The results  of a large Cancer Research UK trial have set a new gold standard for treating thyroid cancer, reducing radiation doses to just one third of the current level, according to research in The new England Journal of Medicine.

The HiLo trial of 438 patients at hospitals across the UK, led by researchers at UCL (University College London), showed that giving selected patients a much lower dose of radioactive iodine taken in a single oral capsule, has similar treatment success to the current higher dose – destroying all thyroid gland cells remaining after surgery, with fewer side effects.

Currently patients have surgery to remove the entire thyroid gland and a few weeks later they take a capsule containing radioactive iodine. The iodine destroys any remaining healthy thyroid gland tissue and any potential cancer cells.  but improvements in surgery mean more of the thyroid gland is removed initially leaving fewer remaining cells to be ‘mopped up’ – so lower radiation doses are adequate and equally effective.  

Previously the higher doses of radioactive iodine meant that patients stayed in a hospital isolation unit for at least two days while the radiation left their bodies, without physical contact from family and friends. The high doses can have several side effects – the more serious occur later in life, such as a permanent dry mouth, and a small chance that a new cancer will develop.but patients taking the lower dose capsule can be treated more easily as an outpatient in hours and experience fewer side effects.

The thyroid gland makes and releases hormones and after removal patients require thyroid hormone tablets for the rest of their lives. Radioactive iodine works best when patients stop taking thyroid hormone tablets two to four weeks beforehand, but this leads to side effects such as lethargy, fatigue and weight gain, reducing patients’ quality of life and their ability to function at home and at work.

The HiLo study also showed that patients can avoid these symptoms if they continue with the thyroid tablets and are given an injection of Thyroid Stimulating Hormone (Thyrogen) just before they take the low dose radioactive iodine.Lead study author, Dr Ujjal Mallick, at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle, said: “We’re delighted that this study of thyroid cancer will change international approaches to treat the disease more safely, by reducing the chance of another cancer developing later in life and other side effects.

“Patients will have a much better quality of life. They’ll be treated much more quickly, which will keep the disruption to their lives to a minimum, as well as saving the NHS money.”

Amy Horton, 24, from Scarborough took part in the HiLo trial after she was diagnosed with thyroid cancer in 2008.

Amy, who is currently studying medicine at Newcastle University, said: “It’s wonderful news that thyroid cancer patients can now be treated as outpatients. I was lucky to be on the trial and I received the lower dose of radio Iodine.

“Thankfully I didn’t experience too many side effects and was able to return to my studies almost straight away.“It was great not to have to stay at hospital or spend a long time feeling really unwell and I’m very pleased I could be part of research that means that future patients will now all have this quicker and safer treatment.”

Kate Law, director of clinical research at Cancer Research UK, said: “This pivotal study – which is the first for thyroid cancer in the UK – heralds a vastly improved treatment for the disease.

“Being treated as an outpatient means that patients should be able to be in their home surroundings on the same day as the treatment. The lower dose of radiation and thyrogen will help them carry on with their lives as usual at work or at home quicker without requiring several days to recover.

“More than 2,100 people are diagnosed with thyroid cancer in the UK every year – and it has the fastest rising incidence rate of the most common cancers in the UK. And we’re continuously striving to improve treatments and reduce side effects for this type of cancer.”

Note: The low dose was 1.1GBq compared with the previous higher dose of 3.7GBq. GBq is the symbol for the gigabecquerel unit of radioactivity. The patients were recruited between 2007 and 2010.

Reference: Low-dose radioiodine and thyrotropin alfa for thyroid cancer. The new England Journal of Medicine.

Contact: The Press Office, Tel: 020 3469 8300, Email: uk

Source: Cancer Research UK

if someone suddenly loses the ability to speak, move body parts or has trouble seeing, call 911. these are the first symptoms of a stroke and it’s imperative that a person receive immediate medical attention, said Sarah Kiyoi, Stroke Coordinator at San Ramon Regional Medical Center. every minute counts when someone is having a stroke, yet the average stroke patient waits more than 12 hours before going to an emergency room and many wait much longer, sometimes an entire day, she said. An expanded Stroke System to reduce brain damage launched Jan. 9 in Contra Costa to join Alameda County to provide a coordinated 911 emergency response. It identifies stroke victims en route to stroke-certified hospitals to treat them within the critical four-hour window. “It’s really, really exciting because stroke has kind of ended up taking second fiddle to heart disease. People don’t know there are things you can do to turn a stroke around,” Kiyoi said. “The overwhelming majority of people, less than 5 percent of patients nationally, get to the hospital to be treated acutely. Stroke is the third leading cause of death in the United States.” The leading two causes are heart disease and all types of cancer combined. “The other thing to know is strokes are one of the leading causes of long-term disability in the U.S. — paralysis, blurred speech, they can’t walk without assistance,” Kiyoi added. “Twenty-six percent of patients end up in a nursing home. “The story of the heart attack is if they can get to an ambulance or emergency room they’re most likely going to live. they are not only going to live but they are going to walk away,” she continued. “With a stroke they’re not necessarily going to walk away.” there are two types of stroke, she explained: dry or ischemic and hemorrhagic or bleeding stroke. “The overwhelming majority, 87 percent, are dry or ischemic,” she said. “This means there’s a clot, usually the arteries become narrowed from plaque and cholesterol building up. The clot builds up or gets lodged in a blood vessel, and the area beyond that starts to die. The bigger the blood vessel, the bigger part of the brain affected. “The scary part is, the brain is what controls everything else.” The good news, she said, is that usually only one side of the brain is affected, which controls just one side of the body, the opposite side. Hemorrhagic or bleeding stroke is caused by a blood vessel in the brain breaking and bleeding into the brain. “The symptoms are a severe, severe headache. It’s a quick onset — boom! ‘My head is going to explode,’” Kiyoi said. “This is 13 percent of all strokes and 30 percent of all stroke deaths. there is nowhere for the brain to go — it gets squished.” Rapid treatment is important for any kind of stroke, she emphasized. a third type of “mini-stroke” gives people a sign that an ischemic stroke is on the way. these transient ischemic attacks — called TIAs — happen when blood flow to the brain is temporarily blocked. they may cause blurry vision or loss of vision, tingling or numbness of the mouth or the inability to speak clearly, and your body produces a drug to deal with it. “Your body breaks the clot up,” Kiyoi said. “They are usually mild and last for 15-20 minutes.” they should not be ignored because it is estimated that 15% of TIA sufferers have a stroke within a year. when stroke victims arrive at San Ramon Regional, the stroke team reaffirms the diagnosis, then treats the patient with the same clot-busting drug. “We treat when appropriate with a drug that works in the same way as your body does to break up a clot, and return blood flow to the brain,” Kiyoi said. “There is only one FDA-approved drug, and it takes an hour to give it. “It returns blood supply to that part of the brain, and it’s pretty miraculous when we see it work,” she continued. “The signs and symptoms will turn around in the first hour or so.” “We do very, very close monitoring for first 24 hours after medication. we do lots of follow up screening and testing,” she said. “We have a stroke team and we treat a stroke with the same level of urgency as someone not breathing. we page throughout the hospital, just like a code blue. we have a whole team that pops into action, 24 hours a day.” San Ramon Regional is affiliated with the neurology department at California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco. “So we are basically able to get a stroke neurological consultation very quickly and at a super high level,” Kiyoi said. San Ramon Regional received its certification as a stroke center in December after a year of fine-tuning its procedures. “We definitely have ‘owned’ being a stroke hospital,” Kiyoi said. “It was a culture change to feel like it’s something we do and we do well. It’s multi-disciplinary, involving five different departments.” Radiology performs the CT head scan; the laboratory runs three tests to help determine the treatment plan; the pharmacy provides the drug; and critical care doctors and nurses are stroke specialists. Stroke victims can be seen in the emergency room or they may have been admitted for other reasons then have a stroke while in hospital, Kiyoi noted. when suspecting a stroke, the team performs standard tests. one is to show a picture of a feather to see if the patient can find the word to identify it, which shows whether the person can take in an image, understand it, organize a response and deliver it. “People think strokes are more of an ‘elderly’ thing,” Kiyoi said, “but I’m seeing lots more people in their 40s, 50s and 60s.” “A lot has to do with same old, same old — diet and exercise,” she added. “Some is hereditary. I have seen some patients look very healthy on the outside and feel healthy but they still have a stroke. “High blood pressure is big risk factor and it’s silent. until they have to, people don’t pay attention to it. High cholesterol is also silent. It builds up on your artery walls and makes it easier for a clot to lodge.” High blood pressure is 140/90 or above; 120-139/80-89 is the pre-hypertension stage, or at risk. Normal is less than 120/80, according to guidelines of the National Institutes of Health. Eighty percent of strokes are preventable with proper eating and exercise, Kiyoi said. “The cool thing is it’s a twofer — you reduce the risk of stroke and you also reduce the risk of heart disease.” a danger is that a person won’t recognize they are having a stroke, and they may lie down hoping they’ll feel better. “There’s lots of denial,” Kiyoi said, which is why it’s important for spouses and friends to be aware of symptoms and insist on medical treatment. “If you let a stroke patient tell you they don’t want to come in, well, their brain is broken, the thing making decisions is broken.” Of stroke victims, 60 percent are women while 40 percent are men. “We don’t know why. We’re looking at hormones,” Kiyoi said. “Heart disease is 50-50. We’re trying to figure out why we’re seeing those differences; there’s a lot of research going on.” “Women handle so much and are really good at that denial thing,” she added. they may think they can handle the symptoms without stopping their other activities. Women think of breast cancer as their biggest health threat although stroke kills twice as many woman than breast cancer a year, according to the National Stroke Association. “A huge, huge part of whether they come in or not is that awareness,” Kiyoi said. Countywide stroke systems and hospital certification to treat strokes have been gaining momentum in the last five years, Kiyoi said. “It definitely takes an institutional commitment, from the administration down,” she said. The standard is tough, she pointed out, and she’s proud that the medical center is holding itself to it. “It’s really neat that part of the requirements is that you do community outreach,” she said. “That’s one of my favorite parts, talking with people at wellness events.” In 2011, Kiyoi educated almost 800 people through seminars, classes and community events and is on the speakers bureau for the American Heart/American Stroke Association. Contact her at 275-8886. “I’m always shopping around for more opportunities,” she said. “It’s free, an hour-long lecture. I answer questions and give out literature.” Kiyoi said she emphasizes the importance of being engaged in your own health, which leads to knowing why you should live healthy. People also need to understand their medications and keep them up to date. “Sometimes your body becomes less responsive or you pack on 10 pounds and it is not working. Things change,” Kiyoi said. “Also, are people taking their medications regularly? Do you know why you are taking them?” Someone might stop taking the aspirin the doctor prescribed because it is over the counter, or they can’t afford it. “There are a lot of reasons. if you understand that aspirin makes blood not clot as easily then you’re going to take it every day,” she said. The American Heart/American Stroke Association has a “Life’s Simple 7″ list to help reduce heart disease and strokes by 20% by the year 2020. “If we all make small changes it comes out to a huge impact,” Kiyoi said. “Looking at the entire population, if we can reduce overall blood pressure by 10 points then the death rate goes down dramatically.” The Stroke System in Alameda and Contra Costa counties also promotes the “Act in Time” campaign of the National Institute of Health. This means that everyone will recognize the signs of stroke and not wait to call 911. “Those who do wait risk permanent brain damage or death,” said Mia Fairbanks, Contra Costa Stroke Program Coordinator.

==B Signs of a stroke== * Sudden numbness or weakness of face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body. * Sudden confusion or trouble speaking or understanding speech. * Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, or loss of balance or coordination. * Sudden severe headache with no known cause. * Blurred or double vision, drowsiness, and nausea or vomiting. Source: Sarah Kiyoi, R.N., MSN, Stroke Coordinator, San Ramon Regional Medical Center ==B Act FAST== if you suspect someone is having a stroke, remember the following: * Face — does one side not move as well or droop? * Arm — have them put their arms out in front of them. is there numbness on one side? * Speech — is it slurred? is it appropriate? Can they answer simple questions? * Time — call 911. The faster medical help arrives, the more brain they can save. ==B ‘Life’s Simple 7′== 1. get active 2. Eat better 3. Lose weight 4. stop smoking 5. Control cholesterol 6. Manage blood pressure 7. Reduce blood sugar

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All the reading I've done on cystic fibrosis says it is a genetic disease. However, I have a lot of the symptoms of it and was wondering if it could become evident later in life? thanks.

yes they can find out that you have cystic fibrosis when you are a teen however it does not mean that you got it as a teen .. all people that have cystic fibrosis are born with cf .. and some time s Dr's do not catch it tell later in life after the patient is having issues with breathing or other major issues. that is why now most hospitals in the USA test for all kinds of medical issues so that they can start treating that patient at birth ..

Every case of cystic fibrosis is different. you are born with the disease, but sometimes symptoms do not present until later in life. if you really feel like you have a lot of the symptoms, then I would ask your doctor. its always a possibility.

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MADISON, Wis. — Christmas feasting is over, and while that means rest for some, others will be in the hospital with heart problems.Bob Leschke is an ER physician with St. Mary’s Emergency Center in Sun Prairie. he said more people visit hospitals around the nation with heart problems on Dec. 26 than any other day of the year.”They chalk up their symptoms to a little indigestion or they say ‘I don’t have time to get this checked out.’ so they ignore their symptoms, perhaps until it’s too late,” Leschke said.according to a 2004 nationwide study by researchers at the University of California-San Diego, heart-related deaths increase 5 percent during the holidays.Leschke said eating fatty and salty foods or drinking too much wine can be among the biggest triggers. But the holidays pose other health risks too.”Around the holidays people have higher stress levels and they have higher strenuous activity levels, so more shoveling more moving furniture to get ready for family, more running around shopping,” Leschke said.some Madison residents, like Joseph Muenich, said they were more health conscious while cooking this Christmas.”We are kind of heart healthy this year. ?We hardly put any butter on anything anymore, no one eats mayonaise. It’s kinda just a new lifestyle,” Muenich said.Pat Heiden said she served more salad and toned down the seasoning too this year.”We monitor the food because my husband had bypass surgery two years ago, so … we’re very portion controlled,” Heiden said.Leschke said it’s crucial to recognize heart attack signals early to prevent further damage to heart muscles. the most common symptoms are chest pain, chest pressure, back pain and shortness of breath.”Your family is your family, and they would want you to be safe and healthy,” Leschke said.anyone experience heart attack symptoms should seek medical attention immediately.

Last updated at 2:02 PM on 3rd January 2011

A major study into the progression of Parkinson’s disease, which will include British patients, is being launched by actor Michael J Fox.

The research is the first of its kind and will involve 400 people from five sites in Europe and 14 hospitals in the US.

Patients in the earliest stages of Parkinson’s – before they have started any treatment – will be enrolled in the study to find key biomarkers for the disease.

Michael J. Fox with his wife Tracy Pollan. Fox, who was diagnosed with young-onset Parkinson’s aged 30, said the research was important because ‘better treatments aren’t going to fall from the sky’

Fox, who was diagnosed with young-onset Parkinson’s aged 30, said the research was important because “better treatments aren’t going to fall from the sky” and “real challenges stand in the way of the results we need”.

Currently, there is no definitive way of measuring how Parkinson’s progresses.

Fox and with former boxer Muhammad Ali who was diagnosed with the condition in 1984.

This means it is difficult for doctors to work out whether a drug is slowing down or halting the disease’s advances.

Reliable and robust biomarkers to monitor the progression of Parkinson’s would improve patient care, lead to new drugs and enhance understanding of the condition.

Some 120,000 Britons have Parkinson’s, which is caused by a loss of brain cells that produce a chemical messenger called dopamine.

Symptoms include a tremor or fine shake while the person is at rest, rigidity of muscles, slowness of movement and an unsteady balance.

In the new study, samples taken from patients will help identify what is happening in the body, and will include data on motor skills, samples of blood, urine and spinal fluid, and brain scans.

This data will be then used either alone or in combination to track progression of the disease.

The research starts in early 2011 and is being co-ordinated and part-funded by the Micheal J Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.

The Foundation has spent almost ?30 million so far on studies looking for Parkinson’s biomarkers.

Debi Brooks, co-founder of the Michael J Fox Foundation, said patients will be followed for between three and five years, and compared with healthy volunteers.

“The great thing is we don’t have to wait until the end of the five years to start using the data,” she said, adding it would be made available to researchers through a publicly-accessible website, with patient details anonymised.

A scene from back to the Future 2 where Fox co-starred as Marty McFly with Christopher Lloyd. the success of the film trilogy helped Fox become a household name

So far, several pharmaceutical giants, including Roche, Pfizer, Merck, GE Healthcare and Genentech, have put millions of dollars into the research.

The Foundation wishes to recruit another three to five partners and hopes, in total, to receive 20 million US dollars (?12,896,100) from pharmaceutical companies as well as contributing 20 million itself.

As well as the US sites, there will be research centres at Imperial College London, one in Italy, two in Germany and one in Austria.

Ms Brooks said: “We are really excited to see this field-wide commitment to really going after these markers of disease progression.

“It’s a key tool for our ability to develop and test new treatments for Parkinson’s.

“Without it, there’s a risk that developing and testing treatments will remain too challenging.

“The patients really are the ones who hold the scientific secrets about Parkinson’s disease and it’s a remarkable contribution they are making to this study.”

Patients will not be on any medicines at the start of the study, although they may start taking them during the course of the research.

Ms Brooks said there is often a long time lag between developing potential treatments and getting regulatory approval.

Finding the key biomarkers for Parkinson’s would “compress” these time frames, she added.

David Brooks, professor of neurology at Imperial College, London, will lead the study at the UK site.

He said: “To develop life-transforming treatments for the millions of people living with Parkinson’s disease worldwide, we need consistent and reliable biomarkers – measurable indicators of disease risk, onset and progression.

“This study will leverage our group’s expertise in developing imaging-based biomarkers, and allow us to take our Parkinson’s biomarker programme to the next level through open collaboration with the Michael J Fox Foundation and top-flight investigative teams across Europe and the United States.”

By MICHELLE ALEJANDRA BOOTH

Every year millions of people develop thyroid problems, with approximately 27 million Americans experiencing thyroid disorder. According to the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists, this makes thyroid disease the leading endocrine disorder (problem that affects hormone glands) in the United States.

As common as thyroid disease is, the AACE estimates that about half of people with a thyroid disease remain undiagnosed.

The reason, perhaps because the symptoms are either very subtle or very similar to other health problems such as anemia, fatigue, depression, slow metabolism and a wide array of other diseases.

However, the test to diagnose is so simple and common that if the symptoms are mentioned to a doctor it’s likely that they will test for thyroid disorder.

In fact, Dr. Hugh Burt, an internal medicine physician for Sunrise Hospitals, screens all his patients who are age 65 and older for thyroid disorder.

“For those patients of mine it is part of the routine and I try and screen for it annually,” he said.

Thyroid disease is typically hereditary, affecting half of all children with at least one parent with thyroid disease by age 40, according to the AACE. It affects women in 80 percent of the cases affect women more than men.

Thyroid disease can come in many different forms with hypothyroid, hyperthyroid, goiter, thyroid nodules and thyroid cancer being the most common.

The thyroid is a small gland in the lower part of the neck in the trachea and it releases hormones that deliver energy to the cells of the body. The hormones the thyroid produces are, tri-iodothyronine (T3) and thyroxin (T4) and the pituitary gland and produces thyroid stimulating hormones that tell the thyroid how many hormones to produce.

Dr. Kenneth Izuora, an endocrinologist at the Nevada School of Medicine in Las Vegas and describes the thyroid as “the engine of the body.”

“Most metabolic processes happen in the thyroid because it regulates the hormones in the body,” Izuora said.

An overactive or underactive thyroid can lead to hormonal imbalances that affect the vision, heart, blood pressure, mood and even metabolism and proper organ function.

The body needs these hormones to function and these hormone levels determine how fast or slow the body’s organ systems function. They also regulate the consumption of oxygen and production of heat. This process of collective organ function, oxygen consumption and heat production is commonly referred to as “metabolism.”

In order to diagnose thyroid disease, a doctor can test for levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone in the blood, which is the most common screening measure for hyperthyroidism. a physician may also order a radioactive iodine uptake test, a biopsy, scan or ultrasound to look for any irregularities in the gland.

TYPES OF THYROID DISEASE

The most common form of thyroid disease is called hypothyroid, which is a slow release of thyroid hormones and accounts for roughly 80 percent of all thyroid cases and affects women five times more than men. Hypothyroid disease slows the metabolism in the body. The most common signs of hypothyroid are fatigue; feeling cold, dry skin and hair, hair loss, depression, stiffness in joints and muscles, irregular periods and depression. In some cases people with hypothyroidism can also develop high levels of cholesterol, which can increase the risk for heart disease.

If left untreated or if it becomes severe it can lead to dementia, irregular heart rhythms and in severe cases can cause coma.

According to Dr. Burt, hypothyroidism is the most common to diagnose because a lot of patients will commonly visit the doctor to complain about symptoms of fatigue and weight gain. Hypothyroid is also more common in older women around the age of 50.

“The symptoms of hypothyroid can mimic so many other things, which is why it’s always good to check for hypothyroid as an option,” said Dr. Burt.

Hypothyroid is commonly the result of inflammation caused by Hashimoto’s disease, an autoimmune disease in which antibodies target the thyroid and impair its ability to produce hormones.

In order to treat hypothyroid, a patient will typically be prescribed an oral tablet or some form of hormones, typically a patient will feel better within two weeks and will be asked to take medication from 18 to 24 months. sometimes the thyroid hormone levels will correct themselves with the use of medication and a patient can then be taken off medication, but if that does not happen a patient might have to take a prescription indefinitely. However, that is a small inconvenience compared to the pain of dealing with hypothyroidism, Dr. Burt says.

“My patients come to me and they tell me that they feel wonderful and they are so happy and it’s just a matter of taking a little pill once a day for the rest of their lives, they no longer have headaches they have energy and they just feel so much better,” said Dr. Burt.

However, if someone has hyperthyroid disease, the opposite is often true, because the thyroid releases too many hormones and causes the organs and tissues to overproduce. Patients who have hyperthyroid will typically present symptoms of rapid heartbeat, trembling hands, feeling hot a lot of the time, feeling hyperactive, having vision problems, diarrhea and irregular menstrual cycles. In many cases they will be hungry and eat a lot but still lose weight continually. It is more common in women between the ages of 20 to 40 but can also be diagnosed in men.

“Hyperthyroid is almost the exact opposite of everything about hypothyroid. Patients are less likely to complain about hyperthyroid than hypothyroid because…think they feel great and see that they are losing weight so they don’t really complain about that,” said Dr. Izuora.

In fact, because the symptoms in many cases are subtle, Dr. Izuora says a lot of people don’t realize that there is anything wrong with them.

“A lot of patients think that they are just naturally hyper or that they have a fast metabolism and they think that is just how they are and so sometimes I get patients who have had those symptoms for up to five years and are barely being diagnosed,” said Dr. Izuora.

However, if left untreated hyperthyroid can cause serious problems such as a cardiac arrest or complications due to an overactive heart or osteoporosis because the thyroid metabolizes the bones and vision problems that are attributed to bulging eyes.

“I tell my patients that, yes they are losing weight and that is great but they are losing weight at the expense of more serious problems,” he said.

A lot of times hyperthyroid is caused by a disorder called Graves disease, which causes the immune system to produce antibodies that attack the thyroid gland and make it produce too much thyroid hormone creating an imbalance of hormones.

To treat hyperthyroid a patient might take oral hormone pills or beta-blockers, which control many of the symptoms of an overactive thyroid. The most common treatment is radioactive iodine, which causes the permanent destruction of the thyroid. This works because the thyroid gland collects iodine out of the bloodstream to make the thyroid hormone. In the case of hyperthyroid the body sucks up the iodine because it is overactive, the pill that is given then releases radiation, which destroys the thyroid gland, usually leaving the patient with a hypothyroid condition. a patient will then have to take medication or hormones for the rest of his or her life to regulate hormone function.

PREGNANCY

It is also common for younger women to develop postpartum thyroid, which causes a leakage of hormones from the thyroid, usually developing one to four months after giving birth, leading to a hyperthyroid condition. After that time, roughly four to eight months after giving birth, the woman might then develop hypothyroid because the thyroid may have lost most of its hormones.

However, in most women who develop postpartum thyroid the problem usually cures itself within the year. Risks for women who develop postpartum thyroid include having an autoimmune disease like diabetes, a personal or family history of thyroid disorders or having postpartum thyroiditis after a previous pregnancy.

However, if a woman has thyroid problems prior and during pregnancy they can have complications such as early labor and premature babies, smaller babies, fast heart rate of the developing baby, anemia, and problems with the brain development of the baby. If a woman is pregnant or thinking about getting pregnant, she may want to ask the doctor if a thyroid test is necessary. If any symptoms appear during her pregnancy she should tell her doctor immediately to avoid further complications.

THYROID CANCER

Hyperthyroid can also be caused by thyroid nodules, which are growths on the thyroid gland. sometimes these growths don’t cause any symptoms. some of these growths are cysts and contain only fluid. others are composed of thyroid tissue and can release hormones. sometimes nodules will becomes so large that they cause problems with swallowing or breathing and in less than 10 percent of cases thyroid nodules are cancerous. to determine if a patient has nodules they may perform a scan and biopsy and perhaps surgery to remove the nodules. even though cancerous nodules are uncommon, caution should still be exercised, especially if there is a family history of nodules.

Depending on the symptoms and the level of hormones, a person can live with thyroid problems. If left untreated, however, a malfunctioning thyroid can cause life-altering complications. Dr. Burt says patients with thyroid problems typically have a shorter life span, especially if left untreated. The problem does not lie with the thyroid but with the effect is has on the rest of the body, leading to vision problems, osteoporosis, possible cardiac problems or cardiac arrest, problems with the nervous system, dementia and in some cases, cancer.

That is why Dr. Burt is such an advocate for TSH exams.

“They are pretty affordable and so common that a doctor will typically recommend one. Treatment can then make all the difference in the world. I can tell by how happy my patients are later,” he said.

What is Step Throat?Strep throat is a bacterial infection that causes the inflammation of the tissue in the throat area. it is caused by the group a beta-haemolytic streptococcus bacteria. it most commonly affects the oral pharynx and tonsils. The symptoms of strep throat usually include fever, swollen lymph glands in the neck and white patches in the throat and tonsils. People with strep throat may also have a headache, nausea or vomiting, painful swallowing and a rash. when the rash develops it is then diagnosed as scarlet fever but the same bacteria causes both and both are treated the same way. Strep throat is most common in children and adolescents; however people of all ages can contract strep throat. Strep throat usually requires a course of antibiotics to cure it.

How Do You Get Step Throat?Strep throat is very infectious and is often passed on by contact with someone who is carrying the group a beta-haemolytic streptococcus bacteria. Crowded places such as schools, hospitals and concerts increases the risk of catching strep throat and that is why children often contract strep throat. The strep throat bacterium is found in large concentrations in the nose and throat. therefore normal everyday activities such as sneezing, coughing, shaking hands and less commonly sharing food or drink can cause the spread of Strep throat.

How can You Prevent Catching Strep Throat?There are a few simple things that you can do to prevent yourself from catching strep throat. The first and most important is to make sure that you wash your hands regularly. This is particularly important of you are about to eat, you are looking after someone with strep throat or you know you have come into contact with someone who is sick. Hand sanitizer is readily available in chemists and supermarkets. This is great to use if you do not have access to water and soap. Secondly make sure that you always cover your nose and mouth when coughing and sneezing. This prevents others from catching your germs. Lastly make sure that you do not share food or drinks with others. People can carry the strep throat bacteria without showing any symptoms so it pays to be careful.

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Blood Cancer Treatment in India available at ISO approved hospitals

Blood Cancer Treatment in India is available at various corporate hospitals that are JCI accredited, ISO certified or in the process of achieving these seals. various corporate hospitals in India are specially designed according to the needs of international patients. over the last two decades, the economic boom in India has led to the building of medical facilities & infrastructure that rival the very best that western medical care has to offer. Blood Cancer Treatment in India is available at various corporate hospitals that facilitate world class, high quality and affordable medical treatment and healthcare tourism in India.

About Blood Cancer

Blood Cancer or Leukemia refers to a group of cancers of the blood cells. in blood cancer, white blood cells become abnormal, and divide and grow in an uncontrolled way.

White blood cells and blood cancer

White blood cells are made in your bone marrow, which is the soft spongy centre of your bones. Your bone marrow makes the most basic type of cells (called stem cells), and they can develop further into three types of cells –

white blood cells – protect your body from infection red blood cells – carry oxygen around your body platelets – important for normal blood clotting

Once these cells are made, they enter your bloodstream. White blood cells are involved in your body’s immune system, a defense system that protects you from infections. There are two main types of white blood cells – myeloid cells and lymphocytes.

In blood cancer, some of the white blood cells don’t grow properly. They stay in the bone marrow and keep reproducing in an uncontrolled way. These abnormal white blood cells fill up the bone marrow and prevent it from making healthy white blood cells. this means the body is less able to fight off infections. the abnormal white blood cells also prevent bone marrow from making enough red blood cells and platelets. a lack of red blood cells leads to less oxygen being delivered to the organs and tissues of your body. this is called anemia, and it can make you feel tired and breathless. a lack of platelets can lead to problems with the blood-clotting system, and results in bleeding and bruising much more easily than usual.

Causes of Blood Cancer

The exact cause of blood cancer is unknown, although there are some factors that increase the chance of developing it.

a weakened immune system – this may be a result of medicines that suppress the immune system (eg medicines to prevent rejection of organ transplants), high doses of radiation (eg radiotherapy or chemotherapy for another cancer), or diseases that affect the immune system (eg HIV) age – chronic leukemia is more common in people who are over 40 gender – slightly more men than women are affected by leukemia smoking certain genetic conditions, such as Down’s syndrome other blood disorders, such as aplastic anemia, a rare condition where the bone marrow fails to produce blood cells correctly contact with a chemical called benzene, one of the chemicals in petrol and a solvent used in the rubber and plastics industry

Types of Blood Cancer / Leukemia

There are several types of blood cancer. They are named according to the type of white blood cells (myeloid cells or lymphocytes) that are affected and how quickly the disease develops. Only the common types are discussed here. the two main types of blood cancer are acute and chronic.

Acute blood cancer

In acute blood cancer, symptoms develop rapidly and the cancer can quickly become life-threatening if it’s not treated. the most common form of acute blood cancer affects lymphocytes. this is called acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL). another type of acute blood cancer is acute myeloid leukemia (AML).

Chronic blood cancer

In chronic blood cancer, symptoms develop slowly and the white blood cells are almost fully grown and normal when they leave the bone marrow and enter the bloodstream. They can function, but not as well as they should do. one type of blood cancer, called chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), affects a particular type of white blood cells called myeloid cells. It has two phases, a chronic phase that can last for several years, during which symptoms develop slowly, followed by a more aggressive phase (accelerated phase), where symptoms quickly get worse.

Symptoms

The symptoms of blood cancer vary, depending on the exact type of disease and how advanced it is. There may be no symptoms in the early stages, especially in people with chronic blood cancer. many symptoms are vague, such as fever, headaches, weight loss and night sweats.

Symptoms of blood cancer include –

tiredness, breathlessness and pale skin (due to anemia, a reduction in number of red cells in the blood) frequent infections that do not get better increased bruising abnormal bleeding from gums and cuts heavier periods in women nosebleeds bone pain (due to the pressure of a build-up of cells in the bone marrow) swollen lymph glands (glands in the neck, groin and under the arms) abdominal pain (due to an enlarged spleen or liver) swollen gums, and occasionally, swollen testicles headaches and vision problems

Treatment for Blood Cancer

The effectiveness of treatment for blood cancer depends on the type and stage of the disease. Acute blood cancer or acute leukemia often goes into remission (the symptoms go away; the disease is under control but not necessarily cured). But many people with acute blood cancer have a relapse (the disease returns).

Treatment includes –

chemotherapy radiotherapy bone marrow or stem cell transplant monoclonal antibodies biological therapy (which may be in the form of tablets) steroids

Why consider India?

Blood Cancer Treatment in India is available at various hospitals of Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai and New Delhi at an affordable price. various corporate hospitals in India use latest technology to perform complex medical treatments and procedures. most state of the art equipment is imported from countries like USA, UK, Germany, Japan etc. while the treatment in Indian private hospitals are at par with the hospitals in USA and UK, the cost for such treatment in India is actually a fraction of what it would cost in western countries.

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When you visit a hospital for a surgery or other process, you should expect to heal, not become even sicker than you were before. however, there are some bacteria that can live in hospitals, infesting your surgical incisions and other wounds and causing infections that may prove to be fatal. one such infection is tetanus.

The clostridium genus of bacteria has several members that can produce powerful neurotoxins. In fact, the bacteria that causes botulism is in this same clostridium genus as the bacterium that causes tetanus, Clostridium tetani. this bacteria produces a toxin called tetanospasmin, which interferes with the motor nerves’ ability to control muscle movements. thus, if you are infected with tetanus, you can suffer from uncontrollable muscle spasms that pull your muscles into tightly flexed positions.

This is one reason why tetanus infections are also called lockjaw. because the delicate facial muscles are often the first ones affected by the tetanospasmin toxin, you may be unable to open your mouth fully. this is also called trismus. besides having your jaw locked shut or barely open, you may also suffer from risus sardonicus, which is when your mouth is forced into an abnormal smile.

Besides frozen facial muscles, the other symptoms of tetanus include weakness, irritability, muscle cramps, soreness, and difficulty swallowing. Sometimes, the muscle contractions can be so strong that they cause broken bones. other times, the muscles of the respiratory system may be affected, resulting in the loss of breathing capability.

Normally, you would think that hospitals would be highly disinfected areas that are kept clean of germs. however, the spores produced by Clostridium tetani are very tough and highly resistant to fluctuations in temperature. thus, open wounds caused by surgical incisions as well as childbirth, abscesses, sites of needle injections, burns, and crush injuries are all susceptible to tetanus. if you come to the hospital to treat one of these wounds, or if you undergo surgery or childbirth in the hospital, you may be at risk for contracting tetanus in the medical facility.

Thankfully, once the hospital staff realizes that you have tetanus, you can receive antibiotics and antitoxins that can help you recover. In some cases, you may need a breathing machine to help you if your respiratory muscles are contracting uncontrollably. Additionally, you can receive vaccinations to help you prevent future tetanus attacks.

Surprisingly, hospitals are not always kept clean enough to prevent hospital-acquired infections such as tetanus and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA. if you or someone you know has suffered from a hospital infection due to hospital negligence, you should consult a medical malpractice attorney about your options. For more information, check out the medical malpractice lawyers from Habush Habush & Rottier, S.C., today.