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Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is a common type of cancer among women affecting the breast cells. Play an active role in breast cancer care by learning more about the disease and its treatment by asking relevant questions. Find many commonly asked questions on breast cancer submitted by users along with answers from our verified specialists in the QnA section.

breast cancer (more)

I have recently been diagnosed with breast cancer. Im concerned about my wellbeing and want to know possible treatment options.

The common treatments for breast cancer are: • Surgery: Surgery involves taking out the tumor through an operation known as lumpectomy. The infected section of the breast is removed. A mastectomy, however, involves removing the entire breast. The patient should discuss the pros and cons of each procedure with her doctor. • Radiation: Cancer cells are eradicated using high-energy waves. Women under age 70 combine radiation with lumpectomy to destroy leftover cancer cells after surgery. Doctors recommend this procedure if the cancer spreads throughout the body. Earlier, women required daily radiation for many days. But being administered the same total amount of radiation over a shorter timespan works equally well and carries less chances of side effects. Speak to your doctor about the possibility of shorter therapies like: • Chemotherapy: At the time of chemotherapy, the patient is given drugs through an IV or as pills. People get chemotherapy to kill off existing cancer cells. Doctors even prescribe it before surgery to reduce the size of the tumors. Remember, chemotherapy is great against cancer-ridden cells but can affect healthy cells in an adverse way. • Hormone Therapy: The growth of cancer cells depends on progesterone and oestrogen hormone. These hormones can be blocked by hormone therapy. • Targeted Therapy: Targeted therapy helps the patient fight cellular changes leading to cancer. The drugs block certain proteins and have fewer side-effects.

Breast Cancer (more)

me priyadarshini, student. some days before my mother detect cancer of breast by doctor. told that not to worry, can cure easy. but I still have some problem. not being able to choose which form of breast cancer treatment is good for amma. Please help make correct selection for future. I will be very glad.

If your physician has stated there is no cause for concern, the cancer is probably benign or curable in nature. But the final treatment process your doctor opts for will depend on the following factors: • The type of breast cancer developed by the patient • Size of the tumor and how far the disease has spread through the patient’s body • Rate of growth of the cancer • Possibility of spread or reoccurrence of the cancer post-treatment • Effectiveness of specific therapies on the condition • The age of the patient and the current status of her health • Preference of the patient regarding treatment option Selecting the right treatment to beat breast cancer is not a rush decision. You need to weigh the pros and cons of different treatments and discuss which option works the best in your case.

after breast (more)

I am a 34 year old career woman. I was told I had breast cancer and needed treatment. I opted for the recommended procedure and am now recuperating at home. But I want to know if there is any risk of side effects after breast cancer treatment?

The majority of breast cancer treatments lead to the development of side effects in patients. A few of them, such as nausea, tend to go away as soon as you end the therapy sessions. But they may sometimes come back later. These are known as late effects, and include other symptoms like: • Hot flashes • Depression • Sleep troubles • Pregnancy issues • Chemo brain or the inability to process thoughts clearly • Change in the appearance of the breasts Keep in mind that you need to discuss available treatment options with your doctor. While choosing, make it a point to consider the risks, the side effects, and whether or not, you really require treatment.

This is Aman 23. My mother has been diagnosed with breast cancer. Thankfully, it’s in the early stages still. What are the chances of increasing survival?

Radiation and chemotherapy are common treatments for patients diagnosed with breast cancer. But building muscle can also boost the possibility of survival. The greater the muscle mass, the more it increases the rate of survival in women afflicted with breast cancer. On the other hand, lower muscle mass is connected with a higher risk of death. It’s no coincidence that one-third of individuals with sarcopenia, a condition leading to muscle loss, report a significantly increased risk of death from breast cancer compared to patients without the disorder.

Menopause

Menopause is the end of a woman’s menstrual cycle. If you are curious about this natural phase in a woman’s life, find expert answers to commonly asked questions in our comprehensive QnA section.

Menopause Symptoms

Female 39. My friend said that menopause affects older women. How I know if I have? What are its symptoms?

Dr. Sankar Das Mahapatra

Menopause marks the end of a woman’s menstrual cycles. If you’ve gone a year without periods, suffice to say you’ve entered this phase. This natural biological process generally occurs in 40 and 50 year olds. It is accompanied by symptoms like vaginal dryness, night sweats, hot flashes, irregular periods, chills, sleep problems, loss of breast fullness, weight gain and reduced metabolism, mood changes, and dry skin and thinning hair. These physical symptoms may disrupt a patient’s sleep, affect her emotional health, or lower her energy. Keep in mind that the symptoms of menstrual change are different for all women. Women who are nearing the age of menopause are likely to experience some sort of menstrual irregularities before they end.

menopause age and (more)

I am 41 years old and female with two children. We are a happy family and I am satisfied with husband. I want to know how menopause will affect my life with age. Any idea?

Dr. Sankar Das Mahapatra

If you wish to know the age at which you will go through menopause, it usually depends on several factors. Of course, your age will play a role, but it is also dependent on the age at which your mother experienced menopause. Why? Because menopause is genetically linked, and you will probably fall within a few years of the age your mother attained her menopause. However, this is not always the rule. Many women enter this phase early – before 45 – without any known reason. For example, if your mother’s menopausal age was 40 but her siblings and your grandmother attained menopause at the average age of 50, it cannot be said with certainty whether you will follow her path or theirs. Other factors that play a role in influencing menopause include smoking, ovarian surgery, ethnicity, and chemotherapy.

after menopause (more)

I am Shreya Gupta 49 F. For last three months, I have no periods. Am I to worry? Or is menopause happening? What symptoms to expect after menopause?

Dr. Sankar Das Mahapatra

Postmenopause normally begins after a span of 12 months has passed since the patient’s last menstrual cycle. Keep in mind that various symptoms that presented themselves during the perimenopause stage may continue through the duration of the menopause and postmenopause phase. So it is not unusual for women to experience night sweats, hot flashes, urinary problems, elevated heart rate, insomnia, mood changes, vaginal dryness, and other symptoms after menopause. So, if you start feeling anxious, depressed, or irritable, or have trouble getting sound sleep at night, you are probably feeling the aftereffects of menopause. You may even experience discomfort at the time of sexual intercourse. Moreover, decreased estrogen levels in your body makes your body more susceptible to osteopenia, osteoporosis, and heart disease.

bleeding after (more)

I am Mrs. Urmila Gupta. 48 year old housewife. I had experienced menopause 2 years ago. But now I am bleeding after. Is this normal?

Dr. Sankar Das Mahapatra

A woman who has already gone through menopause, should not experience any menstrual bleeding. Menopause is when you haven’t had a period for at least a year. If you are bleeding, even if it’s just spotting, you should consult your Gynecologist. It could be something serious like cancer. But normally, postmenopausal bleeding is caused by endometrial hyperplasia – the thickening of the uterine lining, endometrial atrophy – thinning of a woman’s uterine lining, and polyps.

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Ovarian Cyst

Ovarian cysts are a common occurrence in a woman’s life. While most of these cysts will never develop into cancer, it still pays to know the answers to some of the frequently asked questions about the condition from other users. Get answers from verified super-specialist doctors in our QnA section.

ovarian cyst (more)

Hi, my name is Smita. Age 33. Recently I have been experiencing some health issues, my friend who is a doctor said that he suspects ovarian cyst. Can you please tell me if that is the case? What are the symptoms of this problem?

Dr. Sankar Das Mahapatra

In many cases, ovarian cysts do not manifest any physical symptoms and women fail to realize they have this condition. But symptoms may gradually appear, especially if the cyst continues to grow in size. Some of the common symptoms associated with ovarian cysts include painful bowel movements, breast tenderness, pain in thigh and lower back region, painful intercourse, abdominal swelling or bloating, painful bowel movements, nausea and vomiting, and pelvic pain before or at the time of the patient’s menstrual cycle. If the condition of the cyst is severe, you need immediate treatment. Some of the symptoms to watch out for include fever, rapid breathing, dizziness or faintness, and sharp or severe pelvic pain.

ovarian cyst pain (more)

Doctor, I have been diagnosed with ovarian cyst. Now, I read on the Internet that ovarian cysts are not always painful. But my problem is getting bad day by day. Please tell me if treatment is available for the pain?

Dr. Sankar Das Mahapatra

There are multiple treatment options available to women suffering from painful ovarian cysts, depending on their age, the size and type of the cyst, as well as their symptoms. Doctors normally suggest the following recourse: • Watchful Waiting: Most of the time, patients suffering from ovarian cyst must wait and see if the problem dissipates on its own within a couple of months. This option is suggested for women of all ages, especially those who have no symptoms and ultrasound finds a simple, fluid-filled, and small cyst. The patient should try to get follow-up ultrasounds at regular intervals to note any changes in cyst size. • Medication: Some doctors suggest taking hormonal contraceptives, like birth control pills, to prevent the reoccurrence of ovarian cysts. But keep in mind that the intake of birth control pills is not going to shrink the existing cyst. • Surgery: In some cases, doctors ask the patient to undergo surgery for removing a cyst that is too large and growing. If the cyst causes pain or continues through two to three menstrual cycles.

large ovarian (more)

My doctor diagnosed me with large ovarian cyst and gave recommendations for treatment. He told me it is nothing to worry about, and treatment is so easy it can even be done at home. So I was wondering what possible home treatments are available for curing this problem?

Dr. Sankar Das Mahapatra

Home treatments are unable to make a cyst disappear completely. They are geared more towards treating symptoms and managing pain. That being said, some effective strategies for large ovarian cyst include over-the-counter medication like ibuprofen and other NSAIDs; regular stretching and exercise; massage of the thighs, stomach, lower back, and buttocks; relaxation techniques for reducing anxiety and stress; heat; weight loss, and dietary changes. All the while, the patient’s doctor must keep a close eye on changes occurring in the tumor.

ovarian cyst (more)

Myself Pinky. Age 26. Doctor found ovarian cyst in my body at checkup. Now he says it is nothing worry. When tgo consider ovarian cyst removal?

Dr. Sankar Das Mahapatra

Women should consider ovarian cyst removal surgery if they have a cyst that is very large or present in both ovaries. Also, keep an eye out for characteristics that might indicate ovarian cancer. Ovarian cancer is capable of affecting women of all ages, but the possibility tends to increase right after a woman has gone through menopause. Ovarian cyst surgery is cystectomy that preserves the woman’s ovary and fertility, and oophorectomy that removes the ovaries completely to prevent the growth of new cysts.

PCOS/PCOD

Many women suffering from PCOS/PCOD have questions on their mind about the hormonal condition but don't know who to turn to. Our vast QnA section covers various aspects of the problem, providing expert answers to user-submitted questions.

polycystic ovary (more)

my name karanveer. submiting question for my elder sister who is now said by doctor for PCOS. my family have no idea about this disease. please help by telling the symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome?

Dr. Madhu Gupta

Some of the common symptoms associated with PCOS are: • Weight Gain: Nearly half of all PCOS patients gain weight and find it hard to manage obesity problems. • Fatigue: A lot of PCOS-afflicted individuals tend to feel fatigued and suffer from low energy levels. Other issues like poor sleep may cause this sensation of fatigue. • Hirsutism: Unwanted growth of excess hair may occur on the arms, chest, back, toes, thumbs, abdomen, and face. PCOS-related hirsutism could stem from hormonal problems connected to androgens. • Hair Loss: Middle-aged PCOS patients often report thinning of the hair on their head. • Mood Swings: PCOS increases the possibility of mood swings, anxiety, and depression. • Infertility: PCOS is one of the major causes of female infertility. But not every PCOS patient reports the same problems. While a few women require fertility treatments, others still retain the ability to conceive the natural way. • Pelvic Pain: Pelvic pain can sometimes occur during periods, followed by heavy bleeding. It could also occur at times when the woman isn’t on her periods.

pcod problem (more)

Our daughter rupa is 22 year old. Some days ago, she was sufering health problem. So we take her to doctor and he said she has PCOS. But she is always careful about her health. Still it helps to know when the symptoms of PCOD problem show up?

Dr. Madhu Gupta

The earliest symptoms of polycystic ovarian disease (PCOD), also known as PCOS, tend to start shortly after a woman has attained puberty. However, the manifestation of the symptoms varies from one female to another. Some develop symptoms during the later stages of their teenage years while others start experiencing the signs early on in adulthood. One problem of PCOD is the symptoms are often mistakenly attributed to other problems. In some cases, they might even go completely unnoticed until it’s too late. That’s why it’s so important to treat PCOS and not leave the condition undiagnosed. A good way to understand whether a woman has PCOS is to check the menstrual cycle. PCOS patients normally report missed or irregular periods due to lack of ovulation. Although there are a few women who develop ovarian cysts, others do not.

symptoms of pcos (more)

arvind here with a question regarding my wife's health. she is 24 now and facing some lady problems. Now she told me that her mother had PCOD and she is also too risk. I want to know how the PCOS symptoms in females affect body's internal organs?

Dr. Madhu Gupta

A woman dealing with PCOS is likely to experience different hormonal problems. In many instances, the ovaries start developing what is commonly known as a “functional ovarian cyst”. Here a sac develops on the surface of the ovary around a maturing egg. Normally, the sac tends to go away as soon as the egg gets released. But if the egg does not get released or the sac closes around the egg, it fills up with fluid and turns into a functional cyst. Hence, the term “polycystic” which literally indicates that the ovaries in a woman have numerous small cysts on them. Generally, the ovaries produce a small quantity of androgens or male sex hormones. However, in PCOS patients, the ovaries begin to produce higher quantities of androgens, which results in masculine symptoms such as additional body and facial hair along with male pattern baldness. Physicians should ideally search for different cysts on the ovaries, but not all women with PCOS have visible ovarian cysts.

polycystic ovary (more)

my name anisha. doctor said i have pcos. but i lead healthy life. im confused why i develop this condition. what is the main causes of polycystic ovary syndrome?

Dr. Madhu Gupta

The precise reasons behind PCOS development isn’t known, but it could be associated with high levels of androgens that prevent ovaries from producing hormones and creating eggs regularly. Insulin resistance, inflammation, and genes are all connected to the excess production of androgen. • Insulin Resistance: Almost 70 percent of PCOS patients report insulin resistance, which means their cells fail to utilize insulin the right way. Their bodies begin demanding more insulin and the pancreas produce higher quantities to compensate for this deficit. Additional insulin stimulates the ovaries and generates greater quantities of male hormones. Obesity can lead to insulin resistance and together, these two conditions enhance your chances of type 2 diabetes. • Genes: According to medical studies, PCOS runs in certain families. It is possible that several genes contribute to this problem rather than a single one. • Inflammation: PCOS patients report higher levels of inflammation in the body. Overweight women are more susceptible to inflammation. The condition is linked to an excessive production of male hormones.