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Health Watch
Say no to cancers in the womb!
Nipuni WIMALAPALA
The womb is the organ where a baby develops when a woman is pregnant.
It is a muscular organ with a lining called the endometrial. It is
important for women to take a very good care of their wombs since they
are vulnerable to womb cancers. There are several types of cancers which
occur within the womb.
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Dr Gamini Perera |
The three commonest womb cancers are cervical cancer, ovarian cancer
and endometrial cancer, said Dr Gamini Perera, Consultant Obstetrician
and Gynecologist of the Castle Street Hospital for Women, speaking to
Daily News.
Cervical cancer
According to Dr Perera, cervical cancer is the commonest, which is
often seen among women and it occurs in the neck of the womb. Cervical
cancer starts in the cervix, the lower part of the uterus (womb) that
opens at the top of the vagina. Middle-aged women (40-50) are mostly
worried about this. It stems out of a virus. It can easily be detected
during a pre-cancer stage by doing a Pap smear test which is painless at
a medical clinic. It is safe, if detected during the pre-cancer stages.
Vaccination is available for this cancer and it should be done during
the small ages to prevent from it. Dr Perera noted there are symptoms to
identify the cancer. Main symptoms are abnormal bleeding, unusual heavy
discharge which could be foul smelling, watery or thick, post-coital
bleeding and bleeding in between regular menstrual periods.
If these symptoms are visible, there is a great possibility of a
cervical cancer.
“Treatments are available for this cancer. In the pre-cancer stages,
the local excision or burning can be done. When it is cancer, extensive
surgery to remove a lot of parts of the womb and radiotherapy can be
done. Radiotherapy is a treatment to destroy cancer cells with
radiation. It can be given externally or internally. But the surgery is
effective only in early stages. In the late stages it can be treated
only with radio therapy. Cervical cancer associates with early sex and
multiple partners,” Dr Perera stated.
Ovarian cancer
Many types of ovarian cancers exist. This can be occurred in very
young age, middle age or in old age. So there is no specific age to do
tests. This is the dangerous cancer that occurs in the womb since there
are no specific symptoms to discover it. Sometimes the patient does not
know anything till it gets worst.
It is a risky situation as it is diagnosed late. Abnormal pain and
distension may occur. Diagnosis can be done by tests. Lump test and scan
test will help diagnose the cancer. This can be occurred due to genetic
causes. Family planning pills help reduce the possibility of an ovarian
cancer.
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Cervical cancer |
“The basic treatment is a surgery. If it is done early, you can save
some parts of the ovary, but if it is late, we have to remove everything
including ovary and other affected parts,” he stressed.
Endometrial cancer
“Endometrial cancer is the third commonest cancer which occurs within
the womb. Endometrial cancer starts in the endometrial, the lining of
the uterus (womb). Endometrial is the Inner lining of the womb. This
also called cancer in the body of the womb. It commonly occurs in old
age. Main symptom is bleeding after menopause. If bleeding starts more
than one year later to the menopause, probably it can be an endometrial
cancer,” Dr Perera emphasised.
As Dr Perera added, the first treatment is removal of womb by a
surgery. Radio therapy can also be done. Women who possess an excessive
estrogen exposure, who are fat and whose menstruation occur with long
intervals, are susceptible to this.
Apart from these common cancers there are some other cancers which
rarely occur within womb. Some of them are vulva cancer, vaginal cancer,
fallopian tube cancer, hydatidiform mole. These cancers are rarely seen
among women.
To prevent from cancers, women should be aware of the cancers and the
tests that they can take. Once they take tests, they are safe and can be
prevented from cancers related to womb.
Yoga as an alternative therapy for AIDS
Chelliah Thuraiappah D.Y.T. Consultant Yoga
Therapist
There are approximately 3,000 HIV patients in Sri Lanka, 1,250 of
them have been clinically confirmed HIV positive cases. According to the
statistics there are 40,000 sex workers in Sri Lanka. They serve over
200,000 men daily and each of them caters at least five to six clients
per day. In addition there are 40,000 drugs addicts and 20,000 beach
boys. This has paved way to add at least one HIV patient daily to the
records. The present trend of flourishing tourism industry in Sri Lanka
aftermath of the cessation of the war will further increase the number
of HIV positive patients manifolds.
 This
has prompted the Global Fund to battle HIV/AIDS to allocate a huge sum
of Rupees 3,550 million for two projects of proposals of Sri Lanka for
HIV prevention and strengthening of the health service in Northern
province by controlling AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis.
As we all know the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, or AIDS, is
perhaps the most dreadful disease that spoils our immunity and gradually
takes charge of all body systems. The culprit behind the disease is the
Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) that decreases the efficiency of the
immune system gradually and leaves individuals prone to infections and
tumors.
Signs and symptoms of AIDS include severe muscular pain, skin
infections and rashes with redness all over the body, sores and inflamed
lymph and nodes of the patients, severe throat pain with fever and skin
infections that do not go away and appear again. Severe weight loss and
intermittent cold and cough are two prominent symptoms.
Different symptoms of AIDS may appear in different persons, but they
become prominent within six weeks of infection by the virus.
Unfortunately, most of the patients are unable to recognize the symptoms
in time and the symptoms become chronic thereby making the treatment
difficult. However, in most of the cases the symptoms of AIDS are not
manifested after the person contracts HIV infection. The manifestation
of the initial symptoms may differ from patient to patient. Body’s
metabolic rate and immunity generally affect the manifestation of the
symptoms. The tenure of appearance of symptoms can be anything from one
to ten years in the affected people.
The transmission of HIV – infected body fluids from the affected
person to a healthy person is responsible for transmission of AIDS. A
person carrying the virus can transmit it to another healthy person if
he exchanges body fluid with that person. The most common culprit is the
unprotected sex with several partners that increases the chances of
contracting AIDS. The intravenous drug users become easy prey to HIV
infection.
Body fluids that transmit HIV include blood, semen, pre semen fluid,
vaginal fluid and breast milk. HIV can enter the body lining of the anus
or rectum, lining of vagina or cervix, opening of penis, mouth that has
sores or bleeding gum, cuts and sores, needles (Syringe).
Medical fraternity does not suggest any effective remedy for AIDS,
however, Ayurvedic practitioners claim that Ayurveda recognized AIDS
2000 years ago. Named as the king of diseases or Rajayakshma and is
defined in Ashtanga Hridayam. To improve body strength and induce
appetite, preparations like Indukantham Ghritham and Ajamamsa Rasayanam
are recommended. Rasasindoor, a mercury preparation, is given to the
patients to increase internal strength.
If the symptoms start diminishing and patients recover, shodhana
(Cleansing) techniques are recommended to flush out toxins from the
system. This is done through purgation, emesis and enemas. Once the
signs of improvement are seen, the patient is given medications that
purify the blood. Patients are recommended to consume special
non-vegetarian diet to boost strength. Bathing with cold water and
application of sandalwood paste is also recommended.
Ayurveda advises rejuvenators and tonics to enhance immunity level of
AIDS patients. Healthy and safe sex is what can prevent AIDS to become
an epidemic as AIDS is mostly transmitted by sexual means. Condoms are
easy way for protection during sexual intercourse. While using
injections and syringes, it must be ensured that they are properly
sterilized and not shared by others. Though the disease is not curable
but practically an HIV infected person can lead a healthy life by
choosing a balanced died and maintaining health and body fitness by
practicing Yoga.
Constant changes
Modern medicine undergoes constant change, theories alter by minute.
Terminologies are modified in each national or international conference.
Newer drugs are being discovered to tackle old and new illnesses, old
illnesses are vanishing and new ones like AIDS taking their place.
The most effective way to slow down the spread of HIV/AIDS is through
changing the sexual and infecting drug risk behaviors that transmit HIV
from individual to individual. Drinking alcohol significantly increases
the risk of these behaviors in a complex manner. Drinking alcohol
encourages adolescents to engage in risky behaviors of unprotected sex.
Hence, delaying the initiation of sexual activity and dissuading young
adults from using alcohol and drugs are important HIV prevention
strategies. Yoga therapy enhances your abilities, makes you give up bad
habits and more effectively develop healthier habits. This helps
prevention of AIDS transmission to a great extent.
The relation between the psyche and Soma is harmonized by the Yoga
Therapy. Drugs may cure illnesses but the basic inner foundation for
achieving health, the harmonization of inner psyche, is not established.
Yoga Therapy is of more value in this. The fact that Yoga Therapy can
prevent and cure many illnesses including AIDS is well-known. Yoga
Therapy has never been very easy to define, largely owing to the length
and breadth of the subject. Yoga Therapy aims at the holistic treatment
of various kinds of psychological or somatic dysfunction inducing ones
that could not be managed by Allopathic Medicine. A number of studies
have proven the effectiveness of Yoga Therapy. There are various steps
like postures (asanas), pranayama (Breathing exercise) and Meditation
etc. in Yoga Therapy that contribute for overall well-being.
Depression
When a person is made aware of AIDS he shall experience fear,
hopelessness and depression. Yoga Therapy can greatly help in handling
and counseling this stress. So as a result when practised regularly it
helps cope with stress and building up inner strength bringing about
self-awareness through meditation.
”Keep fit and stay healthy” that’s the mantra for the people who are
carries of HIV virus. Some specific postures are beneficial in
maintaining health. The good thing is that these postures can be easily
performed at home not incurring any expenses.
A set of postures tone up the muscles and internal organs. They
revitalize system, create overall awareness of the body and its function
and help tranquilize the mind. They also energize and stimulate body’s
major endocrine glands (ductless glands). By toning up internal organs,
they also prevent and cure many illnesses.
They include head stand (Sirasana), supported bridge (Setu Bandha
Sarvangasana), simple cross leg (Sukhasana), supported plough (ardha
halasana), supported head/knee forward bend (Janasirasana) and corpse (Shavasana).
When these postures are practiced regularly they help in improvement of
immune system increasing immunity.
Corpse (Shavasana) is a relaxing posture, a process designed to
soothe both mind and body. Yoga Therapy holds that “Tension is a disease
(a state of unease) and relaxation is health.” To this end shavasana
contributes a lot. Shavasana enables you to communicate directly with
your subconscious mind to enhance your abilities, more easily give up
bad habits, feel less pain, more effectively develop healthier habits.
This help AIDS patients to fight with it.
Pranayama
Whenever we think of the term Pranayama, the only thing appears in
our mind is that it is a breathing exercise. But, Pranayama means a lot
more than just breathing for relaxation. Pranayama is a regulation of
incoming and outgoing breath coupled with retention. Cosmic power
dominates and controls our body. Pranayama prepares us for the stillness
and meditation to come. It helps us control ourselves mentally and
physically, attaining purification of body, soul and mind. Purification
of Nadis – subtle nerve channels 72,000 in number in subtle body and the
result is healthy mind and to its high. Prana in Nadis enhances body’s
immunity thereby prevents and cures various chronic diseases including
AIDS.
Meditation is an unique technique used to stabilize the mind,
increase concentration and willpower, balance cellular and Chakra energy
and develop one-pointedness. Doctors are suggesting meditation option as
an alternative therapy to improve condition of people suffering from
various chronic diseases.
Medication is now considered as a flexible approach towards combating
anxiety, stress, depression and other medical conditions arising due to
stress from day-to-day activities which steals the inner calmness of an
individual. During the meditation the mind gets purified as all other
distracting thoughts are removed from the mind. Medical professionals
who were unable to attain maximum results in their treatment of stress
related health conditions, found meditation to be a valuable too. Today,
the value of meditation is being realized worldwide.
Recent studies have indicated that meditation plays an important role
in an individual’s physiological and psychological well-being. The
reason behind this is that through meditation the mind is drawn to a
state of consciousness which promotes healing.
Benefits of meditation
Meditation is found to be beneficial in lowering the heart rate,
lowering cortisol level that causes stress, reducing the free radicals
that cause diseases in the body, reducing hypertension, reducing
cholesterol levels, treating TB that causes death to AIDS patients by
improving air flow into the lungs while inhaling, reducing ageing by
increasing DHEAS as low levels of DHEAS is correlated to ageing.
Research has conclusively proved the connection between DHEAS (Dehydroeplandrosterone)
level and diseases such as diabetes, lymphoma (a cancer that arises in
the cells of the immune system) as well as a decreased lifespan.
Meditation significantly enhances DHEAS level. DHEAS deficiency
contributes to common age related diseases and diminished longevity.
Meditation increases the consistency of the brain wave pattern. In
addition meditation decreases stress and anxiety, depression and
irritability and increase memory, enhances vitality, emotional stability
and promotes self-realization. All these play a significant role for
fast recovery from AIDS.
Meditation is being practised in certain hospitals around the world
for improving immune function during health conditions like AIDS, cancer
etc.
More and more physicians have now begun considering meditation as a
key element in health programs and meditation is recommended as part of
treatment for a number of health conditions. |
