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Terminal Cancer is a stage of cancer that cannot be cured or treated sufficiently and there is a high chance that the patients will meet with death in a short duration of time.

In these final moments, a ‘caregiver’ who knows the patient beforehand such as a relative, partner, parent, or even close friends is necessary for assisting and meeting the needs of the patient. Most of the time, these caregiver’s may not have any experience in taking care of a terminally ill person but might be the only person that can assist the patient at the moment.

Roles of a Caregiver:

A caregiver has many parts which are always changing according to the progression of disease faced by the cancer patient. Even though the caregiver knows that the patient might bid farewell soon, a real encouragement can help the patient to cope up with the situation and have some confidence in dealing with his present life. While dealing with the patient, the caregiver might face many new obstacles daily.

There are few duties that a caregiver must follow such as:

• Purchase and prepare food that is healthy to the patient.

• Help the patient eat adequately.

• Make sure that the patient is in a clean environment at all times; it is to avoid any further disease that may attack the patient’s weak (low immune) body.

• Soothe and comfort the patient at all times.

• Provide emotional and mental support.

• Always be positive and don’t talk about any negative matter.

• Settle all bills at the right time.

• Don’t allow people to crowd around the patient which may induce fears in the patient’s mind.

• Help the patient to bath, primp and dress appropriately.

• Assist the patient during movements.

• If seeking medical attention, take notes of the patient’s progress and effectively discuss with the doctor. Help the patient take medicines at the right time that are advised by a qualified medical practitioner.

• Preparing the Will (Testament) by having a proper communication with the patient might be an appropriate thing to do during these final moments.

Psychological counseling:

A proper counseling can help the patient to cope up with his/her reactions to cancer, Deal with family matters, relationship, and practical issues. An appropriate counseling by a caregiver can help to avoid different fears or phobias that are present in the patient’s mind.

Pain management:

A caregiver should persistently work to eliminate any pain experienced by the patient. Always keep some time daily to communicate with the patient to know the new difficulties he/she might be facing. A caregiver should be a good listener and should pay a heed to the patient’s needs.

Financial Burden of Cancer Care:

The financial expense associated with cancer care is a huge burden to people who are being diagnosed with cancer, Patient's family or the entire society. It's also expected that the cost for treatment will continue to rise in the upcoming future due to new and advanced treatments that are being introduced for various cancers.

A family doctor plays a pivotal role in protecting the health and well-being of your family. Family doctors are none but an extended family who take complete responsibility of your family’s health and well-being. Not just when you or a family member fall sick, but a 24*7 healthcare solution is what you must receive from an ideal family doctor. And to achieve this, you must make a wise decision in designating the right person for taking care of yours and your family’s health.

But, how shall you know if a doctor is fit for your family? Well, here are the check points.

1. Training and Experience

Training and experience defines the real credibility of a doctor. Before assigning a family physician, make sure that he/she comes from a government-certified medical institution. Is he a fresh MBA pass out or someone with decades of experience in looking after family health? Assess all such parameters and do a background check up only to make certain that the person holds credible medical records.

2. Preventive Care Strategies

You’ll of course not just want a family doctor only when you fall sick. In fact, to ensure that you don’t, your family physician must provide regular medical advice and relevant suggestions. At the same time, the person must know the medical history of each of your family members so that he/she can prescribe the best medicines along with preventive healthcare solutions; thereby mitigating the risks of developing any abnormalities or being affected by common viruses.

3. Availability and Convenience

Thanks to technological advancements, distance doesn’t matter anymore. Today, doctors use various applications like Lybrate. Such apps are more convenient and enable them to keep in touch with you round-the-clock and provide quick replies to your concerns.

4. Hospitality and Attitude

As already stated, your family doctor is like a family friend having good hospitality and a pleasing attitude. During the initial consultations, study their body language especially their reactions on seeing your children and parents. Does the doctor behave professionally or is he/she more down to earth? Do your kids enjoy with the doctor and are happy that he/she is going to be a frequent visitor to your house? Weigh all these factors and then you know who is ideal for your family healthcare.

5. Communication

While conversing, try to assess if your doctor is at all interested to build a good rapport with you. In case if all your conversations surround around medical conditions and health, well he or she is not the right choice. A good family physician will go beyond health and medicine and talk about your family and life such as your family lifestyle, your work life, your kid’s education and so on and so forth. At the end, these family doctors become your friend.

6. Ethics & Commitment

This is the most important thing that you must look for in your physician. Family doctors must have professional ethics however, should not be commercial minded. Taking care of family health should come out as a moral duty and not just a commercial benefit. Family physicians must have constant dedication and commitment to your family and providing good quality healthcare must be their first and foremost priority. Have a Healthy and Happy Lifestyle!!!!

Terminal Cancer is a stage of cancer that cannot be cured or treated sufficiently and there is a high chance that the patients will meet with death in a short duration of time. In these final moments, a ‘caregiver’ who knows the patient beforehand such as a relative, partner, parent, or even close friends is necessary for assisting and meeting the needs of the patient. Most of the time, these caregiver’s may not have any experience in taking care of a terminally ill person but might be the only person that can assist the patient at the moment.

Roles of a Caregiver:

• Purchase and prepare food that is healthy to the patient.

• Help the patient eat adequately.

• Make sure that the patient is in a clean environment at all times; it is to avoid any further disease that may attack the patient’s weak (low immune) body.

• Soothe and comfort the patient at all times.

• Provide emotional and mental support.

• Always be positive and don’t talk about any negative matter.

• Settle all bills at the right time.

• Don’t allow people to crowd around the patient which may induce fears in the patient’s mind.

• Help the patient to bath, primp and dress appropriately.

• Assist the patient during movements.

• Preparing the Will (Testament) by having a proper communication with the patient might be an appropriate thing to do during these final moments.

Psychological counseling:

Pain management:

Financial Burden of Cancer Care:

There are many traditional cancer centers in India for people fighting with cancers such as Yoddhas (Delhi, Mumbai, and Chennai), Indian Cancer Society (Mumbai), Mahatma Gandhi Hospital and Institute (Andhra Pradesh), etc. which one can turn to advice, guidance and support at these times and one should make full use of their facilities and help to tide over these difficult times.

Life today is lived amidst physical ailments and medicines to cure the same. Medical Science has many solutions to different types of diseases suffered by mankind. The vastness of diseases has given rise to many schools of medicine one among the same being Homeopathy. Homeopathy is just not another school of medicine but is a science that was founded by Hahnemann who belonged to Germany. The science of Homeopathy works on two basic principles.

The first principle is Law of Similars

If Onion can create watery eyes and nose burn, it can cure the same symptoms when caused by Hay fever

The second principle is Minimum Dose

This principle works on the basis of administering the least dose of medicine for diseases so no side effects are caused

Homeopathy is an authentic Medical Science

The track record Homeopathy carries shows its effectiveness over conventional medication and the belief that it is a pseudo science. Homeopathy is capable of curing many dreaded epidemics like Influenza, Typhus and Cholera. It has stunning solutions for preventing severe conditions like Polio and Meningicoccal Meningitis. The fact that homeopathy has cured many chronic Illnesses proves that it is not a pseudo science but an authentic medical science which is highly dependable.

Physical and mental ailments cured by Homeopathy

Many kinds of physical and mental diseases get treated well by the medical science called Homeopathy. A short list of such ailments treated is given below.

v Depression

v Skin diseases

v Asperger’s Syndrome

v Behavioral Problems

v Osteo Arthritis

v Psoriasis

v Asthma

v Heartburn

v Enlarged prostate

The above ailments are just the tip of the iceberg. Homeopathy has cure even for the dreadful Cancer.

Famous Homeopathy health centers

v National Institute of Homeopathy in Kolkata is a pioneer in treating people in the Homeopathic way since its inception in the year 1975.

v Dr Batra is one of the famous Homeopathy clinics which is spread over all across the Indian subcontinent and many parts of the globe

v Bakson is another brand which is highly established in providing medical solutions to various ailments through its Homeopathy products and medical assistance.

How Homeopathy treatment works?

v Homeopathy treatment is based on the ‘inside out’ logic. The medical science takes the cues of required treatment from the indications exhibited by the body.

v Homeopathy has a holistic approach. It does not focus on individual aspects of body but rather provides solution in totality taking into consideration the physical, emotional and mental symptoms expressed by the human body. The same ailment for different patients will get different medicines that address the individual needs. This makes it safe to be administered on children and aged people.

v Homeopathy addresses the medical needs of chronic as well as acute diseases in a simplified manner.

v Homeopathy medicines do not ‘override’ any other sort of medications administered by other branches of Medical Sciences. They do not cause hindrance to the efforts of the human body to heal all by self.

Breast cancer is now the most common cancer in most cities in India, and 2nd most common in the rural areas. In India, we are now witnessing more and more numbers of patients being diagnosed with breast cancer to be in the younger age groups (in their thirties and forties). one fourth (or even approaching one thirds) of all female cancer cases are breast cancers. Breast cancer is a non existent entity for a majority of population till a near and dear one suffers from it. Healthcare is low on priority and even in major cities, screening is also an 'alien' word for most people. So naturally, this results in most people presenting only when symptomatic, and on an average, most 'symptomatic' cancers are stage 2B and beyond (significant numbers in stages 3 and 4)

Breast cancer is the overgrowth of breast tissue. The occurrence of breast cancer is on the rise in India with 1 in every 25 women expected to develop the disease. It is not known what exactly causes cancer but certain factors increases the risk of contracting it such as genetics, previous cancer, lifestyle and hormonal imbalance. Without a known cause, and with the early detection of cancer being so critical to the treatment, one has to rely on the identification of symptoms and a proper diagnosis.

The symptoms for breast cancer include:

· Lumps

· Swelling

· Eczema-like symptoms on the nipples

· Breast skin irritation

· Nipple discharge

Diagnosis is the only way to confirm the presence of breast cancer and is done through imaging tests such as mammograms, ultrasounds and MRIs as well as a biopsy, which is the testing of a sample of the lump.

Even though the cause is unknown, you can still take measures to prevent against breast cancer by avoiding the risk factors. For instance, avoid or limit your exposure to radiation and toxic chemicals as well as your dosage and duration of hormone therapy. If prevention is unsuccessful, you can still get treatment for breast cancer and early diagnosis is vital for this.

Treatment depends on the location, spread, and advancement of cancer. It is easier and less costly to treat breast cancer while in its earlier stages. The cost of treatment in India depends on the city and hospital with some being more expensive. Treatment strategies include:

· Surgery

There are two types of breast cancer surgery; a lumpectomy and a mastectomy/quadrantectomy. A lumpectomy removes the cancer and tissue surrounding it without affecting the appearance of the breast. A mastectomy could be partial (only part of the breast with the cancer is removed) or total (whole breast is removed). Surgery requires one session and a couple of radiotherapy sessions to kill the remaining cancer cells. A lumpectomy costs about Rs. 2 lakh while a mastectomy costs about Rs. 4.5 lakh

· Radiation therapy

The cancer is targeted and destroyed using precise and controlled radiation. Multiple sessions (about 5-6) are required to avoid harming the patient with excess radiation and certain side effects should be expected. It is used either before surgery (to shrink the tumor) or after surgery (to destroy it). Each session costs about Rs. 20 lakh.

· Chemotherapy

Works in much the same way as radiotherapy except it isn't targeted and drugs are used instead of radiation. Depending on drugs and dosage, the cost is between Rs. 25,000 - 1 lakh per session.

· Hormone therapy

Used to treat cancer that is caused by hormonal imbalance by preventing the action of these hormones.

In conclusion, even though breast cancer can be scary, the treatment is very successful when it is caught early. The treatment might be hard to handle, especially in the case of chemotherapy but at the end of it all you come out stronger and more determined to live a full life. Apart from treatment, one can and should connect with support groups like the Cancer Patients Aid Association (CPAA) and the Pink Initiative which provide valuable support services as well as helpful tips in not only treatment issues but also other elements of living with cancer including counseling services.

Human body is a bundle of complications. Diseases invade the human body for many reasons irrespective of the age factor. Whenever we suffer from diseases medical science comes to our rescue. Different schools of medicine propogate theories which have their own versions of cure to various diseases we suffer from. Ayurveda is one such school of medicine which provides long lasting permanent relief from many kinds of ailments. Let us have a detailed look at the medical conditions treated effectively by Ayurveda and some of the leading Ayurveda Medical Centers in India.

Medical conditions which Ayurveda treats in an effective manner

Ayurveda is a science whose roots date back to time immemorial. The permanent solutions provided by Ayurveda for many chronic ailments stands as a proof for its effectiveness. Some physical and mental ailments cured by Ayurveda are listed below.

v Joint problems including back and neck related issues including Rheumatology

v Developmental Neurology and Stroke

v Fertility & Women’s health

v Developmental Neurology, Autoimmune Tissue & Metabolic disorders (disorders in Children)

v Appendages & diseases related to skin

v Respiratory Tract & Urinary Tract related ailments

v Headaches

v Digestive System, Cardiovascular Diseases & Hematological deficiencies

v Sleep, Demyelinating & Seizure disorders

v Degenerative and Hereditary diseases

The above list clearly substantiates the expanse of ailments Ayurveda is capable of treating.

Famous centers of Ayurveda

Ayurveda cures ailments as a process in our day to day life and as prolonged treatments to provide permanent solutions. Some of the famous Ayurveda centers in India which have been providing medical relief from array of diseases to people are listed below.

v Somatheertham Ayurveda Resort is located in Kerala. The Ayurveda resort established in the year 1985 provides relief to people from a range of diseases through many kinds of Massage Therapies. Snehapanam, Kizhi and Nasyam treatments have been proven highly effective for curing skin diseases like Leukemia.

http://somatheeram.in/

v Devaayya is basically an Ayurveda centre situated in Goa. The center uses the basics of Naturopathy to treat people using appropriate diet plans, meditation, Yoga and lifestyle modifications.

http://www.devaaya.com/

v Kairali Ayurvedic Health Village which is located in Palakkad, Kerala considers Recreational Therapy as its basic form to treat ailments. Kairali has more than 45 branches in India and abroad.

http://www.kairali.com/ayurvedic-healing-village.aspx

Ayurveda Therapies

Many types of Herbal oils value add to the massage therapies which play a crucial role in Ayurvedic treatments like the below ones.

Pizhichil is a massage therapy that helps in balancing Vata Dosha in people which creates many types of diseases. It uses warm oil for therapeutic massage.

Njavarijhi is a massage therapy which uses a particular variety of rice termed as Njavara, Cow’s Milk, Herbal paste and medicated Oils for increasing perspiration levels in the body

Ayurveda is one of the best forms of medicine that cures many ailments in a permanent manner by balancing out the deficiencies in the human body. Ashwagandha, Liv 52, Brahmi and Chyavanprash are some famous Ayurveda products which prove the efficacy of the same.

One of the most common cancers in males, prostate cancer is cancer that begins in a man's prostate — a small walnut-sized gland that sits just beneath a man’s bladder and produces the seminal fluid that nourishes and transports sperm. According to latest estimates, about 6.78 per cent Indian males suffer from prostate cancer. When prostate cancer is detected at its earliest stages, the chance of successful treatment is very good. But most prostate cancers are discovered at a late stage, when the prognosis is often very poor. Factors that can increase risk of prostate cancer include age, weight and family history. The chances of prostate cancer are greater if you’re an older person. People who are obese are at higher risk for developing advanced stage of prostate cancer. Prostate cancer is more common in people who have a family history of prostate cancer.

While in its early stages prostate cancer may not produce symptoms, signs and symptoms in advanced stages include trouble urinating, decreased force when urinating, increased frequency of urination, discomfort in the pelvic area, blood in the semen and urine, erectile dysfunction and bone pain. Doctor may be able to diagnose prostate cancer by performing a physical examination. If he or she suspects there’s an underlying cause to your condition, imaging tests such as bone scan, ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computerized tomography (CT) scan and positron emission tomography (PET) scan. It is not necessary for every person to undergo every test. Your doctor will help determine which tests are suitable for you.

What prostate cancer treatment options are available to you depend on several factors, such as how fast your cancer is growing, the stage of your cancer, your overall health, personal preferences, as well as the benefits and the potential side effects of the treatment. While there are various options for treating prostate cancer, surgery is the main treatment for prostate cancer in the early stages. Palliative care can come to the rescue of a seriously ill patient.

As is the case with many types of cancer, the earlier your prostate cancer is detected, the easier it is to treat it. But in many cases prostate cancers are detected in later stages. This is because when the tumor is small as is the case in initial stages, it generally does not produce symptoms. In recent years, research on prostate cancer has reached the point where halting its progression is a distinct possibility. You can definitely reduce your risk of prostate cancer by choosing a healthy diet and avoiding high-fat foods. A new laser-based therapy for treatment for prostate cancer has come to light. Called vascular-targeted photodynamic therapy (VPDT), the therapy eliminates the need of surgery and has the potential of shortening the duration of side-effects. With the passage of time researchers and scientists are making right steps in the right directions in understanding and treating prostate cancer. They are always looking for new ways to detect and treat aggressive forms of prostate cancer.