Breast cancer cases in India to double by 2015

Breast cancer has overtaken cervical cancer to become  the leading site of cancer in metro cities and is expected to double by 2015, experts said on Wednesday.

"Breast cancer has overtaken cervical cancer to become the leading site of cancer in Delhi, Bangalore, Mumbai, Chennai, Bhopal, Ahmedabad and Kolkata with the relative proportion ranging from 21.7 percent to 28.7 per cent," said P.K. Julka, professor of Oncology, All India institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi.

Speaking on the occasion of the Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Julka said though the incidence of breast cancer in India per 100,000 population is significantly less compared to US, France, Denmark, Sweden, Britain, the Netherlands, Canada, Australia, Switzerland, Italy,Singapore, Brazil and Japan but the mortality is almost 50 percent of the rate.

"The lifetime probability of developing breast cancer in India is one in 22 women compared to one in eight in US and other developed countries," he said.

In India, the number of new breast cancer cases is about 115,000 per year and this is expected to rise to 250,000 new cases per year by 2015.

Explaining the risk factors, Julka pointed to increasing age probability, lack of childbearing or breast feeding, higher hormone levels, late age of menopause, smoking, alcohol and economic status.

Breast cancer is usually treated with surgery and then possibly with chemotherapy or radiation, or both.

Targeted therapies for breast cancer focuses on proteins that signal cancer cells to grow and divide uncontrollably and have been found useful in the management of the disease.

"Targeted therapy means the specific medication targeting the particular group of cancer cell and destroying them without affecting the normal healthy cells so that treatment induced side effects are less," said Shyam Aggarwal, senior medical oncologist, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital.

Giving an account of the treatment cost of targeted gene therapy Amit Agarwal, consultant medical oncology, Fortis Hospital, Vasant Kunj says, "The actual cost of the treatment depends upon the type of the drugs used. Therefore, the cost can vary from Rs.10-15,000 a month to Rs.3 to 4 lacs a month."

"The side-effects associated with the targeted therapies are very minimal and significantly non-specific when compared to the conventional chemotherapy methods. Apart from this the success rate is 30-40 percent," he added.

Each year 10.9 million people suffer from breast cancer worldwide that results in 6.7 million deaths from the disease. The breast cancer is prevalent in almost all regions of the world and there is no country in which cancer is a rare occurrence.IANS

Home Remedies For Hair Loss

Hair is the main part of our body.  Hair plays an important role in the appearance of men and woman. Diet and lifestyle are two important factors that influence the health of hair. Poor diet, illness and deficiencies of vitamins and minerals, proteins in particular, affects the quality of hair .Hair is a reflection of individual"s internal health. In most cases, hair loss or changes in hair texture may reflect some underlying conditions as hypothyroidism, anemia, diabetes, and nutritional deficiencies. The hairloss, gray hair, dandruff are common problems .


 Just simple home care will help you to get back your beautiful hair. Using natural products have no side effects. So try these at home.
Take a hot oil massage at least once a week and wash with shikakai or mild shampoo or amla .
Apply apple cider vinegar mixed with water and wash your hair  for shiny hair.
Be  careful if you have  dandruff. Dandruff is the biggest problem with hair loss.
Drink plenty of water to eliminate toxins in your body.
Eat plenty of vegetables and fruits for healthy hair .
Make a paste of greek hay seed and water. Apply on the scalp and leave for half an hour before washing off. 
Juice of fresh coriander can be massaged into the scalp, to reduce hair loss.
Juice of fresh Amaranth leaves should be applied to the hair. It will help hair growth and gives good texture.
Do not comb when hair is wet as this can cause hair loss.
Do not take  bath in very hot water because they spoil the hair roots.
After consulting with your doctor  take vitamins and folic acid supplements. This will help hair growth.
If you have oily hair wash your hair regularly with a mild shampoo.
Do not apply shampoo directly on the hair, always mix with water and apply.
Never apply conditioner to the hair roots, which can worsen hair loss.
Avoid excessive intake of tea, coffee, alcohol, snuff and meat.

Make your skin glow

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Here are some tips for your skin.
- Boil cabbage in water. Strain it & use the water to wash your face to make your skin look radiant.

- Coconut milk is excellent for skin care, in winter. Take half a cup of coconut milk. Use half of it to apply it over the face & body. Mix the rest with red sandalwood powder, apply the paste on the face. It may even be applied all over the body. It exfoliates your skin.

- Mix yoghurt with cucumber water. Apply on your face & wash it off.

- Here's a way to refresh worn out skin: Mix teaspoon vinegar with teaspoon rosewater. Apply on skin & leave for ten minutes. Wash it off with ordinary water.

- Is your skin looking dull & lifeless? Mix coconut water & thick pineapple juice. Add multani mitti & apply it over your face & body. Do not scrub vigorously; wash it off with ice cubes or chilled water.

- Mix teaspoon honey with teaspoon tomato juice. Leave it on the face or body for ten minutes & wash it off with ordinary water.

Potatoes not the dietary villain

Potatoes are often painted as villains for dieters, but a new study has found that the staple food is not that bad after all.

Foods like potatoes and white bread with a high glycemic index (GI) are absorbed quickly by the body, triggering a spike in blood pressure.

But a study by researchers at University of Otago found that when you eat these carbohydrates as part of a meal of meat and vegetables the effects are barely felt.

Bernard Venn and his colleagues enlisted 30 healthy young people and monitored the GI levels of three different meals, including one with potatoes as a side dish.

Surprisingly, said Dr Venn, this meal was low on the glycemic index, meaning the food will burn off slowly, even though it contained an ingredient many fear for its potential weight-gain properties.

"I don''t think people should be too afraid of putting high-GI foods into their meals," Courier Mail quoted Dr Venn as saying.
"Our work suggests that having a small amount of potato with a meal isn't going to drive your blood sugar crazy," he added.
The study has been published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition.

Choco-vanilla fudge for your skin

If you are a fan of chocolate sauce with vanilla ice-cream, then a vanilla cream massage is just perfect for you. 

A mix of vanilla with cocoa powder will not only soothe your senses but tantalise your taste buds too. Experience the rejuvenating magic of vanilla cream massage at Aura spa, in the capital.

A dimly-lit massage room with soothing music in the background, sea-shells on the wall and fresh flowers floating in water, giving positive energy, welcomes one to a relaxing session.

It starts with a dry massage, followed by full body massage with the paste of cocoa powder, vanilla, coconut cream and coconut granules.

The paste promotes blood circulation, has healing properties and repairs tissues, with the massage therapist massaging the body with equal pressure, focusing on the acupressure points and applying long soothing strokes in a rhythmic manner. One cannot ask for more.

At the same time, the aroma of vanilla and chocolate lingers in the air, giving ample scope for one to think of chocolate brownie with vanilla ice-cream!

A quick hot bath after the session leaves the skin soft and supple and you leave the place with a fresh mind and relaxed body. IANS

No more woes over baldness

The time to fret over your bald head is over. Dr Akshay Batra, Sr VP, Trichological Society,London and director, B Perfect, answers some frequently asked questions about hair transplantation. 

How is hair transplantation better than other procedures like weaving, hair extensions, bonding, etc.? 
Amongst all, hair transplantation is the only procedure which can give you your own natural hair growing back on the scalp. This hair is permanent, as it lasts forever and aesthetically restores your youthful look. Results of other procedures are temporary, and they look obviously artificial and often result in damage to the scalp.

Who is an ideal candidate for hair transplantation? 
Even though any person above 21 years of age and at any stage of baldness can undergo hair transplantation, best results are seen in cases of moderate baldness. There is no upper age limit; we have carried out transplants even on people above 80 years of age. Our expert surgeon will evaluate if you are the ideal candidate for hair transplantation.

Is it a permanent solution for baldness? 
Yes, hair transplant is a permanent solution for baldness. It recreates a new hairline and the bald area is filled with hair taken from the back of the scalp (where even bald men don't lose hair). The transplanted hair will continue to grow normally for the rest of your life. The best part is that hair can be washed, combed, oiled, cut and styled normally giving excellent results.

How soon can I see the results? 
The newly transplanted hair is visible even on the day of the procedure. It starts growing gradually and you can notice the difference month after month. For hair to grow to your normal length and to see the full result of the procedure, it takes around 9-12 months.

Is hair transplantation expensive? 
It's a myth that hair transplantation is expensive. Consider it as a lifelong investment made for oneself. To bust the myth of it being an expensive procedure, B Perfect has introduced a special offer of hair transplant for only 80,000 for unlimited number of hair and without any hidden costs. Till date, at B Perfect we have successfully transplanted over five lakh hair.TNN

Benefits of mustard seeds

Healthtipslive

Mustard seeds have been around since almost 5,000 years. They're known to have numerous benefits since they're low in calories and high in nutritional value and have a lot of antibacterial and antiseptic qualities. 

They're available in different varieties - black mustard, white mustard and brown Indian mustard, in whole as well as in powdered form.

- Mustard oil is known to be great for the skin because it generates warmth.

- Mustard seeds are rich in a nutrient called selenium, known for its high anti-inflammatory effects. n The high source of magnesium in mustard seeds helps reducing the severity of asthma attacks and certain symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis and lowering blood pressure.

- Suffer from migraines? Mustard seeds are known to give relief from the number of migraine attacks you get.

- Mustard seeds are very rich in calcium, manganese, omega 3 fatty acids, iron, zinc, protein and dietary fiber - include them in your diet.

- For people who suffer from a bad appetite, here's something that will be really helpful. Mix a few black mustard seeds with milk and have it 15 to 20 minutes before your meal.

- Mustard seeds are excellent for digestion because they increase the metabolism rate of your body.

- They're also beneficial for menopausal women who have trouble sleeping.