CuroMe

Cancer is a disease caused by abnormal, uncontrolled proliferation of abnormal cells and spreads to other parts of body either through blood, lymphatic vessels or through direct invasion. Studies in the past have shown cancer incidence increases with increasing body size among species. In humans, cancer incidence increases with increasing height for numerous cancer types such as colon, malignant melanoma, breast, endometrium, ovary, kidney, CNS, non-Hodgkin lymphoma and leukemia. However, latest study in elephant showed there is no correlation between body size and cancer risk across species. This phenomenon is called as “Peto’s paradox” and is explained partly through refunctionalizing a leukemia inhibitory factor pseudogene (LIF6) .A leukemia inhibitory factor promotes programmed cell death which occurs in controlled and predictable manner. Programmed cell death is considered as a vital component of various processes including normal cell turnover, proper development and functioning of the immune system, embryonic development and chemical-induced cell death. Researcher called leukemia inhibitory factor; zombie gene as this death gene becomes functional and it kills the cell rapidly in response to DNA damage; thereby preventing the development of cancer.

One of Mumbai police force's most decorated officers, Himanshu Roy (54), ended his life on Friday after a long battle with cancer. Worldwide more than a million deaths are reported of suicide. One of every 5 cases is an Indian. Though nationally suicide rate is increasing, studies have shown that suicide rate among people living with cancer is decreasing. Possible explanation for this could be The increasing survival hopes with better treatment facilities Better quality of life. Internationally several studies have identified the higher prevalence of suicide among the people living with cancer .Initial few weeks after the diagnosis of cancer have higher risk of suicide and it gradually decreases thereafter. The risk for suicide is particularly higher for patients diagnosed with aggressive lung and gastrointestinal cancer especially in which cancer is not localised and have aggressive nature. Tumours of brain, blood cancer and genital-related tumours have moderate suicide risk. Various studies have shown the suicide rate is dependent on multiple factors: Demographic: gender, age, economy, education levels, geographical location, and social status Biological factors: pain, histological grading and type of tumour, organ system involved, metastasis, etc. Sociocultural characteristics toward cancer patients . Proper psychiatric counselling and attention initiated early in the pre-test period or during diagnosis process itself would help to reduce the suicide idealization and its risk. Image source:alchetron.com

Researcher at ETH, Zurich has developed biomedical tattoo, a genetic network to be implanted beneath the skin. This implanted network works as an early warning system for cancer detection by monitoring serum calcium level. When calcium level increases above certain threshold value, production of melanin pigment is triggered in genetically modified cells in implant. Brown mole in skin is formed due to melanin produced. This biotechnology can be beneficial in detection of common cancers such prostate, lung, colon and breast cancer. These cancers are associated with increase in calcium level in body. Development of mole appears long before cancer detection and implant bearer should visit doctor for further evaluation and treatment. Early diagnosis helps to significantly improve the 5 year survival rate in cancer. (The 5-year survival rate is the percentage of people who live at least 5 years after being diagnosed with cancer) Cancer Early diagnosis Late diagnosis Breast 90% 5% Lung 70% 14% Image source:supdelhi.com