Showing posts with label health. Show all posts
Showing posts with label health. Show all posts

Signs of breast cancer explained, using lemons

We think we know what the signs of breast cancer are, until it comes to checking our own breasts - then we're not so sure.

Is that a lump I can feel? Should I be worried about the dimpled skin there? What exactly am I feeling for?

Those were the concerns of Corrine Beaumont, a young designer, who created the 'Know Your Lemons' campaign, which has been shared more than 32,000 times on Facebook in the past few days.


breast cancer lemon


She lost both her grandmothers to breast cancer at the ages of 40 and 62 and when she found very little information on the signs of breast cancer to look out for, she felt compelled to come up with a solution.

Lemons became her stand-in metaphor for breasts as she tried to create a simple, visual way of showing what breast cancer symptoms can look and feel like.

Corrine describes the egg box of lemons as a playful, friendly image which might help women overcome their fear of the disease.

"Some patients don't want to talk about breasts or look at them," she says.

"Often women used in campaigns don't look like ordinary women - but even those with little literacy can understand this."

The campaign has been used to educate people in the US, Spain, Turkey and Lebanon - and translated into 16 different languages.

Two years ago Corrine left her job to start her own charity, Worldwide Breast Cancer.
'Real information'

Although 'Know Your Lemons' has been going since 2003, this year's zesty campaign image has struck a chord, after it was shared on social media by Erin Smith Chieze.

She was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer after recognising she had an indentation in her breast, all thanks to a similar image detailing what breast cancer could look like.

"Without having seen a picture randomly with real information, I wouldn't have known what to look for," Erin posted.

Many say 'Know Your Lemons' is clear and colourful - and gets an important message across that is often lost in a mass of words.

And they have a point.

A recent survey of 1,000 women by charity Breast Cancer Care found that a third of women don't check their breast regularly for signs and symptoms of cancer.

While 96% know that a lump in the breast can be a symptom of cancer, more than a quarter did not know that an inverted nipple can be a symptom.

A lump or an area of thickened tissue in their breast is the most common symptom of breast cancer which women notice, NHS Choices says.

In 9 out of 10 cases these lumps are not cancer, but it's always a good idea to visit your GP to check.

Other common symptoms to look out for are dimpling of the skin, indentations in the breast and a change in the position of the nipple.
Lemon-aid

Prof Jayant Vaidya, professor of surgery and oncology at University College London, says indentation or flattening of the breast, particularly when the arm is lifted or when women lean forward, is an important early sign.

"Apart from bloody or single duct discharge from the nipple, it is the main visible early sign."

But he says that growing veins and inflamed breasts are rare symptoms, and skin erosion, orange peel skin and large bumps are signs of advanced disease.

"Showing lemons in an egg box seems to draw interest and attention to the issue and people may remember the signs better.

"But women will usually find the new 'invisible' lump in their breasts; it is the most common and frequently the only symptom."

In the UK, awareness is already at a pretty high level, so delay is more likely due to fear or denial, he says.

"Modern targeted treatments have a high chance of success and are aimed at reducing the harms of over-treatment," Prof Vaidya adds.

What is important, breast cancer charities say, is being aware of how your own breasts feel normally and then looking out for any unusual changes.

A change in size or shape, a lump or thickening anywhere in the breast should be taken seriously.
Routine checking

However, Jane Murphy, clinical nurse specialist at Breast Cancer Care, says she doesn't want people to become paranoid about breast cancer.

"It's about everyone becoming familiar with their own body and knowing what your own breast look like.

"You can introduce self-checking as part of a routine, when you're putting on creams and lotions, for example."

Cancer Research UK points out that spotting a sign doesn't necessarily mean cancer.

"Inverted nipples, fluid leaking from a nipple or a rash can all be due to other medical conditions.

"But if you have any changes to what is normal for you, you should see your GP.

"Seeing your doctor early also means that if it does turn out to be cancer, you give yourself the best chance of successful treatment."

Source : http://www.bbc.com/news/health-38609625

Habits That Cause Nerve Disorders

Neuropathy is nerve damage caused by decreased nerve function. Neuropathy is common for those aged over 40 years. Neural Data Specialist Doctors Association of Indonesia (Perdossi) in 2012, said about 26 percent or 1 in 4 people aged 40 years and over had neuropathy.

According to the Chairman of the Study Group on Neurophysiology and Neuroscience Center Bank Perdossi dr. Manfaluthy judge said, neuropathy usually occurs initially in the legs. This is because the foot has a long nerve size.

"Niagara nerve foot in the waist, compared to the hand that is in the neck. Then legs are usually more prone to neurological disorders," said the doctor to call Luthy this in a media briefing entitled 'Vitamin neurotropic Prevent Early Neuropathy' Wednesday (3 / 4/2013) in Jakarta.

Neuropathy have symptoms such as numbness or numbness, burning, numbness, cramps, muscle stiffness, numbness, loss of bladder control, hypersensitive skin, shiny skin and hair loss in a particular area, limb weakness and muscle wasting.

According to Luthy, neuropathy was also caused by a trauma or pinched nerve. Trauma caused by some habit, which is usually done in a long time and repeatedly. What are the activities that lead to neuropathy?

1. Typing on the keyboard with the wrong position.

Typing the wrong position will cause trauma to the hands or commonly referred to as carpal tunnel syndrome. If it continues and no action is taken, it will be a neuropathy.

2. Too much squat.

Squatting will hit a lot of nerves in the foot. If it's too long do will usually cause numbness or tingling. It can also lead to neuropathy.

3. Too much sitting cross-legged.

Almost the same as squatting, sitting cross-legged too many nerves in the feet pressing the trigger neuropathy.

4. Sat cross-legged.

Cross your legs when sitting may look beautiful, but its effects will cause tingling. Then you should frequently change the sitting position.

In addition, other positions are pressing their hands and feet too long and often also lead to neuropathy. But if the habit is not going to be stopped or reduced to cause neuropathy.

"Habits can lead to neuropathy, but usually only results in impaired nerve function and can be cured because it is reversible," said Luthy.

Four Causes of DBD

The number of cases of dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) continues to increase every year. Data in 2010 showed that Indonesia ranks highest dengue cases in ASEAN. According to the Directorate General of Disease Control Sourced Animals (P2B2), the number of dengue cases in Indonesia in 2010 there were 150,000 cases (Reuters 2/19/2011). In 2013, East Java has even recorded an extraordinary occurrence (KLB) disease in 3-4 districts of the city.

Dengue hemorrhagic fever caused by a virus that is transmitted through mosquito Aedes aegypti as the main vector. In addition, there is mosquito vector Aedes albopictus as secondary. This disease usually reaches peak at the end of the rainy season or early dry season. Generally, in March or December. Until now, there is no cure or vaccine for the disease. Dengue Prevention now only done by avoiding mosquito that spreads the disease, such as cleaning up the environment and fumigation.

Specialist in diseases of the General Hospital Center (Dr) Fatmawati Jakarta, dr.Gustan Syahri. Sp.PD said, there are four types (serotypes) of different viruses that cause dengue fever is dengue virus-1 (DEN-1), DEN-2, DEN-3, and DEN-4. Serotype DEN-3 known to be the most virulent type of attack. But until now, no research results serulogi, to decide the impact of attacks and special features DEN-3.

"The worst is DEN-3, but if the human antibodies against DEN-3 was formed, he will hold," said Gustan.

Dengue disease is very dangerous. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), in 2012 more than 2.5 billion people at risk of dengue virus infection. In addition, there are about 50 million people infected with dengue virus every year.

The number of DHF country also continues to grow. In 2007, there were 68 countries had reported cases of dengue. This figure is an increase compared to 1999, only 29 countries. Currently, more than 100 countries in Africa, the Americas, Eastern Mediterranean, South-East Asia and Western Pacific seriously affected by dengue.