Kidneys, just like any other major organ, are crucial to lead a balanced life. Kidneys are responsible for cleansing the blood, and to make urine, besides cleaning the impurities that are thrown in the process. With new-age technology, the world of medicine has brought about some remarkable methods to treat kidney cancer. However, intervention is entirely dependent on the stage of cancer that one is in. There are four stages in kidney cancer, where in stage 1, the size of the tumor is less than seven centimetres and it is very well contained within the kidney. In stage 2, the tumor has grown above seven centimetres and is largely within the kidney. It is only in stage 3 and 4 that the tumor starts to spread. In stage 3, it is largely restricted to the nearby lymph nodes and possibly the nearest blood vessel, but in stage 4, it spreads to other organs like the liver or pancreas and also to the adrenal glands. The stages and treatment for kidney cancer are as follows: Targeted therapy for kidney cancer Innumerable research has gone into identifying and learning the molecular and genetic changes in the cell that causes kidney cancer. This is a treatment option that is known to work in cases where even chemotherapy has failed to cure the cancer.

Bone marrow is a spongy tissue found inside our bones. There are two types of bone marrow found in our bones – red and yellow bone marrow. Red marrow produces blood cells, which consist of: Red blood cells – They carry the blood to all parts of the body. White blood cells – They fight against infections. Platelets – They are the clotting agents that protect our body from uncontrolled bleeding. Yellow marrow stores our fat cells called adipocytes. Yellow marrow also contains mesenchymal stem cells, which can develop into new cells, tissue, fat, bone, or cartilage. As we grow older, red marrow is replaced by yellow marrow and adults will have more yellow rather than red bone marrow. What is leukemia? Leukemia is caused when the number of white blood cells in the bone marrow increases and crowds over the red blood cells and platelets. These new white blood cells cannot fight any infection as effectively as the original white blood cells. With the continuous growth of white blood cells, the production of red blood cells and platelets reduce. This means many parts of our body and vital organs do not get the required oxygen to perform their normal functions, while loss of platelets means the blood would not clot.

One of the most important glands in the endocrine system is the thyroid gland. This gland is located at the base of the neck. The thyroid gland is responsible for coordinating many events in the body and regulating the metabolism of the body through the regulation of hormones. When these hormones produced by the thyroid gland are produced either in excess or become deficient, several disorders can be experienced by the body. The following are the types of thyroid diseases and their causes and symptoms: Hyperthyroidism: In this condition, the thyroid gland is hyperactive and produces the hormone in excess. The most common cause of this condition is Graves’ disease. About 70% of people with an overactive thyroid are prone to this disease, which in turn causes hyperthyroidism. Toxic nodular goiter or multinodular goiter can also lead to the condition. Some symptoms of the condition are anxiety, restlessness, irritability, muscle weakness, bulging eyes, weight loss, etc. Hypothyroidism: In this condition, the thyroid is inactive and doesn’t produce the required amount of hormones. This condition is often caused by Hashimoto’s disease, radiation treatment, or the surgical removal of the thyroid gland. Some symptoms of this condition are weight gain, slow heart rate, depression, coma, fatigue, dry skin, constipation, memory issues, etc.

The prostate is an important organ present in the male reproductive system that comprises of the penis, testicles, and the prostate. It is present under the bladder and in front of the rectum. When a mutation occurs in the cells present in the prostate, and the ability to control cell division efficiently is lost, the resultant condition is known as prostate cancer. While in most of the cases, the mutant cells get attacked and killed by the immune system, in some other cases, the mutant cells escape and end up forming a prostate tumor. While there are no means to cure it entirely, there are certain factors that increase the risk of being prone to prostate cancer. These risk factors for prostate cancer are as follows: Age As age increases, so does the risk of developing prostate cancer. The risk of developing this condition increases particularly after the age of 50 years. It has been reported that over 80% of the people suffering from this condition are above the age of 65. Getting diagnosed with this cancer at older ages can put the individuals up to complicated treatment options. Family history A type of prostate cancer known as familial prostate cancer is known to be run in the family line.

Most of the time, the discussion ends at the treatment options for different types of cancer and whether or not they are capable of treating cancer completely. Whatever the treatment options are, the discussion should further extend to what the recovery options are after the treatments are done. Recovery options usually differ from one type of treatment to another. In the case of oral cancer, if a surgery is done, there will be swelling and pain. While it has been shown that removing small tumors would not have any long-term problems associated with it, the removal of large tumors can cause problems with swallowing, chewing, and even talking properly. So, after these treatments are done, an individual may usually require a reconstructive surgery which involves the rebuilding of tissues and bones in the face which were removed at the time of the surgery. In addition to this surgery process, several other details should be kept in mind and sought further treatment. Most of the cancer treatment options use drugs which can have significant side effects that last for a while even after the treatment is over. Side effects of radiation therapy include tooth decay, sore and bleeding gums, fatigue, dry mouth and loss of function of salivary glands, vomiting and nausea, mouth and skin infections, a difference in the individual’s ability to smell and taste, pain and jaw stiffness, problem while wearing dentures, dryness and burning sensation of the skin, thyroid changes, and weight loss.