Breast Cancer Awareness

How does breast cancer start ?

Most breast cancers begin in the inner lining cells of the ducts that carry milk to the nipple (ductal cancers) or Sometimes start in the glands that make breast milk (lobular cancer).

How does breast cancer spread ? 

From a single cancer cell it multiplies and grows bigger and becomes palpable. Once the tumor grows larger it can directly affect the skin over the breast and nipple or invade the chest wall , it can spread along the lymphatics into axillary nodes or through blood into other organs like lungs , bone , liver and brain at a later stages .

What are the causes of breast cancer ? 

Some of the reasons for developing breast cancer are Early menarche, late menopause, Nulliparity, Not breast feeding, age at first child birth after 35 years, up to 10% cancers are hereditary. Most often it is multifactorial than singe risk factor. Up to 50% patients with breast cancer will not have any of these risk factors in which case it is unknown.

What are the symptoms of breast cancer ?

What is self breast examination ? 

Self breast examination should be practiced by all women above 20 years of age every month one week after the completion of menstrual cycle. It makes that particular women know her breast well and helps to identify ant changes in the breast like any lumps or skin changes so that it is addressed at a very early stage.

What is breast conservation surgery ? 

Few decades earlier for any breast cancer during surgery removing the entire breast was the standard treatment offered. At present because of advancement in treatment only the tumor can be removed preserving the breast in most patients with early cancers. 

Common myths about breast cancer 

Breast cancer is always painful and painless breast lumps are not breast cancer.

No breast cancer at early stages will not produce any pain , only in advanced stages will produce pain. 

Breast cancer occurs only in people whose family member has /had cancer or has any risk factors.

No , only 10% breast cancer is hereditary and only 50% of patients with breast cancer will have a identifiable cause and for the others the cause is not known.

Cancer aggravates on doing a biopsy or on surgical removal 

No , biopsy must be done in all tumors unless not possible before starting the treatment to confirm the diagnosis. Surgery still remains the main modality and most effective modality for treating most solid tumors and can be done safely and when combined with chemotherapy and radiation therapy gives the best outcome at present.

Non-Invasive Valve Replacement

Invasive surgeries invariably cause a lot of fear among patients. However, now due to the advancements in medical technology, a lot of invasive procedures are being replaced by non-invasive ones. Dr A. B. Gopalamurugan, a senior interventional cardiologist and electrophysiologist at Kauvery Hospital, specializes in using minimally invasive techniques to treat heart diseases.

Dr A. B. Gopalamurugan explains one such procedure that has replaced the traditional open-heart surgery.

                                                 

The Heart Valve Disease

This disease often afflicts the elderly. As people age, their heart valves shrink. One of the most important valves, the aortic valve also shrinks with age. The blood from the heart reaches the different body parts through this aortic valve. Hence, shrinkage of this valve is a cause for concern. Earlier there was only one method of treatment for this disease and that was valve replacement; other than that, there was no other option available. Therefore, for a really long time in the past, patients suffering from this disease had to undergo an open-heart surgery. After surgery, hospitalization of nearly 10 days followed by rehabilitation was the norm. A return to normal life took patients nearly 1 ½ - 2 months.

Trans-Catheter Aortic Valve Implantation or TAVI

For the past 15 years, aortic valve disease has been treated using TAVI without the patient having to undergo open-heart surgery. This is not the only benefit of TAVI. There is now evidence from world-over that suggests that TAVI is indeed the preferable procedure for high-risk and intermediate-risk patients. Thus, for elderly patients, patients with lung disease and for patients who have a problem with general anesthesia, performing valve replacement using TAVI would be the preferred choice. TAVI not only yields the same result as open-heart surgery but the quality of life too is better after surgery. The risk of the patient suffering a stroke lessens considerably with TAVI and the recovery period is as short as 2-3 days.

Kauvery Hospital performs the maximum number of TAVI procedures in India to non-invasively replace the aortic valve.

Watch Dr A.B. Gopalamurugan enumerate the benefits of TAVI here 

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Lasers for the Treatment of Kidney Stones

Kidney stones have always been a major cause for concern. Dr S Senthilkumar, a urologist at Kauvery Hospital, throws light on the advancements in the treatment of kidney stones. 

Lasers to the Rescue

The usage of lasers for treating kidney stones has had a tremendous impact, both in terms of treatment time as well as recovery period. Earlier, patients suffering from painful kidney stones had to undergo an invasive surgery; this surgery would involve them having to spend at least a week in the hospital post-operatively. Even after this, rest for around a month was advised. But now, with the usage of lasers for treatment, the patient arrives at the hospital in the morning and the procedure is performed in the afternoon. The next day the patient can be discharged from the hospital and after resting at home for around 2 days the patient can resume all normal activities.

Even kidney stones that are big in size have been treated successfully with lasers. An endoscopic procedure called RIRS is used to remove the stones from the bottom of the kidney. Powerful lasers like Holmium and Thulium are employed for the process. These lasers powder the stones and the powdered stones are excreted during urination.

Thus, thanks to the advancements in medical technology, what was once considered an elaborate treatment process has now been simplified. As a result, the patient experience too has improved by leaps and bounds.

Watch Dr S Senthilkumar explain the usage of lasers for the treatment of kidney stones here 

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Donate Plasma – Save a Life

COVID-19 – when will it end? Unfortunately, no one knows the answer to that right now. While the countries of the world are all racing against time to find a vaccine for it, plasma donation seems to be the way out at least until a vaccine becomes available.

What Is Plasma Therapy?

Plasma therapy, though it is still in the research stage, has shown promising results. This therapy involves separating the plasma of patients who have recovered from COVID-19. This plasma is then given to COVID-19 patients to help them fight the disease.

Dr S. Prabakaran, a transfusion medicine consultant at Kauvery Hospital - Trichy, explains how it is possible for every COVID-19 survivor to make a difference in other COVID patients’ lives. He explains that a person’s blood is made up of white blood cells, red blood cells, blood platelets and plasma. This plasma is what contains the antibodies to different diseases. So, a COVID-19 survivor’s plasma will contain antibodies that fight against that infection.

Read Also Difference between the common flu and COVID-19.

Time Is of Essence

The sooner a hospital starts plasma therapy for a COVID patient, the greater his chances of recovery and survival. It is also to be noted that the plasma taken from one recovered patient can be used for two COVID-19 patients, effectively helping save two lives in the process. So, from when can a COVID survivor start plasma donation? Dr Prabhakaran explains that 14 days after recovery from COVID-19, a person can start donating plasma.

Fear Is What We Need to Beat

A lot of people fear going to the blood bank to donate blood. This is understandable as they have just recovered from a pandemic that is ravaging the world. However, if they can overcome this fear and donate plasma, they will be making a huge difference to many families – they could possibly save a mother, a father or a child in a family and earn the family’s undying gratitude. If every survivor was to decide that he/she will help save others by donating plasma, it will indeed make a world of difference to many COVID-19 patients!

Words From a COVID-19 Survivor

Mr Subbaraman was an asymptomatic COVID-19 patient. He was treated successfully at Kauvery Hospital and discharged. Mr Subbaraman urges all COVID survivors like himself to donate blood to save the thousands of patients who are suffering in hospitals.

Make a difference; donate plasma and save lives!

Watch Dr Prabhakaran explain plasma therapy - 

Five Pointers for a Healthy Heart

Five Pointers for a Healthy Heart

Dr T Senthil Kumar, cardiothoracic vascular surgeon at Kauvery Heart City, elucidates on five very simple ways by which we can keep our heart healthy.

·         Healthy and Controlled Eating: By eating a healthy diet filled with fruits and vegetables and by reducing the number of calories we consume, we can reduce the risk of developing heart problems.

·         Daily Exercise: A consistent exercise program strengthens the heart. People who work out regularly definitely lower their risk of getting a heart ailment.

·         Stress-Free Life: Leading a stressful life is bad for the heart and we should try to either reduce the stress or find ways to manage it effectively.

·         Sugar Control in Diabetics: Diabetics are at an increased risk of developing heart diseases and control of sugar level is essential to shield the heart.

·         BP Control in Hypertensive: Hypertension or increased blood pressure overworks the heart and contributes to the development of many heart problems. Hence blood pressure control is crucial to safeguard the heart.

Read also Top 10 Reasons For Heart Attack

The aforementioned pointers play a very important role in people staying heart healthy. Dr Senthil Kumar stresses that along with taking care of our heart and health we should do what we can to take care of our family members’ and friends’ heart health too. By spreading awareness on these simple yet crucial pointers we can ensure a heart healthy community.

 

Watch Dr Senthil Kumar himself explain the ways to stay heart healthy -

 

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Trust and Patient Satisfaction: Positive Patient Experience at Kauvery Hospital

Ms. Yamuna Naidu who is from the army talks about her journey with Kauvery Hospital that began 6 years ago. Ms. Yamuna was suffering from a skin condition and she did not know whom to approach for treatment. When she arrived at Kauvery, she was well received with kindness and understanding by the medical assistants who immediately took her to Dr Swetha Rahul, the dermatologist at Kauvery Hospital. Ms. Yamuna is full of praise for the empathy and care that was shown by the hospital staff, not only towards her, but also towards every patient who comes there for treatment. She calls the hospital her second home as she gets the best treatment there. She signs off by saying that it is a privilege to be treated in Kauvery Hospital and thanks the hospital for all its services! 

Watch Ms. Yamuna Naidu herself talk about her positive experience at Kauvery Hospital -

Recovery from Burns: A Patient’s Tale of Transformation

Little Prithvik was the apple of his parents’ eye. This is a short account of him having suffered an unfortunate burn injury, his subsequent treatment at Kauvery Hospital and his recovery. 

Mr. Praveen recalls how Prithvik, his 1 ½ year old son, had an accident with hot water while playing outside their house. A vessel with extremely hot water had been kept outside the house and Prithvik who was playing nearby, accidentally touched it and sustained burns in his hand and parts of his body. He was immediately taken to a doctor nearby who suggested that Prithvik be taken to a bigger hospital. Prithvik’s family did so and he was treated for an hour at the hospital. However, after the treatment, the doctors themselves suggested that Prithvik be taken to Kauvery Hospital, Hosur for further treatment. At Kauvery Hospital, Prithvik was treated appropriately and he recovered quickly. Later, plastic surgery was also performed and during the post-operative period, little Prithvik was well taken care of by the doctors and staff. Mr. Praveen was very happy with the services rendered at Kauvery Hospital and was thankful for his son’s successful treatment.

Watch Prithvik’s tale of transformation here