4/28/2022 What’s to know about chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) & which is the major treatment for CML?Read NowChronic myeloid leukemia (CML), also known as Chronic granulocytic leukemia and Chronic myelogenous leukemia is an uncommon blood cancer that begins in certain blood-forming cells of bone marrow. Although it can affect anyone, it is primarily seen in people above age fifty-five, and men are more likely to develop this cancer.
Almost all patients with chronic myeloid leukemia have the chromosomal abnormality called Philadelphia chromosome. Chromosomes are parts of the DNA found in every body cell, and DNA contains unique genetic instructions. Philadelphia chromosome forms when chromosome 9 and chromosome 22 present swap places in the cell. This creates a new gene called BCR-ABL. This gene instructs the defective cell to produce tyrosine kinase protein that promotes the multiplication of many abnormal white blood cells. When many abnormal white blood cells are produced in the bone marrow, it can decrease the space for healthy blood cells and start affecting other body parts. Physicians categorize the CML in three phases. The chronic phase is the phase where most people are diagnosed with CML, where the cancer is slow-growing and responds better to the treatment. If left untreated, the chronic phase can progress to the accelerated and blast phase, where more cancer cells are found. Very often, people with this cancer do not have any symptoms or signs. If symptoms present, it may include bone pain, loss of appetite, unintentional weight loss, excessive sweating at night, feeling full after eating a small amount of food, feeling tired, and pain below the rib on the left side. The physician may perform blood tests, ask for symptoms and perform a bone marrow biopsy to diagnose chronic myeloid leukemia. Other tests such as the FISH test (fluorescence in-situ hybridization) and PCR (polymerase chain reaction) can help identify the presence of Philadelphia chromosomes or the BCR-ABL gene. Targeted therapies are the major treatment for many people with CML. Targeted therapies are drugs or substances that can precisely identify and attack cancer cells. They can target certain genes or proteins that are involved in the growth and survival of cancer cells and stop the growth of cancer cells. Some people may also need chemotherapy, radiation therapy, surgery, or interferon therapy. Bone marrow transplantation offers a cure though it is preferred for those who do not respond to other forms of treatment and also carries a risk of complications. Nilotinib is a targeted therapy for Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia (Ph-positive CML). In CML, the mutation in the cell DNA triggers the signal that instructs the cells to produce many numbers of abnormal cells. Nilotinib blocks these signals and stops the growth of cancer. Tasigna 150mg Capsule is one of the products available in the market that contains the molecule nilotinib. If you have Ph-positive CML, your physician may prescribe Tasigna 150mg Capsule for you. This medication is not recommended for pregnant and breastfeeding women and women who might get pregnant should use highly effective birth control during the treatment and for at least two weeks after the treatment.
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Ovarian cancer refers to cancer that forms in the tissues of the ovaries. It occurs due to abnormal multiplication of cells in the ovaries that end up forming tumors. Ovaries are essential organs that play a crucial function in female reproductive health. Ovaries are small oval-shaped organs present on either side of the uterus with the support of ligaments. A pair of ovaries present in the female body system is involved in producing eggs or reproductive hormones estrogen and progesterone in preparation for pregnancy. In the middle of the menstrual cycle, eggs are transported to the fallopian tube, where the egg is fertilized if the sperm occurs. If the fertilization does not occur, the uterine wall lining sheds as menstruation.
The incidence of ovarian cancer has soared in recent times, and it is ranked no:3 among the top 5 cancers in Indian women.The risk of ovarian cancer begins from 35 years and reaches its peak at the age of 55-60 years. In India, most ovarian cancer cases are detected only at the advanced stages, decreasing the survival rate and leading to a high fatality rate. Studies have put forward a few risk factors associated with causing ovarian cancer, stating that women who carry BRCA I and BRCA 2 gene mutations can have a high risk of developing ovarian cancer. The other risk factors includes family history of ovarian cancer, personal history of breast cancer, nulliparity i.e women who have never been pregnant during their menstrual age and those with a medication history of taking postmenopausal hormonal replacement therapy for a long time. Ovarian cancer is hard to detect early because women with ovarian cancer present with no symptoms or mild symptoms. However, a few signs of ovarian cancer should not be overlooked, such as abdominal discomfort, abnormal vaginal discharge or bleeding, stomach pain accompanied by belching, and women may experience frequent urination until the disease develops into an advanced stage. By that time, ovarian cancer will spread to distant parts of the body. To diagnose an Ovarian cancer, the doctor will perform a physical examination of the pelvis. They may also recommend having an imaging test such as an ultrasound abdomen or CT scan to determine the structure and size of ovaries. The doctor can confirm ovarian cancer based on the CA 125 blood test, a test that can detect the presence of protein on the surface of ovarian cancer cells. Although, a biopsy can only confirm the presence of cancerous cells. Treatment of ovarian cancer comprises a combination of surgery, chemotherapy, and targeted therapy or hormonal therapy. The surgery involves the removal of either both ovaries or uterus or sometimes even both. The trends in cancer medical research have shown that modern targeted therapies such as olaparib add to the benefits of ovarian cancer treatment. Olaparib is often addressed as Lynparza and is available as Lynparza 150mg tablet form. Olaparib works by inhibiting the Poly ADP ribose polymerase enzymes;hence it is classified as a PARP inhibitor. It acts by damaging the DNA strands and preventing the rapid growth of cancerous cells. The advantage of the Lynparza 150mg tablet is that it comes as an oral formulation which becomes a convenient way for patients to consume it. Although, it is recommended to take the medication exactly as prescribed by the doctor. Olaparib is indicated for first-line treatment of BRCA-mutated ovarian cancer and as maintenance therapy for recurrent ovarian cancer. In addition to this, Lynparza 150 mg is also used to treat advanced metastatic breast cancer and prostate cancer and as a first-line maintenance treatment for pancreatic cancer. However, it would be better to discuss your medical conditions, past medical and medication history with your doctor or healthcare professional for a better individual treatment choice. Did you know? Colorectal cancer is among the top 5 commonly diagnosed cancers in India. Colorectal cancer occurs in the large intestine due to the rapid multiplication of cells lining the colon or rectum. It can begin either in the colon or rectum; hence they are collectively named colorectal cancer.
Although colorectal cancer does not present any early symptoms, some chief indications for colorectal cancer are to be noticed seriously. These include a persistent change in bowel movement, constipation, diarrhea or incomplete bowel emptying, inconsistency in stool, rectal bleeding, drastic weight loss, and abdominal pain, gastric trouble, and vomiting. The majority of Colorectal cancer usually starts as polyps. They are non-cancerous at the initial stage, however, if it is left untreated for 10-15 years they can grow further and become cancerous. There are specific causes and risk factors for the development of colorectal cancers. It has been suggested that colorectal cancer occurs due to the combination of genetic and lifestyle factors. Generally, people who have a family history of colorectal cancer, personal history of inflammatory bowel disease, and of polyps are at extreme risk of getting colorectal cancer. In addition to this, some lifestyle factors such as having a low fibre diet, sedentary lifestyle, chronic alcoholism, smoking, and consuming foods that have been prepared at high temperatures, such as processed meat and high fatty foods can contribute to causing colorectal cancer. Colorectal cancer is the most preventable and treatable cancer if it’s diagnosed at an early stage. Colorectal can be prevented if it is screened regularly. Due to a lack of awareness about the screening test, most of the patients in India are diagnosed at advanced stages of colorectal cancer and are subjected to low survival rates. Healthcare professionals in India recommend having a colonoscopy screening for those above 45 years coupled with an annual stool examination known as the fecal occult blood test to detect the presence of blood in stool. Colonoscopy screening is a standard tool which can detect the presence of polyps and with this screening method, the colorectal polyps can be removed easily by preventing them from developing into malignant polyps. However, there are several diagnosis methods to detect colorectal cancers, including CT scan, sigmoidoscopy, and biopsy. Treatment of colorectal cancer usually involves a combination of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy. Since colorectal cancer is the most treatable cancer there are few best treatment options to manage colorectal cancer with advancements in cancer research. Researchers have developed new types of medications that target cancerous tumors and bevacizumab is one of the few effective targeted drug therapies available, which is used in part of chemotherapy to reduce the size of colorectal cancer tumors. Bevacizumab is indicated as the first-line treatment for metastatic colorectal cancer and it is used in combination with intravenous fluorouracil during chemotherapy. Bevacizumab is a monoclonal antibody that acts by inhibiting the vascular endothelial growth factor, a receptor that is present in the blood vessels. Thus, it retards the growth of tumor growth by inhibiting the formation of blood vessels, thereby declining cancer progression. Bevacizumab is prescribed for the intravenous route of administration and injected as an infusion to your body. Avastin is one of the products containing this active constituent and is available as Avastin 400mg injection and Avastin 100 mg injection in the market. Apart from its use in the treatment of colorectal cancer, bevacizumab is also indicated for non-small cell lung cancer, advanced stage of cervical cancer and renal cell carcinoma. Thus, drugs like these involved in targeted therapy can often help people diagnosed with advanced colorectal cancer live longer. Afatinib dimaleate is a prescription anti-cancer medicine used in the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). It is used in people with metastatic non-small cell lung cancer that has an abnormal EGFR gene (epidermal growth factor receptor). This medication will be prescribed for the 1st time or if the previous treatment did not work well for you.
Non-small cell lung cancer is one of the two major types of lung cancer and accounts for around 80 to 85% of lung cancer cases. This cancer begins when healthy cells in the lungs change and grow in an uncontrolled manner. When cancer grows, it may shed cancer cells, and these cells can spread to nearby tissues or other parts of the body and this stage is called metastatic. Most commonly, this cancer spreads to other parts of the lungs, lymph nodes, brain, bones, liver and structures near the kidneys. There are many subtypes of NSCLC, and the main subtypes include squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma, and large cell carcinoma. Smoking is the leading cause of lung cancer. Smoking can damage the cells lining the lungs, and over time, this damage may lead to lung cancer. This cancer can also occur in people who never smoked, and the risk factors include exposure to secondhand smoke, radiation exposure, family history of lung cancer, and exposure to certain substances (such as arsenic, nickel, chromium) in the workplace and having HIV infection. People with NSCLC may experience shortness of breath, tiredness, coughing up blood or mucus, unintentional weight loss, appetite loss, hoarseness, chest pain, and cough. Metastatic NSCLC can cause symptoms such as bone pain, back pain, speech difficulties, seizures, and excessive breathing difficulties. For people who have no symptoms, cancer may be found on an imaging test such as a CT scan done for some other reason. Afatinib dimaleate is a targeted therapy drug where it precisely identifies and attacks specific genes and proteins involved in cancer development, thus leading to fewer side effects. A group of proteins called the ErbB family are involved in the spread and growth of cancer cells in NSCLC. Afatanib dimaleate blocks the activity of these proteins and stops the growth and spread of cancer cells. This drug should not be consumed by pregnant or breastfeeding women. To avoid becoming pregnant, it is important to use effective birth control during the treatment and for at least one month after the treatment. Without the doctor’s approval, do not receive any vaccinations or immunizations while taking afatinib dimaleate. This medication can make the skin sensitive to sunlight and may cause severe sunburn or worsening acne on too much exposure. You should use sunscreen and wear sun protective clothing outdoors while on this medication Your physician will determine your exact afatinib dosage and schedule based on your general health, type of cancer, and many other factors. Xovoltib 30mg Tablet is one of the products containing this active constituent, and your doctor may prescribe this medication if you have NSCLC. |
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