Kidney, Urinary, Gastro Intestinal, Liver

Usha Jerome, who was diagnosed with upper rectal cancer at 62, talks candidly about her symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and how she heroically fought the darkest period of her life. Where shall I begin? Perhaps with Dr Naresh Bhat, an eminent and accomplished gastroenterologist in Bangalore. It was strange that when we met him on the morning of June 19, 2011, he was his usual charming self. Later that evening, after the colonoscopy, his expression was totally grave and grim. Even at that point,…

As part of our focus on men's health, we talk to urologist Dr. Vinit Shah about erectile dysfunction caused by cancer treatment and the strategies that may be employed to prevent and manage ED 1.    What are the most common pelvic cancer symptoms for men? Very often pelvic cancers are detected only in later stages as the organs they affect are deep seated and therefore the symptoms are often absent or silent. However one must have a high index of suspicion in all cases of…

It is estimated that nearly 15 lakh prostate cancer cases among men are detected in India every year, of which 85 per cent are stage four cancers. We speak to Dr Ajay Mehta, Director & Oncosurgeon, HCG-NCHRI Cancer Centre, Nagpur, on prostate cancer diagnosis, treatment and how to reduce risks with healthy diet and lifestyle. What is prostate cancer? Prostate is a walnut sized gland located between the bladder and the penis. Prostate Cancer is the most common cancer in men. Prostate…

Asha Sarella, a Bengaluru-based Bharatanatyam dancer, movement therapist, and a counsellor, talks about how her life changed after embracing a vegan diet. I just finished my dance practice and I feel so good. This was not the case few years ago. I had joint pains, heart burns and I was also overweight. My body would feel heavy, stiff and tired. I went to a Naturopathy (vegan) doctor with all these concerns; he examined me and asked me to do food testing for 3 days. He asked me to make some food…

Antibiotic resistance or Antimicrobial resistance(AMR) is emerging as a major threat the world over. With high prevalence of infectious disease and poor health care, India is the largest consumer of antibiotics. Dr. Camilla Rodrigues, Consultant Microbiologist & Chairperson Infection Control Committee, P.D. Hinduja Hospital, Mumbai, gives us an overview of antibiotic resistance. Antibiotic resistance, a global concern, is particularly pressing in developing nations, including India, where…

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted clearance to NxStage Medical’s System One hemodialysis device. Solo Home Hemodialysis The FDA expanded the indication for the NxStage Medical System One to include solo home hemodialysis. However, the patient must remain awake, reported medGadget. Physicians must prescribe the machine for patients to use the therapy at home. The System One is a portable device that can be placed in a room and used as directed by a physician. Risks are…

Meenu Agarwal, a clinical dietitian and nutritionist based in Singapore, advises on controlling consumption of junk food to stay fit and free from ailments like diabetes, cholesterol, acidity, hypertension and other complications and offers healthier options. Junk food is defined as “any food, which is low in essential nutrients and high in everything else - calories and sodium". Junk foods contain little or no proteins, vitamins or minerals but are rich in salt, sugar, fats and are high in…

A clinical trial update on long term research carried out on patients with advanced gastro intestinal stromal tumours 10% of patients with advanced and aggressive GIST cancer have survived more than 10 years after treatment with one of the first successful targeted cancer drugs. They are living free of any progression of their cancer. These are based on long-term results from a major international clinical trial of patients with advanced gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GIST) a decade after…

Diabetic diarrhoea commonly occurs in people with poorly controlled insulin-dependent diabetes and can pose several challenges related to bowel movement, including constipation and fecal incontinence. Dr Shital Raval gives an overview. Diarrhea is a common and bothersome complication of diabetes. It is commonly seen in diabetic patients who have poorly controlled insulin-dependent diabetes and also a history of peripheral and autonomic neuropathy. The diarrhea comes and goes with periods of…

Do you sometimes get sudden cramps in your calf or toe muscles? Dr. Shital Raval explains the causes and tips to get rid of leg cramps and to prevent them  Leg cramps or Charley horse (term used mainly in Canada and the US) is a common but harmless condition experienced by most individuals. These are sudden painful contractions of the leg muscles often in the calf area. They can last for seconds to a few minutes and rarely last more than 10 minutes. हिंदी में पढ़ें: पैर में ऐंठन -…