosed in March with breast cancer.

“During spring break a change in my right breast was really bothering me,” she said.

She didn’t think it was anything serious enough to see the doctor for, but her husband and mother insisted. So, she called her OB/GYN.

“She saw me the next day and that same day she wanted me to get a mammogram,” Harrell said.

She said she could tell by the small talk the technician made that something was wrong.

“I knew something was there when the ultrasound tech asked me if cancer runs in my family,” she said.

Three days later she had a biopsy and that confirmed two spots in her breast and a third in the lymph nodes under her arm. It was an invasive ductal carcinoma, a kind that can spread rapidly.

“It was scary at first,” she said.

On April 6 she had her first oncology appointment at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Treatment Center. By April 13 was beginning her first round of chemotherapy treatments – a 20-week process. She was given Adriamycin, also known as Red Devil medicine. It made her sick and her hair fell out.

Although the treatment was rough, it worked.

“They were very pleased that it was shrinking,” she said.

For her second round of chemo, Harrell was given Taxol. They had to stop it a short time later when she developed neuropathy in her feet.

“They moved my surgery up to Sept. 4. I had a double mastectomy,” she said.

On Oct. 12 Harrell underwent the knife again.

“They took some stomach fat and reconstructed my breasts … and I got a tummy tuck,” she said by phone while recovering in her room at MD Anderson.

There are several types of breast cancer and they affect women (and some men) differently.

Noah Hankins of San Felipe has battled it twice. She was first diagnosed in 2005 while she was working as a teacher’s aide at O’Bryant Intermediate School in Bellville. She had surgery and six months of chemo, all while continuing to work. She had the dreaded Red Devil medication and went bald.

“I never wore a wig. I didn’t feel comfortable wearing a wig,” she said.

Hankins was cancer free for 13 years.

“On Good Friday in 2018 I found a lump. I had cancer again, this time in the opposite breast,” she said.

This time she underwent six weeks of radiation treatment.

“Radiation was very tough on me,” she said.

She had surgery again. This time they removed the other breast, five lymph nodes, and the implant she had from her first bout with cancer.

“They took the implant out because it had an infection in it,” she said.

This time she opted not to have new implants or reconstructive surgery.

“I’m cancer free and I’m feeling good,” she said.

She isn’t the only one in her family to be a double cancer survivor. Her husband Terry had hairy cell leukemia in 1999 and in 2010 had prostate cancer. He said it was harder helping his wife go through her cancers than his own.

“It was a rough road, very trying at times,” he said.

Hankins had her treatment at Houston Methodist West Hospital in Katy. She praised her doctors and everyone who helped her through it.

“You just put your faith in the Lord and he helped us through it, made us stronger,” Terry Hankins said.

Noah Hankins said the toughest part for her was telling their four children about her cancer.

“It was hard to see my kids,” she said. “I’m supposed to be the strong one.”

Their children are adults now. The youngest was in college when Noah had her first bout with cancer.

One of the unfortunate side effects of her treatment was damage in her eye due to the chemo. Unknown to her at the time, she had an eye infection. As a result, she can only see half an image out of one eye.

The couple, who attend Trinity Lutheran Church, relied on their faith and the prayers and support of family and friends to get them through. Even her doctors prayed with her before surgery.

“God doesn’t give it to you, he’s just seeing how you’ll handle it and grow,” Noah Hankins said.

Faith also played a major role in Kelly Harrell’s recovery.

“My children were praying that mommy’s treatments would go well,” Harrell said.

She said a lot of people were praying for her and offering support to her family. She had help from the school where she works as well as her church, Hope City in Houston.

“There was an amazing outpouring of love that has blown me away,” she said.

Her husband Chase and children Hunter and Hailey have been her biggest supporters. He mother retired a couple months earlier than planned so she could help out at home.

Harrell is a third grade teacher at Sealy Elementary School and plans to return to the classroom in January. She said she was “super quarantined” at home during the summer but feels safe returning to the school despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We will have masks and face shields … I’m not worried about it,” she said.

Both Harrell and Hankins are doing what they can to help others. Hankins does breast cancer walks and often talks with women going through treatment. Harrell said she is trying to “pay it forward for other people as well.”

“Our emphasis is on the positive,” she said.

The post Women share their breast cancer journeys appeared first on MyMedicPlus.

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Does your grandfather or grandmother sleep the day away, even after getting a full night’s sleep?

If they do, they may be at risk for developing new medical conditions, according to new research.

Older people who experience excessive daytime sleepiness may be at an increased risk of developing new medical conditions, including diabetes, cancer, and high blood pressure, according to a new study from Stanford University.

The condition is called hypersomnolence, which is defined as excessive daytime sleepiness even after having seven or more hours of sleep, according to researchers. It can be debilitating for some people, affecting the way that they perform at work and in other daily activities, researchers noted.

“Paying attention to sleepiness in older adults could help doctors predict and prevent future medical conditions,” said study author Maurice M. Ohayon, M.D., Ph.D., D.Sc., of Stanford University in California, and a member of the American Academy of Neurology. “Older adults and their family members may want to take a closer look at sleeping habits to understand the potential risk for developing a more serious medical condition.”

The new study involved 10,930 people. About a third — 34 percent — of the study participants were 65 years or older.

Researchers interviewed the study participants over the phone two times, three years apart. In the first interview, 23 percent of people over 65 met the criteria for excessive sleepiness, according to the researchers. In the second interview, 24 percent reported excessive sleepiness to the researchers. Of those, 41 percent said the sleepiness was a chronic problem, researchers reported.

The study found that people who reported sleepiness in the first phone interview had a 2.3 times greater risk of developing diabetes or high blood pressure three years later than those who did not experience sleepiness. They were also twice as likely to develop cancer, according to the study’s findings.

Of the 840 people who reported sleepiness at the first interview, 52 people, or 6.2 percent, developed diabetes, compared to 74 people, or 2.9% of those who were never sleepy during the day, according to the researchers.

Also, of the 840 people who reported sleepiness, 20 people, or 2.4%, developed cancer compared to 21 people, or 0.8% of those who were never sleepy during the day, the study found.

The results remained the same after researchers adjusted for other factors that could affect daytime sleepiness, such as gender and sleep apnea.

People who reported daytime sleepiness during both interviews had a 2.5 times greater risk of developing heart disease, according to the study’s findings.

Study participants who reported sleepiness only in the second interview were 50 percent more likely to also have diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue, such as arthritis, tendinitis, and lupus, than those who did not have daytime sleepiness, the researchers discovered.

A limitation of the study was that it relied on the study participants’ memories, rather than monitoring their sleep length and quality and daytime sleepiness in a sleep clinic, according to the researchers.

The preliminary study was released in March 1, 2020. It will be presented at the American Academy of Neurology’s 72nd Annual Meeting in Toronto, Canada, April 25 to May 1, 2020. The study was supported by the Arrillaga Foundation.

The post Excessive Daytime Sleepiness Sets Stage for Diabetes, Cancer and High Blood Pressure appeared first on MyMedicPlus.

PRAYAGRAJ: Allahabad University’s (AU) biotechnology researchers have succeeded in cultivating mushrooms that are not just yummy, healthy and fragrant but are packed with cancer and diabetes fighting elements.

These therapeutic mushrooms are grown using easily available crop waste along with dried flower waste collected from temples.

Developed as part of their research work by a team of scientists of AU’s Centre of Biotechnology under Prof MP Singh, these mushrooms are grown with very little input cost and provide great returns for the grower.

“We have used Pleurotus mushroom, generally referred to as ‘Oyster Mushroom’ or ‘Dhingri’ in India but have cultivated them using agricultural waste like chaff and husk besides flower waste. These medicinal mushrooms are higher fungi with additional nutraceutical attributes having low fat content along with high fibre content and beneficial compounds,” said Prof Singh.

“These medicinal mushrooms and their extract have a large number of bioactive components called secondary metabolites. The content in mushroom have great therapeutic applications on human health as they possess many properties such as anti-diabetic, anti-cancerous, anti-obesity along with anti-aging properties,” he added.

For best growth, these mushrooms need temperature between 25 and 30 degree Celsius with a very high humidity level of 80 to 90%, said Prof Singh.

The importance of the use of floral waste in cultivation of these mushrooms hold vital importance for cities like Prayagraj and Varanasi where tons of this waste gets generated owing to hundreds of temples and which usually end up in rivers adding to their pollution. As a result, this finding allows us to use waste, get a healthy produce, save environment and benefit our farmers—an ideal best from the waste, said Prof Singh.

Having published findings of the work in the prestigious international Journal Cellular and Molecular Biology recently, Prof Singh’s lab with researchers including Sonam Agarwal, Vivek Chaturvedi, Sushil Dubey, Huma Waseem, Ankita Kushwaha and Aprajita Tiwari is presently busy giving cultivation tips for these Mushrooms to farmers of the region.

Team member Vivek Chaturvedi shared that for a 1kg bag with input cost is as low as Rs 10 produces 800gm of mushrooms and gives a return of Rs 200. This mushroom fetches anything between Rs 150 to Rs 250 per kg or even higher in the market. Even the bag used in farming these mushrooms, owing to their high level of nitrogen, gets used as an ideal organic manure.

The post Grown from farm waste, this mushroom helps fight diabetes, cancer’ appeared first on MyMedicPlus.

More often than not, the culprit behind your lumps and bumps isn’t cancer. So what’s really going on with your breasts?

In the final season of Sex and the City, confident-as-hell Samantha Jones is at a consultation for a breast augmentation when her plastic surgeon discovers a lump. “You’re kidding…it’s not serious, right?” she asks. And though the doctor reassures her that it’s probably just a cyst, the ever-fierce Samantha is visibly worried about her health. (After all, a lump in the breast is one of most noticeable signs of breast cancer.)

Despite the exaggerated love triangles and drama that SATC is known for, Samantha’s situation isn’t too far from reality: eight in 10 women develop lumps in their breasts at some point, says Sherry A. Ross, M.D., F.A.C.O.G, author of She-ology and She-ology: The She-quel. Although Samantha’s lump turned out to be cancerous, most breast lumps are caused by other medical conditions, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In fact, lumps in the breast can stem from something as simple where you are in your menstrual cycle. In the days leading up to your period, estrogen and progesterone levels can fluctuate causing an increase in the nodularity (aka lumpiness) of breast tissue. This can result in temporary benign cysts, says Dr. Ross. “If you feel a breast lump just before your period, chances are it will go away once you finish your period,” she adds. And just like chest size can vary, so can your level of lumpiness. (Your breasts may even sag more than others—and that’s A-OK.)

Reasons like this underscore why it’s so important to become familiar with your breast tissue and your “normal,” says Dr. Ross. She recommends performing a a breast self-exam on a monthly basis. ICYDK, a self exam should include both feeling and looking at your breasts. Do it in the four-day window right after your period ends, once the hormonal effects on breast tissue have subsided. When you’ve established a mental roadmap of the usual lumps and bumps, you’ll be able to detect any out-of-the-ordinary characteristics. “Early detection can be lifesaving when it comes to abnormal changes in breast tissue,” says Dr. Ross. “You always have to be your best advocate when it comes to your health, especially your breast health.”

If you notice a lump in your breast that isn’t going away or a bump that feels like a peanut M&M (the typical shape and size of the majority of benign muscle tumors or breast cysts), go ahead and book an appointment with your doctor for an exam. They’ll determine if further testing, like a breast ultrasound, is necessary, says Dr. Ross. Even if your breasts feel lump-free, experiencing fevers and noticing changes in the size, shape, or appearance of your breasts (such as dimpling, puckering, swelling, redness, or darkening of the skin) are all be reasons to meet with your healthcare provider as well, she adds. All in all, if you’re experiencing breast changes that worry you, there’s no harm in scheduling that check-up. (Related: This 24-Year-Old Found a Breast Cancer Lump While Getting Ready for a Night Out)

So if cancer isn’t typically the culprit, what can cause a seemingly random lump in the breast? Here, the medical conditions that could be the reason behind unwelcome bumps.

The post 8 Causes of Breast Lumps That Aren’t Cancer appeared first on MyMedicPlus.

People during the early years were plagued by tuberculosis infections, malaria, constant syphilis outbreaks and wounds that were laced with bacteria and never healed. But armed with vaccines and antibiotics, modern-day humans can now avoid or be treated for these and many other diseases, illnesses caused by infectious agents that can be transmitted between people or from animals to humans. 

Lately, most people do not die from communicable diseases but rather those that can’t be passed on to other people. Around 41 million people around the world die every year from cardiovascular disease, respiratory disease, cancer, diabetes or another chronic illness. Noncommunicable diseases account for 70% of deaths around the world, according to the World Health Organization. 

Noncommunicable diseases are thought to arise from a combination of environmental, genetic and lifestyle factors instead of being transferred by bacteria, viruses or fungi. In recent years, scientists have realized that the collection of microbes crawling in and on the human body has a massive influence on our health. Also known as the microbiome, is it possible that noncommunicable diseases can be passed between people through the microbiome? There are scientists that think that the answer is yes. 

An interesting hypothesis on microbes

Communities of microbes make their abode in the body of humans and research suggests that these bugs help direct the function of numerous physiological systems, including digestion, metabolism and immune defense. Scientists do not yet fully understand what distinguishes a healthy microbiome from an unhealthy one, but certain diseases seem to be connected to a bacterial imbalance in the body. 

For example, people with diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and inflammatory bowel disease tend to host a different collection of bacteria in their guts than those without the disease, according to a report published in Science. The research suggests that healthy people could catch aspects of these ailments through exposure to these microbes that are mixed-up. 

Author of the study, B. Brett Finlay, a microbiologist at The University of British Columbia said that it is a radical thought to think that noncommunicable diseases might be communicable, and this hypothesis gives them a whole new way of thinking about these diseases. Numerous studies led Finlay and his colleagues to formulate this hypothesis, but a study in 2019 conducted in Fiji tipped the scales. The results were published in Nature Microbiology. 

Testing the idea 

More studies hint that numerous noncommunicable diseases may be influenced by bacteria and that those bacteria may travel between people. Finlay said that their lab has shown that early-life microbes impact massively on asthma, and they have very exciting preliminary data with Parkinson’s. Microbes also alter immune function, which may be relevant to cancer patients whose immune systems fail to recognize and attack tumors in the body. 

Obesity, which is a major risk factor for noncommunicable disease, also involves transmittable microbes. Lean mice that they experimented on become obese when they got a fecal transplant from a mice that was already obese. People with obese friends or siblings have a higher chance of being obese than those who do not have obese friends or siblings. Living in a place with a high obesity rate can also raise a person’s risk of being obese.   

However, all of these studies raise a similar question: How can scientists tell which aspects of the disease are linked to microbes, as opposed to exercise, diet, genes or environmental factors?

Finlay said that this is a difficult question to answer. He said that ideally, one does a fecal transfer from a diseased person into a healthy one and causes disease, but this can’t be done for ethical reasons. To test the hypothesis, he and his colleagues will have to rely on animal models and population studies akin to the one conducted in Fiji.

If there are any noncommunicable diseases that can be transmitted through microbes, the bugs will meet three criteria. They will appear distinct in diseases people versus the healthy ones, they will be able to be isolated from a diseased host and they will include disease when transferred into healthy animals. 

Finlay said that as they identify the mechanisms further, they can test the mechanisms, inhibit them and show all the microbes that are involved.

The post Can You ‘Catch’ Cancer or Obesity from Other People? appeared first on MyMedicPlus.

Stem cells responsible for repairing the womb following menstruation can also promote endometriosis and endometrial cancer if they become dysfunctional, researchers have found.

Such malfunctioning stem cells also can reduce the chances of success for women undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF), the study shows.

The researchers’ findings were reported in “Endometrial Axin2+ Cells Drive Epithelial Homeostasis, Regeneration, and Cancer following Oncogenic Transformation,” a study published in the journal Cell Stem Cell.

Using a technique called in vivo lineage tracing in female mice, investigators from the Hunter Medical Research Institute in Australia and their colleagues discovered that stem cells located at the base of special glands found throughout the inner lining of the womb (endometrium) are responsible for replenishing the endometrial tissue that is lost during menstruation.

In vivo lineage tracing is a technique that allows scientists to label and follow specific cells inside an organism. In so doing, the team discovered these stem cells contained high levels of a gene called Axin 2, which has been found to be active in cell types from other highly regenerative tissues.

When the researchers specifically destroyed Axin 2-positive stem cells in the wombs of female mice, they found the endometrium was no longer able to repair itself and became highly dysfunctional. Moreover, when investigators introduced cancer-associated mutations into these stem cells, the cells started to malfunction and to fuel the development of endometrial cancer.

“What we are able to show is that if you cause mutations in these cells, you get endometrial cancer,” Pradeep Tanwar, PhD, lead researcher and senior author of the study, said in a news story.

“What we now hypothesise is that when women have endometriosis, what they have is an expansion of these mutated cells. These cells end up going into the abdominal cavity. Because they are so highly regenerative — because these are the cells that are repairing the uterus in each cycle — they start making uterine-like tissues in the abdominal cavity — which is what endometriosis is,” said Tanwar, also an associate professor at the Hunter Medical Research Institute.

Tanwar also believes the malfunction of these stem cells could be the reason why women undergoing fertility treatments fail to conceive.

“Some women have repeated failed IVF cycles because their endometrium is too thin, and the embryos cannot implant,” he said. “We now know that these cells in these women are going to be defective, and that is why the repair is not happening properly,” he said.

The Hunter researchers spent seven years “exhaustively testing” their findings, Tanwar said. He said they collected and banked gynecological tissue samples from hundreds of women treated at the center.

Given the wide implications of these findings, many scientists around the globe have reached out to congratulate the team on their discovery, he said.

“There have been so many questions about these conditions, and this has given us a framework to start addressing those, and — hopefully — come up with some answers,” Tanwar said.

“There is huge potential in the study, and there is huge potential in what we are doing. This cell is affecting many of these gynaecological diseases, which are mainly uterine based,” he added.

The post Scientists Discover Stem Cells That Can Promote Endometriosis, Endometrial Cancer, Research Shows appeared first on MyMedicPlus.

A nationwide Danish study has revealed that being overweight or obese increases the risk of getting several common cancers by 12 percent. This includes breast cancer, kidney cancer, gallbladder cancer, leukemia, brain cancer and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The study is published in the Journal of Internal Medicine.

Researchers from Aarhus University Hospital in Denmark are concerned that the rising rates of obesity will increase the rates of cancers and more people will die prematurely. As reported by a UK daily, the researchers also fear that obesity epidemic will take a toll on healthcare costs.

How obesity increases cancer risk? According to the scientists, obesity leads to rapid rise in the number of cells as well as the secretion of high levels of proteins and hormones that are pro-inflammatory such as estrogen – all of which is linked to cancer.

Health experts say that addressing the obesity epidemic will not only lead to better health outcomes but also reduce medical costs.

Now the question is – How can you fight against obesity? The answer is weight management and healthy eating. Here are a few effective ways to fight obesity –

A Balanced Diet

Diet can play a crucial role in fighting against obesity. Eat a balanced diet to reduce your calorie intake and reduce the threat of obesity. Make sure to eat five pieces of different fruit and vegetables every day. Check the calories you’re consuming, so that you do not eat more than your body needs. Fish oil & a low-calorie diet can work wonders for your weight, according to a study report. The credit goes to the omega-3 fatty acids, which are also known for great hair and skin.

Avoid Fast Food And Takeaways

The best is to prepare food fresh at home. Also avoid unhealthy and sugar laden drinks as consuming too much sugar can lead to weight gain and obesity. Fizzy drinks, instant powered drinks, and squashes contain a lot of added sugar and very less nutrients. You can opt for healthier choices like fruit juices and smoothies. But they also contain sugar, so limit your consumption to just 150ml a day.

Reduce Alcohol Consumption

Many alcoholic drinks are high in sugar. Moreover, our body can’t store alcohol and so as it works to get rid of the alcohol, processes such as absorbing nutrients and burning fat are interrupted. One trick to reduce alcohol intake- drink water between alcoholic drinks.

The post Being overweight increases cancer risk: Here are three easy tricks to fight obesity appeared first on MyMedicPlus.

Being overweight or obese increases the risk of several common cancers, a new study finds. 

Researchers from Aarhus University Hospital in Denmark found a 12 percent risk associated with being dangerously overweight.

This includes breast cancer, kidney cancer, gallbladder cancer, leukemia, brain cancer and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

The team says that the rising rates of obesity and severe obesity will increase the rates of cancers across the board, take a toll on healthcare costs and see more people dying prematurely. 

For the study, published in the Journal of Internal Medicine, the team looked at cancer data in Denmark over a 40-year period, from 1977 to 2016. 

Researchers found 20,706 cancers among 313,321 adults who were clinically diagnosed as being overweight or obese.

By comparison, there were 18,480 cancers diagnosed among the general Danish population over the same time period.

This means that weighing above average increased the risk of all cancers by 12 percent.  

The heightened risk was the same for cancers previously identified as obesity-related, such as kidney cancer and pancreatic cancer, and for blood and neurological cancers.

So why is obesity linked to an increase in cancer risk?

Scientists have found that obesity is associated with a rapid rise in the number of cells as well as the secretion of high levels of proteins and hormones that are pro-inflammatory such as estrogen – all of which is linked to cancer.

‘Given the increasing obesity epidemic, our findings have contributed much needed recent data on the overall burden of cancer among patients hospitalized for overweight and obesity,’ the authors wrote in the study.

Obesity is known as a risk factor for several chronic health conditions aside from cancer including type 2 diabetes, strokes and heart attacks.

US health officials say that addressing the obesity epidemic will not only lead to better health outcomes but also reduce medical costs.

In 2012, a study from Cornell University in New York found obesity accounts for about 21 percent of total US health care costs, approximately $190.2 billion per year.

Obesity continues to plague more than one-third of adults in the US, and experts have warned that that proportion will only grow as younger generations do.

Researchers from Harvard’s TH Chan School of Public Health predict that nearly half of all Americans will be obese by 2030

Over the last two decades, the US has implemented countless awareness programs aimed at both adults and children to try to combat the obesity epidemic.

Former first lady Michelle Obama became a mascot for healthier children while her husband was in office, spearheading the ‘Let’s Move’ campaign, designed to motivate children to eat healthier and stay active in an effort to promote overall health.

The post Being overweight or obese increases the risk of getting ANY kind of cancer by 12 percent, study finds appeared first on MyMedicPlus.

Skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States.

Melanoma accounts for just 1% of skin cancer cases, but it causes the majority of deaths from this type of disease.

There are an estimated 96,480 new melanoma diagnoses each year in the United States, and according to the authors of a recent study, the rates of malignant melanoma are rising faster than those of any other cancer.

In the U.S. there were 8,650 deaths due to melanoma in 2009 — and despite improved treatments and better 5-year survival rates, there were around 10,130 deaths from this cause in 2016.

Although scientists have identified risk factors associated with melanoma, such as fair skin, family history, and sun exposure, it is not clear why incidence rates are rising.

Because obesity is a risk factor for certain cancers, some researchers have asked whether it might also raise melanoma risk. However, to date, studies have failed to find a clear-cut association.

Revisiting old data

A Swedish study from 2009 found that women with obesity who undergo bariatric surgery have a reduced risk of cancer. When the results were published, there was not enough data to assess whether weight loss surgery impacted skin cancer risk, specifically.

However, researchers have continued to follow the participants in the original study, now for an average of 18.1 years. A team recently revisited the dataset in an effort to “investigate the association between bariatric surgery and skin cancer, including melanoma.”

In total, the new analysis included data from 2,007 individuals with obesity who underwent bariatric surgery and 2,040 matched control participants who had obesity but who only received conventional treatment, such as lifestyle advice, at their primary healthcare centers. The scientists recently published their findings in the journal JAMA Dermatology.

Individuals in the bariatric surgery group, at the 15-year follow-up, had lost an average of 47.6 pounds (21.6 kilograms). Those in the control group had remained at a relatively constant weight, with an average loss or gain that never exceeded 6.6 pounds (3 kilograms).

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Overall, 23 individuals in the surgery group had developed malignant skin cancer — squamous cell carcinoma or malignant melanoma. In the control group, 45 individuals had developed this type of disease.

The researchers found that the largest difference between the two groups concerned malignant melanoma. In the control group, there were 29 cases of the disease, while in the surgery group, there were just 12 cases. This equates to a 57% reduction in malignant melanoma risk.

Why does obesity increase risk?

Scientists will need to carry out more research to understand the mechanisms that underpin the relationship between obesity and skin cancer. However, the authors outline several factors that could be involved.

One theory concerns inflammation; they explain that “Obesity leads to chronic systemic inflammation, which could provide a permissive environment for tumor growth.”

Lifestyle factors, such as changes to diet following surgery, might also help explain this link.

Similarly, obesity is associated with a sedentary lifestyle — itself linked with increased cancer incidence and mortality. Following bariatric surgery, individuals may increase their levels of physical activity, thereby reducing cancer risk.

The current study has a number of strengths, including the long follow-up duration and the use of matched controls. However, there are also certain limitations; for instance, the scientists did not use randomization.

In an ideal world, it is best to assign participants to the control or experimental groups randomly. For this study, it was not possible, primarily because when the study began in the 1980s, the mortality rate for weight loss surgery was relatively high, so randomization would have been unethical.

It is also worth noting that, although the melanoma rates between the two groups were significantly different, the overall number of cases was small — in total, there were just 41 cases of melanoma. Scientists will need to continue this line of investigation to gather more evidence. For now, the authors conclude:

“These findings suggest that melanoma incidence is significantly reduced in patients with obesity after bariatric surgery and may lead to a better understanding of melanoma and preventable risk factors.”

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The latest ISD Scotland statistics show that more than a one in five children (22 per cent) in primary one in Scotland were found to be at risk of being overweight or obese.

Professor Linda Bauld, Cancer Research UK’s prevention expert, based at the University of Edinburgh, described the figures as “shocking”.

She added: “Obesity is the second biggest preventable cause of cancer after smoking, so tackling this is crucial if we’re to improve the health of future generations.”

As well as the cancer risk, overweight and obesity in childhood is associated with a wide range of other health problems such heart disease, type 2 diabetes, asthma, emotional distress and mental health difficulties.

In addition, overweight and obese children are at risk of remaining overweight or obese as adults.

Since 2001/02, the overall proportion of P1 children who are at risk of overweight or obesity has remained fairly constant.

However, there are now substantial inequalities in child unhealthy weight across Scotland.

Since 2001/02, the proportion of P1 children at risk of overweight or obesity has increased in the most deprived areas but decreased in the least deprived areas.

Children living in more deprived areas were more than twice as likely to be at risk of obesity than children living in the least deprived areas.

Boys in P1 are slightly less likely than girls to have a healthy weight.

Professor Bauld believes there were step that should be taken to tackle overweight and obesity in children.

“The Scottish Government has a role to play here,” she said.

“It must ensure planned legislation to restrict junk food promotions is introduced and passed before the next Scottish Parliament elections.

“Our shopping environment has a big influence on what we buy with special offers and multibuys on junk food powerfully persuading us to stock up on unhealthy items.”

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Researchers from the Mayo Clinic have identified a microbiome signature associated with endometrial cancer, according to a study published in Scientific Reports.¹

The signature is in part driven by postmenopausal status, along with additional known risk factors for endometrial cancer such as obesity and high vaginal pH (>4.5), which together significantly modify the composition of the reproductive tract biome and leads to an increased diversity. Previous studies have demonstrated that healthy vaginal microbiota is most commonly low in diversity and dominated by Lactobacillispecies.

“Of the 17 taxa we found enriched in (endometrial cancer) patients, 8 were also enriched by postmenopause,” said the researchers. “Because postmenopausal status is a main risk factor for endometrial cancer, this system can be thought of as an ecological succession towards a disease state.”

The researchers collected microbiome samples from 148 women undergoing a hysterectomy for either endometrial cancer (n = 66) or other benign uterine conditions (n = 75). The samples were analyzed for diversity across multiple parameters identified as known risks for endometrial cancer. In the lower reproductive tract, both α- and β-diversity were associated with patient menopause status (P = 0.002 and P = 0.007, respectively). In the uterus, the microbiome α-diversity reached significance (P = 0.024), while β-diversity did not (P = 0.221).

“All parameters analyzed (menopause status, BMI, and vaginal pH) showed a significant impact on the microbiome composition, with postmenopause, obesity, and high vaginal pH significantly increasing the microbiome diversity,” noted the researchers. “Of note was the marked enrichment of Anaerococcus, Peptoniphilus, andPorphyromonas species.”

The analysis identified P. somerae as the microbe with the strongest association with endometrial cancer (P < 0.001), which was present in all patients with type II disease and in 57% of those with hyperplasia.

“We know other cancers (cervical, gastric cancers) are associated with certain infections (HPV and H. Pylori, respectively,) so it is intriguing to think that there may be micro-organisms associated with the development of other cancers such as endometrial cancer,” commented Elizabeth Etkin-Kramer, MD, FACOG, assistant professor of gynecology at Florida International University, Herbert Wertheim School of Medicine, who was not involved in the study.

In addition to the small sample size and lack of diversification of those samples, a noted limitation of the study was the poor overall health of the patients without endometrial cancer. 

“These hysterectomy patients came to Mayo Clinic due to abnormal bleeding, pain, or some combination of these,” wrote the researchers. “These were not healthy women.”

Still, the suggested association of a specific microbiome signature for endometrial cancer is enough to warrant further research – with the long-term goal of possibly developing a screening test for the disease.

“If the micriobiome does play a role in endometrial cancer, beyond being a marker for it, this could have important implications for endometrial cancer prevention,” said Maria Walther-Antonio, PhD, of the Miocrobiome Program, Center for Individualized Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, in a press release.²

“We need larger studies to further confirm an association of certain microorganisms in women with endometrial cancer compared to our healthy women in our office. If so, perhaps a non-invasive screening test confirming the presence of this organism in the vaginal microflora would allow for subsequent evaluation of these women for earlier detection of endometrial cancer,” said Etkin-Kramer, before adding “anything that will help prevent a cancer or detect a cancer at its earliest, most treatable stage is definitely a plus.”

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NEW YORK, Dec 25 — American researchers at the Mayo Clinic have identified a vaginal microbiota signature linked to endometrial cancer, which they believe to be partly promoted by postmenopause.

Endometrial cancer is detected when there is an abnormal proliferation of cells on the lining of the uterus. People who are obese, overweight, diabetic or post-menopausal are most at risk of developing this form of cancer.

As they are sensitive to these risk factors, the vaginal microbiota, i.e. all the microorganisms that populate the vagina, could play a role in screening for this cancer, particularly in post-menopausal women, say scientists at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, United States, authors of a new research study published in Scientific Reports.

In 2017, this same team of researchers discovered differences in the uterine and vaginal microbiomes between patients with and without endometrial cancer in a uterine microbiome study, which was published in the review Genome Medicine.

Postmenopause is a key risk factor for endometrial cancer

This new research aims to understand the impact of patients’ risk factors (post-menopause and obesity) on the composition of vaginal microbiota. Based on the results obtained in the previous study, the researchers recruited women who had undergone a hysterectomy following endometrial cancer or a benign uterine condition at the Mayo Clinic.

Overall, the team reviewed and confirmed the major known risk factors for endometrial cancer (post-menopausal status and obesity) and identified high vaginal pH as an additional risk factor for endometrial cancer.

All these factors were found to impact the reproductive tract microbiome by increasing its diversity and reducing the dominance of lactobacilli species. The team also identifed postmenopause as a key factor of several microbiota associated with EC.

“We have determined that all of these factors impact the reproductive tract microbiome, further identified post menopause as a key factor, and are looking ahead to discuss potential translational applications of this knowledge, which may bring new approaches to address current health disparities in endometrial cancer,” said Dr Walther-Antonio, who led the study. — AFP-Relaxnews

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