What Is Spinal Cancer? What Is The Treatment?

As the name suggests, spinal cancer is a form of cancer that affects the spinal cord of a person and is usually marked by the formation of spinal tumours. There are several factors on which the symptoms of spinal cancer depend, which include the type of a tumour, the size of a tumour, the location and its extent as well as the age and health history of the patient. Some spinal cancer symptoms typically include pain, numbness, weakness and difficulty with urination. The most noticeable sign of spinal cancer is pain which can come from the tumour's presence in the spinal column, pushing on sensitive nerve endings or causing spinal instability. When the spine is not lined up properly, other physically notable symptoms like changes in posture, Kyphosis or hunchback may occur. If you are worried about having these symptoms, you should consult a doctor immediately and get diagnosed. There are top cancer treatment centres and cancer treatment hospitals in Delhi which offer a variety of treatments to help the patient overcome the disease. There are many hospitals in Delhi and you can find the top cancer hospital in Delhi to get the diagnosis and treatment from.

Spine surgery hospitals in India are very good and have a team of highly experienced and trained doctors that have been dealing with such cases for years and offer the best spine surgery if required. The leading spine surgery hospital in Delhi is equipped with all the latest machines and equipment that help to give very accurate and precise results and also the services provided here are comparatively cheaper than other countries making it one of the best options to get your treatment done from.

There is no time limit or time gap for when the symptoms of spinal cancer may occur. The symptoms of spinal cancer can occur very slowly or they can occur quickly, even over a matter of hours or days. It is usually seen that metastatic spinal tumours, which have spread to the spine from another location in the body, often progress rather quickly.

When a tumour presses on to the spinal cord, symptoms may begin with numbness or tingling in the arms or legs and after that, there may be clumsiness. As the disease progresses, spinal cancer symptoms may grow to include weakness, inability to move the legs which would eventually lead to paralysis.

Some common signs of spinal tumours may include pain in back, neck, arms or legs, muscle weakness or numbness in the arms or legs, difficulty in walking, general loss of sensation, difficulty with urination mainly incontinence, change in bowel habits mainly retention, paralysis to varying degrees, spinal deformities and pain or difficulty withstanding.

CT which stands for computed tomography or MRI which stands for magnetic resonance imaging scans is most often used in the initial evaluation of spine and spinal cord tumours.

Ultrasound, microsurgery and laser surgery are used by neurosurgeons during the process of tumour removal. Stabilization techniques like vertebroplasty and corpectomy help restore functional mobility and relieve pain. Pain not amenable to direct surgical approaches is treated with nerve blocks and catheters delivering medications directly to the spine. When these techniques fail, surgical techniques including intrathecal pumps and cordotomy are used which often give dramatic pain relief to patients with spinal tumours. Radiation and chemotherapy also often play roles in the comprehensive management of malignant spine lesions. Radiation options generally include standard fractionated radiotherapy and conformal radiosurgery with the Novalis radio-surgical system.

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Step by step details of a Heart bypass surgery and how should you prepare for it

We know that the human heart is extremely sensitive and prone to a number of diseases that may either be genetic, congenital or acquired as a result of unhealthy lifestyle and eating habits. The heart is a part of the circulatory system and performs the task of pumping oxygenated blood from the lungs to the different organs and deoxygenated blood from these organs back to the lungs via a network of arteries and veins. The normal functioning of the heart and the blood vessels associated with it is very essential for our existence. There are various surgical and non-surgical procedures aimed at helping patients suffering from various types of heart problems which have become quite prevalent nowadays. The most common cardiological procedure that is quite common these days is heart bypass surgery. You can find one of the best heart bypass surgery hospitals in Delhi. The hospital is listed amongst the top heart bypass surgery hospitals in India and provides all kinds of facilities to make the patient feel at ease.

Heart bypass surgery is the medical procedure of restoring the normal supply of blood to the heart that had been earlier hindered by a blockage in the arteries. This blockage can be a result of the deposition of blood clots or plaque and can be extremely dangerous for the patient. The procedure involves the removal of a healthy blood vessel from some other part of the patient's body like the limbs and connecting it beyond the blocked artery. Heart bypass surgery in Delhi has helped patients not only from Delhi but from other parts of India as well as abroad as the services provided here are very cheap and at par with International standard. Heart Bypass surgery is performed by trained heart specialists using special machines and equipment.

Usually, the surgery is performed in emergency situations when the patient experiences chronic chest pain or even mild heart attack. However, if the procedure is not performed in an emergency situation, then the patient is given a specific date to get admitted in the hospital. All the screenings and tests are conducted prior to the procedure to make sure that the candidate is eligible for the surgery or not. These tests include a blood test and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

The procedure is usually completed in 3 to 6 hours and performed under the influence of anaesthesia. The number of bypasses that can be done at a time, depend upon the strength of the patient to endure the surgery as well as the adversity of the blockage. The surgery is carried out in the following steps

• Firstly General anaesthesia is given to the patient. This is done by introducing a breathing tube via the patient's mouth. This tube is attached to a ventilator that ensures a continuous blood flow in the patient's body throughout the procedure by helping him/her to breathe.
• Once the patient is unconscious, the area around the chest is cleaned and sterilised and a deep incision is made across the patient's chest so as to reach the affected artery without any hindrance. A heart-lung machine is used to maintain the flow of blood in the body.
• A healthy blood vessel is then taken from the wall of the chest or the lower part of the leg and connected to the ends of the affected portion of the artery. As a result of this, the blood flow is redirected through this new passage.
• After the graft has been placed in its position normal heartbeat of the patient is restored and he/she is disconnected from the heart-lung machine.
• The wound is stitched up and covered properly to avoid any infection.
• The patient may be kept in the Intensive Care Unit for a day or two and then shifted to the General ward from where they are discharged within a week.
• Physiotherapy may also be recommended to speed up the process of healing.

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Eye Diseases Which Can Cause Blindness?

Eyes are one of the most sensitive organs of the human body that enable us to see. Our eyes are prone to a number of problems that can severely affect our vision. Some of these problems can be treated by the use of eye drops whereas others require surgical intervention and if not treated on time, they can even lead to complete blindness. The use of laser technology in the field of ophthalmology has led to the rise of procedures like LASIK (laser-assisted in-situ keratomileusis) which is a minimally invasive procedure. You can find some of the best LASIK & Laser Eye Surgery hospital in Delhi. Doctors hailing from the best eye disease treatment hospital of India also recommend such procedures as they have higher success rates and are hassle-free. Blindness is an ailment that can physically disable a person as well lead to depression and other such problems. Even minute eye problems should be tended to immediately and brought under medical supervision. The leading Eye hospitals in Delhi are equipped with all sorts of machines and equipment to help the patient regain his normal eyesight.

Doctors hailing from the best ophthalmic hospital in Delhi, India suggest immediate medical intervention for the below-listed eye problems as these can prove to be very harmful and also lead to blindness if not treated on time.

• Head injuries that include injuries or blow to your brain, skull or scalp which leads to the formation of mild bumps and bruises.
• Glaucoma which is caused by severe damage to the optic nerve.
• Retinal detachment caused by the separation of the retina from the back of the eye. It can lead to partial or complete loss of vision.
• High blood pressure can also damage the nerves of your eyes leading to partial or complete blindness. Hence it is better to keep your blood pressure under control.
• The formation of a white, cloud-like layer on the surface of the eye, known as a cataract.
• Central vision loss due to macular degeneration.
• Just like high blood pressure, diabetes can also prove to be fatal for your eyes and lead to loss of vision.
• Retinal Vascular Occlusion which is caused by the blockage in the blood vessels carrying blood to the retina. This may also be caused due to clot formation.
• Stroke can also severely affect your eyesight and lead to blindness.
• Abnormal inflammation in the optic nerve also leads to blindness. This problem is known as optic neuritis.
• Blindness can also be triggered by the accidental contact of your eyes with chlorine which leads to chlorine poisoning.
• Intracranial Hemorrhage may also lead to blindness. The problem is marked by excessive bleeding inside the patient's skull.

Other serious problems that can lead to total or partial blindness include Albinism, Krabbe disease, Sarcoidosis, Basal Cell Nevus syndrome, Eye emergencies etc.

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Difference between Laser surgery and PRK Laser surgery

Both PRK and laser eye surgeries aim at correcting certain defects of vision that might otherwise affect our ability to see clearly and may even lead to partial or total blindness. You can find the best LASIK & Laser Eye Surgery hospital in Delhi which is equipped with all kinds of latest machines and equipment that help to give very precise and satisfactory results. Both the surgeries are offered by the best ophthalmic hospital in Delhi, India along with various other procedures. Also, the services provided here are quite cheap and at par with International standard. With the growth of the use of laser-based technology for the treatment of various eye-related problems, there has been a considerable increase in the number of refractive laser surgery hospitals in Delhi. This has also led to the rise of many Lasik eye surgery hospitals in Delhi as well.

One of the most common types of laser surgery is LASIK surgery which stands for Laser-assisted in situ keratomileuses. The procedure is quite new and highly effective for patients suffering from myopia, hypermetropia and astigmatism. The surgical procedure involves the use of a corneal flap containing the epithelial as well as deeper stromal tissue. This is done with the help of a microkeratome or a femtosecond laser. The flap is lifted to expose the underlying tissues of the cornea which are then removed carefully to reshape the cornea, with the help of an excimer laser. The recovery period after laser-assisted in-situ keratomileusis technique is very short and the procedure is essentially painless.

PRK stands for photorefractive keratectomy and it is a type of refractive surgery that helps to correct refractive eye defects like Myopia (near-sightedness), hyperopia (far-sightedness) and astigmatism. The surgery involves the use of laser technology and was first conducted in the year 1986, approximately 13 years prior to the approval of LASIK Eye Surgery. Just like other laser based eye surgeries, photorefractive keratectomy involves the use of excimer laser to reshape the cornea and correct eye defects like nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. Unlike LASIK Eye surgery which involves the use of a flap to reshape the corners, photorefractive keratectomy involves the complete removal of the thin upper layer of the cornea, known as the epithelium. Since the use of flap is completely eliminated, so are the risks associated with it. Also, the risks of removing too much cornea are also greatly minimised. Custom PRK has also become quite popular nowadays. The technique helps your ophthalmic surgeon additional data regarding the requirements of your vision using customised wavefront technology. Although PRK surgery has a lot of benefits over LASIK Eye Surgery, however, there are certain disadvantages as well. The most highlighted disadvantage is that the recovery period following PRK treatment is quite longer than LASIK Eye Surgery. This happens because the epithelial cells need time to regenerate themselves. PRK surgery is highly recommended for patients having large pupils, dry eyes, and thin corneas.

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Is cystoscopy painful?

Cystoscopy refers to the endoscopy of the urinary bladder which is done via the urethra. It is performed with the help of an equipment known as cystoscope which is fitted with a lens that helps the physician to keenly observe the interior of the urinary tract. The cystoscope is designed separately for adults as well as children. Cystoscopy is highly recommended by the best urologist in India for determining various diseases of the urinary tract. The procedure is performed in the best urology hospital in Delhi

The best urologist in Delhi NCR recommends cystoscopy for detecting problems like urinary tract infection, haematuria and incontinence. It is also very useful in tracing problems like stone, tumour or polyp in the urinary tract. Cystoscopy is usually carried out in two different ways i.e flexible cystoscopy and rigid cystoscopy.

As far as flexible cystoscopy is concerned, the tube of the cystoscope used is very thin and flexible. There is no need to induce unconsciousness during the procedure. There is no restriction on the food you consume before the procedure is performed and you can eat anything you like. A urine test may be conducted before the procedure to check for any urinary infection and in case such infection is traced, the procedure could be delayed. During the procedure, the patient is made to lay down and his genitals are cleaned and sanitizer properly. A local anaesthetic gel is applied over the urethra which ensures that the patient does not feel any pain during the procedure. The cystoscope is then introduced inside the patient body through the urethra and carefully directed towards the bladder. A microscopic camera is also introduced inside the body along with the cystoscope. This helps to emit live images of the whole procedure on a television screen which help the doctor to perform the procedure with higher efficiency and accuracy. The greatest fear of the patients undergoing cystoscopy is that the procedure might be painful but in reality, the procedure is not usually painful. There are slight chances that you might feel some mild pain. Immediately inform your physician in such case. Although the procedure is not painful, however, it might be a bit uncomfortable as you will experience a continuous urge to pee throughout the procedure but this will go away as soon as the procedure ends.

In the case of rigid cystoscopy, the initial steps are the same as flexible cystoscopy however instead of using local anaesthesia, the patient is given an injection of general anaesthesia. The cystoscope is then introduced inside the patient's body just like in case of flexible cystoscopy. Water may also be pumped into your bladder to obtain clearer images. The procedure is completed in approximately 15 to 30 minutes. Even in the case of rigid cystoscopy, the patient does not feel any pain due to the effect of the general anaesthesia. The patient is either asleep throughout the procedure or the lower part of his body is numbed.

Hence you do not need to be afraid if you have been prescribed to undergo cystoscopy as the procedure is pain-free and highly effective in tracing various urological problems. 

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What is immunotherapy? How does it help in fighting cancer?

Cancer is a very painful disease, it gets hold of all the members of the patient’s family. Not only is it physically draining, but also it can destroy a patient’s mental health as well. The process of fighting back cancer is even worse. One has to go through a lot of difficult processes.

The examination of cancer begins with a strict routine of tests and study of medical history. Laboratory tests of blood, urine, and stool can detect abnormalities which might be indicating towards cancer. There are a lot of top cancer treatment centers which offer good medical assistance.

Other tests that the doctor conducts are-

·         X-rays

·         CT

·         MRI

·         Ultrasound

The treatment of cancer depends on the type of cancer one has and how advanced it is. The treatment generally includes chemotherapy, radiotherapy, surgery and immunotherapy or targeted therapy. Cancer is the second most cause of death. You can also visit the top cancer hospitals in Delhi and get yourself treated.

Immunotherapy, also called biologic therapy, is a type of cancer treatment that boosts the body's natural defenses to fight cancer. It uses substances made by the body or in a laboratory to improve or restore immune system function. Immunotherapy may work by

·         Stopping or slowing the growth of cancer cells.

·         Stopping cancer from spreading to other parts of the body

·         Helping the immune system work better at destroying the cancer cells.

There are several type of immunotherapy

·         Monoclonal antibodies

·         Non-specific immunotherapies

·         T-cell therapies

·         Cancer vaccines

·         Oncolytic virus therapy

Immunotherapy drugs help your immune system work harder or make it easier for it to find and get rid of cancer cells.Several immunotherapy drugs have been approved to fight cancer, and hundreds more are being tested in clinical trials.If your doctor suggests immunotherapy to fight your cancer, there’s a lot to talk to them about before you decide if it’s right for you. You can consult the best cancer treatment hospitals.

Immunotherapy may work when other treatments like chemotherapy and radiation therapy don’t work.

·         It can help other cancer treatments work better- therapies like chemotherapy may work even better once you have done immunotherapy.

·         Fewer side-effects- it’s so because it only targets the immune system and not the entire cells.

·         Chances of relapse are very few- once you have done immunotherapy, there are very slight chances of cancer returning back as our immune system learns how to fight back cancer in case it returns.

Let’s talk about the risks associated with immunotherapy.

·         You might have bad reaction- the target area where the medication goes into your body will hurt, swell, itch, turn red, or get sore.

·         There are side-effects- once you get the immunotherapy done, you might feel like you have a flu, with complete fever, chills and fatigue. Others could cause problems like swelling, weight gain from extra fluids, heart palpitations, a stuffy head, and diarrhea. Most of the time, these ease up after your first treatment.

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What is the alternative treatment for Knee pain?

When we talk about bone and joint problems related to the knees, the first thing that comes to our mind is a knee replacement surgery. A knee replacement surgery is a medical procedure of helping patients suffering from chronic knee pain. Damaged joints are one of the root cause of knee pain nowadays. This is very common in old age and can be a result of prevailing medical conditions like arthritis and osteoarthritis. Knee injuries sustained in an accident may also be responsible for causing severe damage to the knee joint which ultimately leads to knee pain. You can find some of the best doctors for knee replacement in the leading joint replacement surgery hospital in Delhi. 

Patients from different parts of the world travel to India to undergo knee replacement surgery in Delhi as the services provided here are very cheap and effective effectively. As per the doctors, known for the best knee replacement in Delhi, knee replacement surgery should be the last resort of the patient and not the first choice.

All the knee replacement surgery is one of the best medical techniques to treat knee pain but it is only considered if all other treatment procedures fail to work. Usually, doctors initiate the treatment with therapies, oral medication, and ointments which help to reduce the swelling and inflammation and also relieve the pain. The therapies help to release the strain from the joints and the muscles and help to increase the mobility of affected area. There are also certain injections that can be directly injected in the knee to give instant pain relief.

Obesity is considered to be a leading factor responsible for knee pain as your knees have to bear the weight of a body. This leads to excessive wearing and tearing of the joints. Hence weight loss is one of the best remedies to reduce knee pain. This can be done by keeping a check on your calorie intake, exercising, giving up a stagnant lifestyle by getting indulged in more and more physical activities. Older people can go out for morning and evening walks or perform mild exercises and yoga.

Use of pain relievers and topical creams with the numbing agent lidocaine or bupivacaine may also help to keep your knee pain under control. Steroid injections may also be recommended by your doctor in case of chronic pain. However, these do have certain side effects which include temporary increased pain, whitening of the skin, allergies, and infections.

Acupuncture, an ancient Chinese technique of pricking the affected area using needles to release the energy to fight the pain, is also widely used to treat knee pain and has been found highly effective in certain cases.

Othe techniques involve prolotherapy, regeneration of tissues with the help of stem cells, plasma rich protein treatment and osteotomy. 

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What is the difference between Bone Fusion and Joint Replacement?

Both bone fusion and joint replacement surgery are medical procedures which aim at treating Bone on bone pain. Both techniques are very different from each other but aim at achieving the same result. Our joints and bones can get severely damaged a number of reasons which include vigorous wear and tear, sports injury and accident. What are the greatest enemy of our bones and joints is arthritis. The problem is very common in old age but can affect younger people as well. Bone and joint problems can be very painful and can severely affect the mobility of your limbs. 

The increasing number of people opting for joint replacement surgery in Delhi clearly indicates that the problem is becoming very common nowadays. Joint replacement surgeons in Delhi aim at providing the best possible treatment to the patients at considerably lower rates. The best joint replacement surgery hospital in India has attracted the attention of many foreign patients as well as the services provided are cheaper than other countries and at par with International standard.  Both the procedures are available at all the leading Orthopaedics & Joint Replacement hospitals.

Bone Fusion is a comparatively older procedure which involves the use of pins, screws, plates and bone grafts to permanently joint the two bones. As the bones are permanently joined together, there are slight chances that the patient might limp after the surgery. Joint replacement, on the other hand, is a newer method that involves the use of special grafts made of steel, ceramics or plastic. These grafts are shaped just like the original giants by highly specialised experts in such a way that the can perfectly replace the damaged joint. The graft performs the same function as the original joint and does not limit the mobility of the affected area as in the case of Bone Fusion.

As far as the durability is concerned, ankle replacement is not as durable as bone fusion and there are chances that the patient might require another surgery after some time. However, doctors are coming up with newer designs that might last longer than usual. The greatest advantage of bone fusion is that it will last a lifetime. The patient can get the surgery done and remain tension free for the rest of his life.

Both bone fusion and joint replacement have there own benefits and risks, however the former usually outnumber the later. It is very important to get your surgery done from a reputed hospital to ensure minimal complications. The doctors may prescribe certain test and screenings to determine which surgery would suit you the best and only then proceed any further. Both surgeries are to be followed up by physiotherapy to help the patient cope up with the trauma and increase the mobility of the affected limb. 

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