Lung Cancer Month
Despite all the advances that have been made in recent years, lung cancer remains one of the worst expectations of healing has, and accounted for approximately 20% of cancer deaths. To this we must add that sits third in the list of most common tumors, second only to breast and colon.
Conscious of this reality and with the intention of improving the diagnosis and treatment as the most effective weapons to stop this tragic statistic, has published a report is to alert the public and health systems.
Lung cancer is an abnormal growth of cells within the lung. Unlike other tumors that can cause symptoms apparent before long, it only occurs in very advanced stages, making early detection, a factor that helps the healing, it is very difficult. This makes “almost 90% of patients die within five years since the disease is detected,” say from the Spanish Society of Medical Oncology (SEOM).
This percentage makes him “the second leading cause of death worldwide after cardiovascular diseases,” said Dr. Dolores Isla, spokesman for the SEOM. However, Nils Wilking, a medical oncologist at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden, says that “it is avoidable and preventable disease,” referring to smoking as the main risk of this cancer.
The veracity of this last fact can be checked only a glance at our surroundings and seeing in countries where the snuff is not too common, the figures are considerably less affected. This, obviously, “are really helping active anti-smoking policies” that have been developing some European governments in recent years, Wilking added.
Comparative Report on Lung Cancer in Europe, recently developed by the Karolinska Institute, puts Spain below the European average with regard to prevalence, with 41 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. However, we must also take into account that countries like Sweden the figures reduce by half.
This study also highlights data and that “the incidence of lung cancer, even though higher in males, is currently increasing among females and decreasing among men,” said Dr. Jose Luis Gonzalez Larriba Medical Oncology Service of Hospital Clinico San Carlos (Madrid).
On the other hand, Nils Wilking would point out that Spain is among the countries with better prospects of survival, a figure that looks like it may have its reason for being both “smoke-free policies as it is a leader in the diagnosis.”
However, note that there is a long way to go about improving health care and treatment equipment. Indeed, overturning the authorities to reduce bureaucracy involved in research and implementation of new drugs, is one of the primary objectives for the SEOM, a cancer that is considered the most dangerous.
Sleep Apnea
At least two million Spanish adults suffering from partial or total obstruction of the airway during sleep, according to the Spanish Society of Otorhinolaryngology and Cervical-Facial Pathology Spanish (SEORL). In addition, a significant percentage of people who suffer without knowing it.
Obstructive sleep apnea much more common than at first seems, is closely linked to children and obesity, but also the presence of a strong and continuous snoring, can trigger this disease. It is therefore important that the person who suffers from continuous or clear is overweight, a medical test is performed in time to prevent disease or to undergo a medical or surgical treatment.
We tend to downplay the act of snoring. We believe that it is a fact that makes our body in a timely manner in response to a night we smoked or drank to excess, or the result of a pronounced fatigue due to physical activity.
The truth is that snoring can be the cause or origin of this disease so little known but who already have many people in our country: the sleep apnea.
To avoid this, among other things, we must learn to distinguish between occasional snoring and one that is repeated daily, intensely. In this case, we go to the hospital and ask for a medical test simple: polysomnography.
When the air intake is completely blocked, breathing stops. This annoying and dangerous obstruction, carries several consequences for the patient’s daily life. The most common is daytime sleepiness. Something very risky if, among other risky activities, a person with sleep apnea take the car every day, it could cause an accident.
The disturbing and often dangerous apnea, is the time in which it appears, the dream, which is our greatest period of rest and off of what is happening around us and, judging by the symptoms of apnea, also of what affects our health.
Other factors and common habits that can generate are overweight (especially in children), the use and abuse of alcohol, sedatives, sleeping, the very anatomy of the nasal passages and hypertension.
Stethoscope syringe
Middle-aged women, the most commonly undergo facial surgery
Today there is a new patient profile with apnea or illness associated with a normal breathing difficulty, that of working women 35 to 45 years, drawing has to undergo surgery for health reasons, takes to get a rhinoplasty or facial reconstruction.
This new lawsuit, which claims to cure a disease more? Facial touch-ups? is part of the new trends in surgery, according to recent studies SEORL.
For years there have been researching what the best methods and treatments to enhance the quality of life of patients with sleep apnea. The momentum in otolaryngology has been great over the past 20 years, thanks to the incredible progress of science and good professionals that allow, among other things, faster diagnoses and more effective treatments.
Bone Marrow Donation
Bone marrow is a tissue found inside our bones. Its primary function is to create 95% of blood cells and participate in the proper functioning of our immune system. When a failure in its production or it is altered, it can trigger serious diseases threatening the life of the sufferer.
For many, the marrow transplant is the only viable solution. However, the chances of finding a donor who is compatible with the patient are quite small. To this we must add that we still lack a large bank donors. It is therefore very important to know what this technique and know where we have to lead if we are determined to help.
Although medicine has advanced and continues at a dramatic rate, still requires a voluntary acts as donations. The importance of donating blood, we must unite him of being willing to do the same with our bone marrow, as this may be the only hope of life for many sick people.
Given that the probability of compatibility between donor and patient is one in 40,000, from the Association for Bone Marrow Donation Extremadura (ADMO), stressing “the importance of creating a world solidarity network as long as possible, to and to reduce the number of deaths and give hope to many families who are suffering. ”
In this regard, it is estimated that currently around 12 million and a half of donors in the world and 50,000 in Spain. It is therefore a need for greater awareness to the population. “There are many misconceptions about this topic, people still believe that the gift is made by clicking on the spine and can leave paralyzed”, report from the association. The objectives of this are the information and the promotion of solidarity, to show that we can all be needed someday.
As with blood donation, to give our bone need to be adults and enjoy good health. This means not suffering from an illness and not following drug treatment. In addition, experts point out that there are certain situations such as tattoos, piercing or acupuncture, which are considered at risk for a possible blood contamination. Nor is allowed in pregnancy and during lactation, even when there were over 55 years of age.
If we are determined to do so and fulfill these requirements, we come to the center of our region that is authorized for this type of techniques, and make an appointment. In this, we report in detail the process that would take place. There must be clear that this donation is totally unselfish and do not receive any remuneration, but only pay for the expenses arising during the course of it.
Initially, “just need a blood test, apparently just as we always tend to do, but much more sophisticated and costly in terms of typing” comment from the ADMO. The results will form part of the Spanish Registry of Bone Marrow Donors.
Given this, we must bear in mind that “the probability that two unrelated people are compatible family is very small”, remember the experts, so that in most cases, the process ends here. However, if our bone is consistent with that of a patient, we communicate and, still want help prepare us for the donation.
Today, “90% of extractions are performed by apheresis, a technique used for platelet donation,” he said from the ADMO. The protocol which is a much less extensive in time and does not require anesthesia, so the inconvenience to the donor are considerably lower.
In the event that our bone is valid for a donation, we will be able to save a life. For all this, although it is very difficult to find a donor, you have to keep in mind that the more people are included in the donor bank, the greater the chances of success.