Three Important Words Regarding Colorectal Cancer
Three Important Words Regarding Colorectal Cancer
Preventable. Treatable. Beatable.
In spite of the progress made in diagnosis and treatment, cancer – sometimes called the big “C” – continues to strike terror any time we hear it. Colorectal cancer is no exception and for good reason. It’s the second-leading cause of cancer deaths overall. That’s why you need to understand what steps to take so it doesn’t threaten your health.
When it comes to prevention, several screening tests are available to detect colorectal cancer early. Almost all colorectal cancers begin as abnormal growths known as polyps in the colon or rectum. Through screenings, these polyps can be found and removed before they turn into cancer.
Even if the polyps have turned cancerous, early detection finds them soon enough to remove and, if necessary, initiate follow-up treatment.
Here’s the good news.
It’s not uncommon for patients to beat this cancer completely when action takes place as soon as possible. The month of March is dedicated to Colorectal Cancer awareness. Find out how to take the fear out of colorectal cancer by clicking here.
Just remember – colorectal cancer is preventable, treatable, and most important…beatable.
Good RX
Here is an article explaining how to use Good RX with a high deductible health plan or HSA.
Do You See What I See?
Cataract surgery is a common procedure – but do you really know what cataracts are? They occur when the lens in your eye becomes cloudyand impairs your vision. Chances are, if you live long enough to become a senior citizen, you’ll have the need for cataract surgery.
Here’s the good news…
Traditionally lenses with cataracts are removed and replaced by a clear lens to correct/improve vision. Significant changes in technology now make the procedure more effective and safer. While some surgeons still use a scalpel to make the incision, more often, a laser integrated with 3D imaging is used for better precision. The pulsating beam softens the defective lens and makes it easier to remove. Easier removal makes the whole procedure safer.
Intraoperative wavefront aberrometry is another advance that allows surgeons to choose the best lens power for individual patients. Doctors may also be able to correct astigmatisms which are imperfections in the shape of the cornea. Don’t worry if you can’t pronounce this – just know you have a better chance of getting the best vision possible with it.
Finally, there’s the possibility of developing eye drops to prevent or even reverse cataracts – but they are still in the experimental stage. What’s important is how cataract surgery continues to get easier and safer for everyone who needs it.
A Look At The Latest Advances In Cancer Research
One thing scientists have learned after years of study is that cancer isn’t just one disease. While a lot more research needs to be done, scientists have made great strides. One area of focus is our immune systems. Another is genetics.
Our immune systems work to protect us from foreign bodies that can hurt us. We just need to be able to identify these to fight them. We now know that cancer can sometimes hide which prevents our immune system from finding the cancerous cells. New immunotherapy techniques help our immune systems attack the cancer by 1) Preventing the cancer from hiding and 2) Boosting our immune response against cancer.
Genomics is the study of changes to the genes in your DNA. It’s giving doctors important clues about how your cancer will act and with this knowledge, they can make the best determination for treatment. It works by looking for changes called mutations in certain cancer genes. Once found, doctors can better diagnose the cancer, predict the outcome and decide on the best drug or treatment. They can also monitor how well the treatment is working.
These new developments mean faster identification and diagnoses to help treat cancers more quickly and easily which often leads to a cure.
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