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Cancer is among the leading causes of death worldwide. It led to nearly 10 million deaths in 2020, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO). The most common causes of cancer death in 2020 were cancers of lung, colon and rectum, liver, stomach and breast. In the next two decades, i.e., by 2040, the number of new cancer cases per year is expected to rise to 29.5 million and the number of cancer-related deaths to 16.4 million. While no cancer is 100% preventable, you can lower your chances of developing cancer by managing certain controllable risk factors such as your diet, physical activity and other lifestyle choices. Dr. Pooja Bhingarde, Ayurveda expert Consultant, Vedicure Healthcare and Wellness, Mumbai, Maharashtra explains how Ayurveda, naturopathy, yoga & lifestyle changes can play a major role in prevention of cancer. She also elaborates on how complementary therapies can help reduce the side-effects of the cancer treatment (chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy) as well as assist the body in its recovery process.
Cancer is a generic term for a large group of diseases, which result from the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in body. Cancer develops when body's normal control mechanism fails to work, leading to formation of new, abnormal cells. Sometimes the extra growth of cells can form mass of tissues called tumour. It can be benign which doesn't spread or malignant- which can spread to other body parts. These malignant tumours are cancerous and life threatening. Cancer can affect any part of the body. It is a complex disease resulting in long term constitutional & genetic disturbances. Cancer has always been a challenging disease because of poor prognosis.
There is no single specific cause for cancer. A group of factors may be responsible for cancer to develop including:
Cancer can develop anywhere in the body and the symptoms varies according to its position. But the common general symptoms are as follows-
Unfortunately, currently there is no cure for cancer, but it can go into remission, which means all signs and symptoms of it are reduced or gone, with successful treatment. The early detection and treatment of cancer is important to improve the chances of remission. Modern treatments for cancer generally include removal of cancerous growth, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, oral medication as well as newer techniques such as interventional radiology and immunotherapy. The best way to cure cancer is 'never get it'. The English synonym for the same is prevention.
Ayurveda, naturopathy, yoga and lifestyle changes can play a major role in prevention of cancer as well as other diseases. According to Ayurveda, all diseases happened due to imbalance of tridoshas (i.e. Vat / Pitta / Kapha) saptdhatu & mala. There are certain principles mentioned in our old texts about daily regime:
Ayurveda mainly emphasizes on healthy lifestyle. Regular habits of doing exercise, yoga will help to keep healthy body & mind. There are also certain Ayurvedic herbs that can improve our immunity to combat with disease. Also avoiding certain faulty habits like smoking drinking, avoiding contact within harmful chemical & pesticides can prevent us from such harmful diseases.
Alternative therapies such as Ayurveda and yoga can also help reduce the side-effects of the cancer treatment (chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy) as well as assist the body in its recovery process.
By all these means, we not only add years in the patient's life, but we also add life into years.
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