Esophageal cancer

Even if statistically esophageal cancer is the 8-th most frequently occurring type of cancer, it still produces much higher rate of lethal oucomes because it is nearly impossible to detect it at early stages, while at late stages there is practically no way to have it cured.

To put it in plain words, esophageal cancer developes from a malignant tumor in the esophagus (muscular tube connecting pharynx (throat) and stomach, through which food passes when you eat it).

Esophageal cancer sympthoms like difficulty or pain in course of swallowing are normally noticed and paid attention to at the stages when it is too late, while an unusually husky or raspy voice that may be an esophageal cancer sympthom at relatively early stage hardly puts a person on alert and prompts him or her to consult a specialist like it should. Generally, due to lack of early sympthoms, as a rule patients are diagnosed with esophageal cancer only when they need to undergo endoscopy for a bleeding ulcer, anaemia, heartburn etc.

To be realistic, efforts should be focussed on what can be done to prevent the development of this mortal condition by a person himself or herself. On the whole, to reduce the risks of esophageal cancer, an individual should care to assure he/she receives adequate and healthy nutrition, while adequate dental care is simply vital.

What can be done specifically to reduce esophageal cancer risk

The heavier you smoke, the greater is your risk of falling ill. The same pertains to drinking very hot tea, low quality spirits, or excessive alcohol drinking. The study by the Dutch throat cancer researchers revealed connection of 2 two forms of esophageal cancer with smoking. They also discovered evident and strong connection between drinking and at least one other form of esophageal cancer. According to Jessie Steevens of the Department of Epidemiology at Maastricht University, an average person taking 4 glasses of alcohol a day expose themselves to 5 times bigger risk of developing the cancer compared to a none-drinker. From the other hand, several other sources say moderate consumption of good quality read wine reduces the risks of developing esophageal cancer by more than 50%, supposedly due to antioxidants contained in wines.

You are decreasing the risk of developing esophageal cancer, if you are:

• Using aspirin or related drugs
  
• Consuming cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, green and yellow vegetables, and fruits
  
• Moderate coffee drinker

Your have increase risks of developing esophageal cancer, if you are:

• Over 60 years of age
  
• If you are male
  
• Have close relatives with cancer
  
• Tobacco smoke or heavy alcohol driker, or both
  
• Suffering from Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
  
• Infected with human papillomavirus (HPV)
  
• Using dietary substances like nitrosamine
  
• Having medical history of other head and neck cancers
  
• Plummer-Vinson syndrome (anemia and esophageal webbing)
  
• Tylosis and Howel-Evans syndrome
  
• Someone who underwent radiation therapy
  
• Obese
  
• Hot beverages, especially hot brewed tea drinker

What's new

MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas, analyzed 210 esophageal cancer cases and revealed potentially critical importance of the so-called genetic variations within the PI3K/PTEN/AKT/mTOR pathway that could be used to possibly define inherent resistance to certain chemotherapeutic agents and radiation in some patients. This sort of genetic testing might turn out a novel way to hopefully begin controlling the esophageal cancer evolution to at least slow down the desease progressing.

Other queries: diagnostics and therapy * survival rate esophageal cancer * dragon database * gene transcription * EC-implicated genes * DDEC * EC genetics * Barrett's esophagus

About Israel's National Health Insurance Law (1995)

Israel's National Health Insurance Law (1995) mandates universal and comprehensive health care and requires every resident of Israel to register with one of Israel’s four health care organizations. The law makes it illegal for health funds to bar applicants on any grounds, including age and state of health. [18]

The National Health Insurance Law institutionalizes the state's responsibility to provide residents a broad array of health services, which include:

Medical diagnosis and treatment;

Preventive medicine and health education;

Hospitalization (general, maternity, psychiatric and chronic);

Surgery and transplants (treatment not available in Israel is covered abroad);

Preventive dental care for children;

First aid and transportation to a hospital or clinic;

Medical services at the workplace;

Medical treatment for drug abuse and alcoholism;

Medical equipment and appliances;

Obstetrics and fertility treatment;

Treatment of injuries caused by violence;

Medication, in accordance with an order issued by the Ministry of Health;

Treatment of chronic diseases;

Paramedical services, including physical therapy and occupational therapy.
(Source: Israeli Project)

About Israel's Patient's Rights Law (1996)

Israel's Patient's Rights Law (1996) establishes "the rights of every person who requests medical care or who is in receipt of medical care, and to protect his [or her] dignity and privacy" with twelve basic principles:

1. The right to medical care

2. The right to appropriate medical care

3. Information on clinician identity

4. A second opinion

5. The right to continuous appropriate care

6. Patient dignity

7. Patient privacy

8. Care under emergency or grave danger

9. Informed consent

10. Access to medical information

11. Medical confidentiality

12. Disclosure of information to a third party

(Source: Israeli Project)

Israel continues to treat Palestinians in its medical system

In December 1994, the Palestinian Authority assumed responsibility for all aspects of the Palestinian population’s civilian life, including health and medical services. Despite this and even in the midst of the ongoing conflict, Israel continues to treat Palestinians in its medical system.

Many major hospitals in Israel regularly treat Palestinians every day. In 2007, Israel issued Palestinians 50 percent more permits to receive health care in Israel than the year prior: in Gaza alone, Israel issued more than 7,000 permits for Palestinian patients and almost 8,000 permits for their escorts.

Ashkelon’s Barzilai Medical Center even tends to those wounded in inter-factional fighting in the Gaza Strip. “Everyone receives the same treatment in the same wards, regardless of ethnic origin or nationality,” said Dr. Ron Lobel, the hospital's medical director. “We deliver the service equally, whether [patients] come from Gaza or … Sderot.“

Israel intensively focuses efforts to ensure that Palestinian and other Arab babies and children receive state-of-the-art medical care through a variety of hospitals, medical center and specialized programs. (Source: Israeli Project)

Israeli doctors train medical professionals from other countries

Israel consistently exports its medical, human and technological resources for humanitarian purposes around the world. For example, since 1998, the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs has sponsored 56 courses in which Israeli doctors train medical professionals from more than 100 countries, including Central and South America, Asia, Africa and Eastern Europe. About 1,200 physicians have been trained through these courses. The course, which focussed on emergency and disaster treatment, was held in April 2008 in cooperation with the World Health Organization.

Medical Organizations in Israel

In addition to standard care facilities, Israelis rely on a system of government-funded, non-profit and volunteer-based organizations. They include:

• Yad Sarah, the largest voluntary health organization in Israel, provides a variety of free or nominal-cost services for sick, disabled and elderly people and their families.
  
  
• ZAKA (Hebrew acronym for 'Disaster Victim Identification') is a humanitarian voluntary organization of almost 1,000 volunteers who respond to tragic incidents, typically terror attacks, in Israel. ZAKA is known for its mission to protect human dignity and accord the dead the respect and customary treatment required by Jewish tradition and law.
  
  
• Magen David Adom provides Israel's emergency medical services, which include first aid stations, a nationwide blood donor program, blood banks, first aid courses, and a public ambulance service equipped with intensive care units. As many as 10,000 volunteers, many of them high school students, serve at 120 stations throughout the country.
  
  
• Magen David Adom, after a decades-long struggle to join the International Red Cross using an alternative symbol to the traditional cross, became a member of the worldwide humanitarian organization in June 2006, following a two-day International Conference of the Red Cross and Red Crescent. The Red Crescent is frequently used in place of the Red Cross in many Islamic countries.
  
  
• The Hadassah Medical Organization (HMO) has been, and continues to be, a formative influence in the development of Israel’s health care system, and is also one of the world’s leading institutions in healthcare. Hadassah operates two medical facilities in Israel – the Hadassah-Hebrew University Medical Center at Ein Kerem and the Hadassah University Hospital at Mount Scopus - in addition to five schools, out-patients clinics, research facilities and community health centers. Combined, HMO facilities treat over one million patients annually. Hadassah Medical Organization prioritizes clinical and scientific research and is committed to educating health care professionals without regard to race, religion or national origin. Half of all medical research in Israel is conducted at Hadassah facilities.
  

Israel has 32,000 practicing physicians and approximately 9,000 dentists and 6,000 pharmacists for a population of less than 7 million: At one time, Israel had the highest doctor-patient ratio in the world. Medical professional can train at any of Israel's four medical schools, two schools of dentistry, two schools of pharmacology and 20 nursing schools.

How to lead a normal life after being diagnosed HIV positive?

Don't press the panic button in case your HIV reports have just tested positive. The world will not come crashing down. You have to be bold enough to take on the world with a positive mindset. Just remember that you are not the only one infected; and with the improvement in science and technology, the virus can be controlled. Although a permanent cure does not exist you can live normally with a few precautions in mind.

Your friends and family should be taken into confidence. Their support will guide you a long way. Lift your morale and try taking advice or a counselor or a social worker who works in this field. Talking will help you to relieve you of the stress and anxiety you face initially. Education holds the key in keeping yourself updated about the disease and its effects on you. There are several informative websites on the internet which can guide you. Take guidance of your local health department. Your immune system is the worst affected because of this disease so visit the doctor every week or fortnight.

It is the most dreaded disease because it attacks your immune system and makes you susceptible to a lot of other ailments. The Viral Load test and the CD4 test are reliable tests that give the doctor an accurate idea of how much HIV virus is in your bloodstream. It is the viral test that determines the intensity of virus that is present in your bloodstream and the CD4 test that can find out how strong your immune system is at the time of the test.

HIV (human immunodeficiency syndrome) is definitely not a contagious disease and it cannot be spread through hugging, sharing the toilet seat or sharing utensils. Your family should also do a research on this topic so that they are at ease. HIV carrier is transmitted via the sharing of contaminated needles, from an HIV infected mother to baby during birth or due to breastfeeding. The main source of transmission is sex with an infected partner.

The huge variety of medicines available today for controlling this disease can be confusing. Rely on your medical consultant. Century old traditional practices like acupuncture and some herbs are known to cure cancer but it is only a myth. They may give you some relief or benefit but consult a renowned practitioner.

If you are feeling isolated and left alone join some voluntary organization that deals in the uplifted of people affected by HIV/AIDS. These services might also give you the confidence to carry on your life normally. There are a lot of people who carry this deadly virus, who run such organizations and help people in distress.

Prayers can comfort you at this juncture and have faith in God, the almighty.

About the Author: John Mahoney runs diagnosehivsymptoms.com, a health related blog dedicated to provide all the information about HIV and AIDS. Check out this blog to know more about what to do if you are diagnosed HIV positive and signs of HIV infection.

5 Ways For Colon Cancer Prevention

An increasing number of people are diagnosed with colon cancer and research studies are now underway on finding a treatment and ways on how best to prevent it from developing. Colon cancer usually starts in the large intestine and from dead cells that have been accumulated in a lump over a period of time. You are at greater risk to getting colon cancer if you have a genetic medical history of parents or close relatives who have been diagnosed with colon cancer. Research also showed that that colon cancer can be triggered by unhealthy diets such as processed foods.

Early detection is key to recovery. Hence, it is vital that you seek the advice of your doctor should you feel the discomfort of colon cancer symptoms. The symptoms to keep a watch for include unhealthy bowel occurrence such as diarrhea, constipation or bowel infection, severe pain in abdomen, blood in the stools, narrow stools, anemia and drastic loss of weight.

Obviously, it is best to adopt colon cancer prevention ways rather than be diagnosed and then seeking for a treatment for it. Here are 5 easy on how best to prevent colon cancer:

1. Instill healthy habits. Colon cancer usually takes time to develop. Hence you should not wait till you notice the symptoms of colon cancer before starting to adopt healthy habits. Healthy habits include having balanced diet, regular exercise and ensuring that you have an adequate amount of sleep.

Additionally, you should definitely think of including more fiber in your diet. Fat accumulates on the walls of the intestine and rectum. These form lumps of dead cells which can pose a threat to you. For fiber, ensure that your diet includes lots of green vegetables, fruits and water.

Make it a point to exercise a few times a week. Exercise is wonderful for flushing out harmful toxins and waste matter. If they are left accumulated in your body, the toxins can cause cancerous growth.

2. You should take note of your family medical history, since colon cancer is a genetic disease that is hereditary. If you really do belong to the high risk category due to your family history, then all the more you should take extra precautions by leading a lifestyle based on wellness.

3. Quit smoking. Chain smoking raises your chance to developing colon cancer. Inhaling tobacco can easily transfer carcinogen (a cancer agent) to your colon and rectum, thus resulting in colon cancer. Smoking also brings about many other health threats. Hence, you should quit smoking as a top priority.

4. Reduce exposure to radiation. Excessive exposure to radiation has been found to cause colon cancer. Radiation rays are harmful and can cause healthy normal cells to be abnormal. You should make it a point to avoid unnecessary X-rays, CT scans, mammograms.

5. If you find yourself having symptoms like eczema, frequent flu, allergies, weak immune system, poor movement of bowels, low energy levels, bloating, etc, then these signs may be indicative of too much toxins in your body. The only way to get rid of these toxins is to perform colon cleansing before they pose a problem. There are a few ways to perform colon cleansing; including consuming colon cleansing herbs and colon hydrotherapy. You can consult with a natural health expert for more detailed advice.

Sandra Kim Leong writes on colon cleansing. Her site also includes information on detox cleansing, detox diets, juice fasting, etc. For more article tips, please visit her site at www.detox-cleansing.com

Doctor Jobs in Australia

As doctor shortage worsens, Australia’s reliance on overseas trained doctors will continue to grow. Overseas trained doctors are an extremely valuable resource but it is imperative for the future of the Australian health system to pursue the right recruitment and retention strategies.

In 2007 the Australian Rural and Remote Workforce Agencies Group CEO Dr Kim Webber said: “Recruiting the right doctors to address each community’s needs is a critical issue and a complex process. We need to ensure all doctors applying for positions in Australia are suitably qualified and have an appropriate employment history before their CV’s are forwarded to prospective employers and communities. The next step is to have mechanisms in place to provide support for the doctor and his or her family in their new community.”

Rural Workforce Agencies are not for profit organisations established in each State and the Northern Territory to responsibly recruit and retain General Practitioners. One of the strengths of the Rural Workforce Agencies is that they not only recruit doctors to rural communities but they also support them to stay there as long as possible.

The suggested model of intensively supporting doctors really does work with domestic doctors. 80 per cent of Western Australian GPs who have completed 5 years of mandatory working in a rural area of need continue to live and work in rural communities, even though they could further work anywhere in Australia.

Rural Workforce Agencies have enjoyed such success in recruitment and retention because of the careful selection and induction process and the intensive supports they provide GP’s such as locum relief, educational supports and addressing family and personal needs.

Interview Opportunity: Dr Kim Webber (ARRWAG CEO): Ph (03) 8825 4500 or 0401 006 170