A detailed guide to understanding what BRCA testing is, who should get tested, and what results you can expect. There are many forms of cancer, out of which some are hereditary cancers. With so many different types of the disease and many treatments and screening tests available, understanding hereditary cancers can be confusing. Hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC) is one such topic. There is also a genetic testing available to determine your risk factors for such cancers, known as BRCA testing. Here are some of the most common FAQS (frequently asked questions) about various aspects of BRCA testing. You most likely had one or more such questions on your mind, but did not know whom to ask. We provide you the answers that you were looking for about BRCA testing. What is BRCA testing all about? First of all, the genetic BRCA testing is not a test to detect whether or not if you have cancer. Rather, it is a test that helps doctors determine whether you and your family are at an increased risk of developing breast cancer or ovarian cancer. BRCA testing is done to check if there are any mutations in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes.

Kidney cancer is one of the cancers that may or may not cause kidney cancer symptoms in the initial stages of the condition. This makes early detection and a good prognosis difficult. Be aware, and do not ignore these kidney cancer symptoms. Kidney cancer is a result of your kidney cells becoming malignant (cancerous). These cells then begin growing abnormally out of proportion to form a stubborn tumor. The medical term for this disease is ‘renal cell carcinoma’.  In most cases, kidney cancers appear in the minute tubes of the kidney. The good news is that if detected at an earlier stage, before the cancer has metastasized (spread) to other organs, the chances of successful surgical treatments are much higher. However it is also true that the exact cause of this disease is unknown. This means that a very important piece of this Big C puzzle is missing. Added to this, there are little to no kidney cancer symptoms in the early stages. Furthermore there are some kidney cancer symptoms that you may mistake for signs of other conditions. Keep an eye out for these kidney cancer symptoms, and do not delay seeking help from a doctor at the earliest if you notice one or more of these symptoms.

Ovarian cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer deaths among women. Knowing the early signs and ovarian cancer symptoms can help you seek treatment at the earliest. When malignant (cancerous) cells are formed in the ovaries, a woman develops ovarian cancer. Although the exact cause of this disease is unknown, it is a life-threatening condition that affects around 23,000 women each year in the United States alone. What makes fighting this disease difficult is that the early signs are easy to overlook. Ovarian cancer symptoms are often mistaken for pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS) or other not-so-serious health problems like bowel problems. According to the American Cancer Society, early detection of this cancer happens only around 20 percent of the time. Owing to this reason, the cancer goes undetected often until it has already metastasized to the abdomen and pelvis. If the disease is diagnosed when still limited to the ovaries, it is more likely to be treated successfully. One way in which you can ensure prompt diagnosis when ovarian cancer is still in its initial stage is by keeping an eye out for early ovarian cancer symptoms and signs. For this, you need to know these symptoms, and if you notice any changes in your body that are persistent, consult a doctor immediately to determine whether they are ovarian cancer symptoms or something else.

Cancers of different kinds are diseases that do not have a direct cause. Here are a few pancreatic cancer symptoms that could help understand and diagnose the condition in time for a good prognosis. Pancreatic cancer is a disease where malignant (cancerous) cells are formed within the tissues of the pancreas. The result of metastasis (where the tumor spreads and invades the other healthy organs and grows) is a more serious condition that is difficult to treat. Pancreatic cancer is a disease that is generally caused due to damage or mutations to the DNA. Often these mutations are inherited from either or both parents or could develop as we grow older. There are two types of pancreatic cancer – tumors affecting the exocrine or the endocrine functions of the pancreas. Tumors affecting the exocrine are the most commonly found ones. 95 percent of exocrine pancreatic cancers are a result of a malignant tumor called an adenocarcinoma. Tumors found in the endocrine and exocrine of the pancreas have varied signs and symptoms depending on where exactly it is located, the size of the tumor, and how far the cancer has spread. Though pancreatic cancer symptoms are rare, and they may not even be very prominent unless the cancerous cells have begun growing, here are a few of the surprising pancreatic cancer symptoms that you may never have connected to this condition.

With more than 120 brain tumor types, recognizing and diagnosing rare ones is a difficult task. Here’s what you need to know about a few of the rarest brain tumor types. According to American Cancer Society ’s statistics, more than 22,500 people were diagnosed with primary brain tumor types in 2015 in the United States alone. Furthermore, it was estimated that approximately 15,000 adults in the country would die of brain tumor complications. Approximately 4,300 teens and children were estimated to be diagnosed with brain tumors in the US in 2015, with more than half this number being under the age of 15 years. A brain tumor is defined as an abnormal growth of cells that may be malignant or benign in the brain. These abnormal cells are classified as primary brain tumor types when they first develop in the brain. Secondary or metastatic brain tumor types include those cells that started out as cancerous in other parts of the body, and eventually spread to the brain. This classification of brain tumor types is essential as the treatment of brain tumors depends on which part of the body the cancerous cells originate from. The National Brain Tumor Society classifies more than 120 brain tumor types.

Turmeric is often known as a magical herb. It is because of the amazing benefits this organic spice offers. Everybody knows that it is used as an essential ingredient in curries, but this spice has many more advantages to offer. The color of turmeric is bright yellow, and it has significant similarities with ginger. Firstly, people boil it and then it is sun-dried before being ground into a powder. The flavor of turmeric is peppery and warm, and it also has a light fragrance. Huge demand all around the world Turmeric can be described as a perennial herb, and it is native to India. The scientific name of this spice is Curcuma Longa. The herb is taken from the plant’s rhizome, and it requires a particular environment and temperature to survive. And this is the reason why this herb is not extensively cultivated all around the world. At the mean time; the demand and desirability are really high across the world. In India and some other Asian countries, it is widely used as an ingredient in various types of curries and foods such as biscuits, meat dishes, soups, rice preparations, and much more. Here are six of the most prominent turmeric benefits:

Over the past three decades, the chances of occurrence of male breast cancer have increased significantly. There are studies which show that the male breast cancer can occur in men between the ages of 5 to 93. If it diagnosed in the early stages, the chances of survival are 100%. The survival rate is 72-9% for the mid-stage male breast cancer. However, if male breast cancer isn’t diagnosed the chances of survival at the advanced cancer stages are reduced to 20%. It is advised to understand the causes, symptoms and diagnosis and proper treatment for the male breast cancer. Symptoms of Male breast cancer: If you find some changes in the breast you must not ignore them and consult your doctor. Some of the symptoms of breast cancer are nipple pain, inversion of nipples known as nipple retraction, feeling of a lump in the breast, blood or fluid discharge from the nipples, skin dimpling, sores in the nipples, redness of breast skin, enlarged lymph nodes, and formation of a coloured ring at the centre of the nipple. The lump could be painless initially, however, the consequences can worsen. The lymph nodes spread to the underarm, collarbone   and can result in the formation of breast tissue.

It is common knowledge that cancer is one of the most formidable ailments known to humankind. What makes this ailment so dreadful is the fact that there aren’t many treatment options available for cancer. Cancer in any form can be cured if it is detected in its initial stages, and this holds true for every type of cancer. This is because cancer in the initial stages doesn’t spread to the other part of the body, i.e., it isn’t metastatic. Metastatic or the final stage of cancer is fatal and the chances of survival once the individual reaches this stage is quite thin. Lung cancer is one of the top causes of increasing deaths of men and women alike in the U.S. However; it is also one of the easily preventable forms of cancer. All an individual has to do is stop smoking and avoid people’s second-hand smoke. What are the causes of lung cancer? In a nutshell, the major cause of lung cancer is smoking and passive smoking. Other causes of lung cancer include air pollution, lung disease, family history of lung cancer, exposure to asbestos fiber and radon gas. What is metastatic lung cancer? In the initial stages, the cancer tumor develops in one part of the body.

3 Major Blood Cancer Types You Should Know Cancer in any form is life-threatening; approximately 38.5% of men and women in the country are diagnosed with one or the other type of cancer. It is common knowledge that when cancer is detected in its initial stages, there’s a possibility of curing it. However, when cancer becomes metastatic, it can only be controlled to a certain extent; it cannot be cured completely. Studies indicate that 10.2% of the total cancer cases are that of blood cancer. Approximately every 3 minutes an individual is detected with leukemia, lymphoma, or myeloma. These are the different types of blood cancer that can affect an individual, and if left undetected can have life-threatening consequences. Blood cancers, or hematologic cancers, are known to affect the production and functioning of the blood cells. This form of cancer originates in the blood marrow before it starts affecting the blood cells. Before a disease can affect the individual in a full-fledged manner, various symptoms surface. An  individual might display the following symptoms even b efore blood cancer makes itself evident. Persistent fatigue or weakness Fever and chills Night sweats Sudden weight loss Joint pain Loss of appetite Headaches Frequent infections Nausea Itchy skin or rashes on the skin Abdominal discomfort These are the common symptoms that surface when an individual suffers from blood cancer.

Today, breast cancer treatment options are no longer limited to one or two options, all thanks to the advanced technology and development of the medical industry. The survival rate of patients with breast cancer has increased, an early detention has become possible, and a new approach to curing breast cancer is practiced by doctors today. With so many options to choose from, it becomes necessary that you gather enough information about all the treatment options before you pick what would work best for you. Doctors recommend various treatment options after carefully studying your cancer type, size of the tumor, to what extent it has spread, other medical conditions you are suffering from, and your overall health. In this article, you will learn about some of the top treatment methods that are recommended by the doctors to treat the most common type of cancer in women in the country. Breast cancer surgery Most women opt for a breast cancer surgery as their primary treatment to get rid of breast cancer. Breast surgery is done using different surgical procedures. Some of the conventional surgical methods used are as follows: Lumpectomy- It is effective for getting rid of the small tumor. In a lumpectomy, the surgeon operates and removes the cancer tumor and a small amount of healthy tissue surrounding the tumor.