HOW TO STAY HEALTHY DURING PREGNANCY

Is prenatal care important?

Prenatal care is very important. To help make sure that you and your baby will be as healthy as possible, follow some simple guidelines and check in regularly with your doctor.

What will happen during prenatal visits?

After you find out you are pregnant, you should make an appointment with your doctor. Your first prenatal visit will likely be when you are 6 to 8 weeks pregnant. Your doctor will probably start by talking to you about your medical history and how you've been feeling. You'll be weighed and have your blood pressure taken. These measurements will most likely be taken during each doctor's visit.
On your first visit, you'll also have a pelvic exam to check the size and shape of your uterus (womb) and a Pap smear to check for abnormalities of the cervix (the opening of the uterus).
Urine and blood tests samples will be taken on the first visit and again at later visits. Other tests are performed, such as urine tests to check for bacteria in your urine, high sugar levels (which can be a sign of diabetes) and high protein levels (which can put you at risk for preeclampsia, a type of high blood pressure during pregnancy). Blood tests to check for low iron levels (anemia), blood cell count, infectious diseases (such as syphilis and hepatitis) and blood type are also performed.
Sometimes, an ultrasound may be done to help figure out when your baby is due or to check on your baby's growth and position in your uterus. An ultrasound uses sound waves to create an image of your baby on a video screen.
Other tests may be needed if you or your baby are at risk for any problems.

How much weight should I gain during pregnancy?

Talk to your doctor about how much weight you should gain. It's different for everyone, but most women gain about 25 to 30 pounds. If you don't weigh enough when you get pregnant, you may need to gain more. If you're overweight when you get pregnant, you may need to gain less.

What should I eat?

Eating a balanced diet is one of the most important things you can do for yourself and your baby. There are a few foods that you should be more careful about eating while you are pregnant. Meat, eggs and fish that are not fully cooked could put you at risk for an infection. Do not eat more than 2 or 3 servings of fish per week (including canned fish). Do not eat shark, swordfish, king mackerel or tilefish. These fish sometimes have high levels of mercury, which could hurt your baby. If you eat tuna, make sure it is light tuna and eat no more than 6 ounces per week of albacore tuna and tuna steaks. It is safe to have 12 ounces per week of canned light tuna.
Wash all fruit and vegetables. Keep cutting boards and dishes clean. Eat 4 or more servings of dairy foods each day. This will give you enough calcium for you and your baby. Do not drink unpasteurized milk or eat unpasteurized milk products. Soft cheeses such as Brie, feta, Camembert, blue cheese and Mexican-style cheeses such as queso fresco may have bacteria that can cause infections.
If you drink coffee or other drinks with caffeine, do not have more than 1 or 2 cups each day.
It is okay to use artificial sweeteners such as aspartame (some brand names: Equal, NutraSweet) and sucralose (brand name: Splenda) while you are pregnant, but you should use them in moderation. If you have a genetic disease called phenylketonuria, or PKU, you shouldn't use aspartame at all.

Should I take vitamins?

You should take 1,000 mcg (1 mg) of folic acid every day during your pregnancy. Folic acid can help prevent problems with your baby's brain and spinal cord. It is best to start taking folic acid before you get pregnant.
Your doctor might want you to take a prenatal vitamin. If you do take a prenatal supplement, make sure you're not taking any other vitamin or mineral supplement along with it unless your doctor recommends it.

Is it okay to take medicine?

Check with your doctor before taking any medicine, including pain relievers or other over-the-counter medicines. Even medicine you can buy without a prescription may cause birth defects, especially if it's taken during the first 3 months of pregnancy.

How long can I keep working?

This depends on whether you have any problems with your pregnancy, what kind of work you do and if you're exposed to anything at work that could harm your baby. For instance, lifting heavy objects or standing for long periods can be hard on your body. Radiation, lead and other heavy metals, such as copper and mercury, could be damaging to the baby. However, working in front of a computer screen is not thought to cause harm to an unborn baby. Talk with your doctor about your work environment.

What about exercise?

Unless you have problems in your pregnancy, you can probably do whatever exercise you did before you got pregnant. Exercise can help ease discomfort during pregnancy. Try to get at least 30 minutes of exercise each day. Talk to your doctor about any special conditions that you may have.
Some women say exercising during pregnancy makes labor and delivery easier. Walking and swimming are great choices. If you didn't exercise before pregnancy, start slowly. Don't overdo exercise. Listen to your body. Call your doctor if you have symptoms such as blurred vision, dizziness, chest pain or abdominal pain while you are exercising. Don't get overheated. Be sure to drink plenty of water so that you don't get dehydrated. It's best to avoid anything that could cause you to fall, such as water skiing or rock climbing. It's also best to avoid contact sports such as basketball or soccer.

Is it okay to have sex?

Yes, unless your doctor believes you're at risk for problems. Don't be surprised if you're less or more interested in sex while you are pregnant. As you get larger, you may find you need to try different positions, such as lying on your side or being on top. If you have oral sex, tell your partner not to blow air into your vagina. This could force air inside you, which could cause an air embolism. Air embolisms can cause permanent brain damage and even death to a pregnant woman and her baby.

What can I do to feel better?

Here are the most common discomforts of pregnancy and some tips for handling them:
Morning sickness. Nausea or vomiting may strike anytime during the day (or night). Try eating frequent, small meals and avoid greasy foods. Keep crackers by your bed to eat before getting up.
Talk to your doctor if morning sickness lasts past the first 3 months of pregnancy or causes you to lose weight.
Tiredness. Sometimes tiredness in pregnancy is caused by anemia, so tell your doctor. Get enough rest. Take a daytime nap if possible.
Leg cramps. Gently stretch the calf of your leg by curling your toes upward, toward your knee.
Constipation. Drink plenty of fluids. Eat foods with lots of fiber, such as fruits, vegetables and bran cereal. Don't take laxatives without talking to your doctor first. Stool softeners may be safer than laxatives.
Hemorrhoids. Don't strain during bowel movements. Try to avoid becoming constipated. Clean yourself well after a bowel movement (wet wipes may be less irritating than toilet paper). Take several warm soaks (sitz baths) a day if necessary.
Urinating more often. You may need to urinate more often as your baby grows because he or she will put pressure on your bladder. This can't be helped.
Varicose veins. Avoid clothing that fits tightly around your legs or waist. Rest and put your feet up as much as you can. Move around if you must stand for long periods. Ask your doctor about support or compression hose, which may help ease or prevent varicose veins.
Moodiness. Your hormones are on a roller coaster ride during pregnancy. Plus, your life is undergoing a big change. Don't be too hard on yourself. If you feel very sad or think about suicide, talk to your doctor.
Heartburn. Eat frequent, small meals. Avoid spicy or greasy foods. Don't lie down right after eating. Ask your doctor about taking antacids.
Yeast infections. The amount of discharge from the vagina increases during pregnancy. Yeast infections, which can also cause discharge, are more common during pregnancy. It's a good idea to talk with your doctor about any unusual discharge.
Bleeding gums. Brush and floss regularly, and see your dentist for cleanings. Don't put off dental visits because you're pregnant, but be sure to tell your dentist you're pregnant.
Stuffy nose. This is related to changes in the levels of the female hormone estrogen. You may also have nosebleeds.
Edema (retaining fluid). Rest with your legs up. Lie on your left side while sleeping so blood flows from your legs back to your heart better. Don't use diuretics (water pills). If you're thinking about cutting down on salt to reduce swelling, talk with your doctor first. Your body needs enough salt to maintain the balance of fluid and cutting back on salt may not be the best way to manage your swelling.

Skin changes. Stretch marks appear as red marks on your skin. Lotion with shea butter can help keep your skin moist and may help reduce the itchiness of dry skin. Stretch marks often can't be prevented, but they often fade after pregnancy.
Other skin changes may include darkening of the skin on your face and around your nipples, and a dark line below your belly button. Staying out of the sun or using a sunscreen may help lessen these marks. Most marks will probably fade after pregnancy.

Call your doctor if you have:

• Blood or fluid coming from your vagina
• Sudden or extreme swelling of your face or fingers
• Headaches that are severe or won't go away
• Nausea and vomiting that won't go away
• Dizziness
• Dim or blurry vision
• Pain or cramps in your lower abdomen
• Chills or fever
• A change in your baby's movements
• Less urine or burning when you urinate
• Any illness or infection
• Anything that bothers you

Warnings

"Don't do this, don't do that." You've probably heard every old wives' tale. Here are some warnings worth heeding:

• Don't smoke. Smoking raises your risk for miscarriage, premature birth, low birth weight and many other problems.
• Don't use drugs. Cocaine, heroin, marijuana and other drugs increase your risk of miscarriage, premature birth and birth defects. Your baby could also be born addicted to the drug you've been abusing, which can cause serious health problems.
• Don't drink alcohol. Drinking alcohol during pregnancy is the major cause of preventable birth defects, including fetal alcohol syndrome.
• Don't clean your cat's litter box or eat raw or undercooked red meat. You could get toxoplasmosis, a disease that can cause birth defects.
• Don't sit in a sauna or hot tub. The high heat raises your risk of miscarriage and birth defects.
• Don't douche. Douching could force air into the vagina, which can cause an air embolism. The vagina doesn't require cleansing in addition to normal bathing. Douching disrupts the helpful bacteria that keep the vagina clean.

What is HPV?

HPV is a virus that causes Cervical Cancer.
What is HPV?
HPV stands for human papillomavirus, which is a group of over 100 viruses. Different types of HPV cause different types of infections. Most people will get a HPV infection during their lifetime, from sexual activity. Most of these infections do not need treatment but they can cause genital warts and other skin infections. In some women, however, HPV causes changes in the cervix that can develop into cervical cancer.
How is HPV transmitted?
HPV can be transmitted during sexual intercourse or genital contact with an infected person.  Transmission from mother to baby can also occur immediately before or after birth.
What is cervical cancer?
Cervical cancer is a cancer of a woman’s cervix, the entrance to the womb. Each year in Ireland about 250 women get cervical cancer and 80 women die from it. Cervical cancer is caused by HPV infection.

How does HPV infection cause cervical cancer?
HPV can infect the cells on the surface of the cervix and damage them, causing their appearance to change and lead to abnormalities in these cells over a number of years.
These abnormalities are known as Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia (CIN) These changes can be classified according to their severity.
Mild lesions are known as CIN 1 and severe lesions are described as CIN 2/3. In some cases these more severe lesions can develop into cervical cancer
The progression of mild and severe lesions to cancer takes many years so these abnormalities are known as pre-cancerous.
HPVs associated with cancer are called oncogenic or 'high risk' types.  HPVs that do not cause cancer are termed 'low risk' types. Two of these 'low risk' types cause most genital warts. HPV types are referred to by number (the numbers refer to the order in which they were discovered).
Two types (16 and 18) cause 7 out of 10 cervical cancers.
  
How common is cervical cancer?
Worldwide cervical cancer is the second most common cancer in women with an estimated 520,000 new cases and 274, 000 deaths in 2008
 
Can cervical cancer be prevented?
Cervical screening can detect pre-cancerous lesions and cervical cancer at an early stage when treatment can be successful. In countries where there are cervical cancer screening programmes there has been a marked decrease in cervical cancer.


Where can I find out more about the National Cervical Screening Programme?
More information on the cervical screening programme email us at projectco29ja@yahoo.com, or talk2caleb@yahoo.com

Who is getting the HPV vaccine?

All girls in 1^st year in second level schools will be offered the HPV vaccine each year.
There will also be a HPV catch-up vaccination programme for girls in 6^th year in second level schools in September 2011. This will be repeated for girls in 6^th year in September 2012 and 2013.
Most girls will be vaccinated at school by HSE immunisation teams. Some will be invited to attend a HSE clinic to get the vaccine.

Why was HPV vaccine introduced into the National Immunisation Programme?

The HPV Vaccination Programme was introduced to protect girls from their future risk of cervical cancer.
Why is the HPV vaccine administered through a schools based programme?

Other countries such as Australia and the UK have shown that the best vaccine uptakes are obtained through a school based programme. Data from the UK found that immunisation through a school based programme achieved an uptake rate of 80% compared to 60%from GPs.
How does the school programme work?
The programme will target all girls in 1st year and 6^th year of second level schools in September 2011, 2012 and 2013..
From September 2014 the programme will target all girls in 1^st year of second level schools as all other girls will have already been offered the vaccine.
All girls require three doses of vaccine with a two month interval between the 1st and 2nd dose and a four month interval between the 2nd and 3rd doses.
What about girls in Special schools?
For special schools, vaccination will be offered in September 2011 to

• all girls who reach 12 years of age between 1^st September 2011 and 31^st August 2012
• girls who are 18 years and older on 1^st September 2011
• girls who reach 18 years of age between 1^st September 2011 and 31^st August 2012

Why is the vaccine being given to 1^st year girls?
The vaccine is given routinely to girls in 1^st year of second level school so that it is in place well before adulthood and likely exposure to HPV.
Why should a girl in 6^th year get the HPV vaccine?
Girls who get the vaccine are far less likely to develop cervical cancer or have genital warts, or other illnesses caused by HPV in the future.
The vaccine will also protect girls against some less common cancers, such as vaginal and vulval cancers.
What if a girl is already sexually active?
The vaccine works best if girls have it before they have any sexual contact with another person. This is why experts recommend girls have the vaccine aged 12–13. But if a girl is already sexually active it’s still a good idea to have the vaccine as it can still give some protection against HPV
What if a girl has already started a course of HPV vaccine?

If a girl has started a private course of HPV vaccine, it is best if she completes that course as planned. If she is to move into the HSE programme, she will need to provide records of her previous vaccinations. This is for the girl’s safety and will allow us to decide if we can include her in our programme. There is a space on the vaccine consent form to fill in this information.
Why is the vaccine given to girls only?
The HPV vaccine is being given to girls to protect them from cervical cancer.
What happens next?

In September schools will send girls and their parents/ guardians the HSE information packs. Please read the booklet, complete the enclosed consent form and return it to the school. If you are giving consent, it is for three doses of HPV vaccine.
Can the vaccine be given to boys?

HPV vaccines have also been shown to be effective in preventing infection in men. Studies are now being done to see if the vaccine should be routinely recommended for boys/men as well.

What should I do if I want to get younger or older sisters vaccinated?
You should wait until your younger or older girls reach First year or Sixth year in second level schools when they will be vaccinated free of charge through the HSE school based programme.
Older girls may visit their GP to obtain the vaccine privately. Younger girls should wait until they reach First Year in second level schools when they will be vaccinated free-of-charge through the HSE school programme.
Do girls who have been vaccinated still need to attend for cervical screening?

Yes. HPV vaccines only protect against 70% of cervical cancers. It is still important that girls to have regular smear tests when they are older.
Linking vaccination information to the Cervical Screening Programme
With consent, we will share girls' vaccination details with the National Cancer Screening Service. These will be linked to her future cancer screening record.

Hypersensitivity To Sound And Anxiety Disorders

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Anxiety sufferers often complain of being very hypersensitive to sounds and noises whenever their anxiety or panic hits. They complain that every sound they hear, no matter how low in intensity, seems to be amplified for them. According to experts, this hypersensitivity may be caused by biochemical changes in the system.
When the body is stressed out, the brain releases adrenaline to specific receptors in the body to prepare for flight or fight. The increase in heart rate, breathing, muscle tension, and energy level is accompanied by an increase in sensory perceptions such as sight, smell, tactile and auditory. All of these things are to help the body become more aware of the surroundings so that when real danger comes the body can immediately think and act.
Hypersensitivity to sound and anxiety disorders can both have a devastating effect in one’s life. It may be painful or frightening to realize that a person who has these kinds of disorders may have a big problem to be outside near traffic, be traveling, be near household appliances or attend social activities that play loud music.
Many people have reported increased hypersensitivity to sound and anxiety disorders during periods of stress. Other biochemical causes include changes in the system due to stress and anxiety. Once the stress-related experience is over, the hypersensitivity usually decreases. The sensory system may also be over aroused by changes in the person’s biochemistry, including increases in toxins produced by an overgrowth of yeast and fungus and possibly exposures to other toxins like heavy metals and toxic chemicals. Hypersensitivity to sound may develop to anxiety disorder during this exposure and may be restored to more normal levels when the toxins are removed.
Everyone experiences anxiety at various points in life in response to stressful situations. An anxiety disorder exists when a person has a long-standing feeling of tension, fear or unease that may occur on its own with no exact reason. It may range from minor to severe. Hypersensitivity to sound and anxiety disorders can both interfere in all areas of a person’s life, job, performance in school and overall quality of life.
Hypersensitivity to sound is one of the symptoms of anxiety disorders. Other symptoms may include physical, psychological and behavioral features such as rapid pulse, muscle tension, disturbed sleep, irritability, impatience, jumpiness, excessive need to maintain routines, disturbing thoughts, avoiding interaction with others and excessive worrying.
People with hypersensitivity to sound and anxiety disorders can also become overwhelmingly anxious and self-conscious even in everyday situations that to a healthy person are normal or of little consequence. Sufferers complain that these disorders can be so painful and distracting that they could not accomplish anything. For them, every noise, no matter how low, seemed to be of maximum volume. They could not seem to filter out any noise and it is really hard for them to prevent and handle these situations.
It’s been established that nutritional effects may result in hypersensitive hearing. In fact, it’s documented that deficiency in magnesium can result to hypersensitivity to sound. Many patients who receive magnesium supplements have shown improvement from sound sensitivity. Thus, physicians often recommend for anxiety patients to eat magnesium-rich foods and take magnesium supplements to help reduce this hypersensitivity. Thus, this concludes that hypersensitivity to sound and anxiety disorders can also be prevented through good nutrition and self-help.

The perfect house cannot be built from the roof down. I’ve helped thousands of people overcome their anxiety and panic attacks, and I always start them off with my anxiety test before discussing treatment options.
Understanding your anxiety and its probable causes is crucial, because it gives you a starting point – a steady ground from which you can build toward your well-being.
As such, I recommend you take the quiz even if you have already been diagnosed with anxiety.

Aging changes in the Breast

With aging, a woman's breasts lose fat, tissue, and mammary glands, reducing breast size, firmness, and fullness. The breasts lose support. These changes are mostly due to a decrease in the hormone, estrogen.

Aging breasts commonly flatten and sag, and the nipple may turn in slightly. The area surrounding the nipple (the areola) becomes smaller and may nearly disappear. Loss of hair around the nipple is common.

Breasts may change in size as a woman grows older. Lumps are common around the time of menopause. These are often noncancerous cysts. However, if you notice a lump, make an appointment with your doctor. Breast cancer risk increases with age. Women should perform monthly breast self-examinations. However, because breast self-exams do not always pick up early stages of breast cancer, women should also talk to their health care provider about mammograms.


Breast Cancer
Breast cancer affects one in eight women during their lives. Breast cancer kills more women in the United States than any cancer except lung cancer. No one knows why some women get breast cancer, but there are a number of risk factors. Risks that you cannot change include
Age - the chance of getting breast cancer rises as a woman gets older
Genes - there are two genes, BRCA1 and BRCA2, that greatly increase the risk. Women who have family members with breast or ovarian cancer may wish to be tested.
Personal factors - beginning periods before age 12 or going through menopause after age 55

Other risks include being overweight, using hormone replacement therapy (also called menopausal hormone therapy), taking birth control pills, drinking alcohol, not having children or having your first child after age 35 or having dense breasts.
Symptoms
Symptoms of breast cancer may include a lump in the breast, a change in size or shape of the breast or discharge from a nipple. Breast self-exam and mammography can help find breast cancer early when it is most treatable. Treatment may consist of radiation, lumpectomy, mastectomy, chemotherapy and hormone therapy.

Men can have breast cancer, too, but the number of cases is small.

Breast Biopsy
A breast biopsy is the removal of breast tissue to examine it for signs of breast cancer or other disorders. Several different types of biopsy may be done. This article discusses open breast biopsy. An open biopsy involves making a small cut in the breast and removing breast tissue.

An open biopsy may remove part (incisional biopsy) or all (excisional biopsy) of the area of interest. If the entire lump or area of interest is removed, this method may also be called a lumpectomy.

If the surgeon cannot easily feel the lump or cyst, breast ultrasound or mammography may be used before the biopsy. A needle or wire is placed in the area of interest. This will be left in to help the surgeon.

The biopsy will be done in an operating room.
Usually, you lie on your back for the procedure. You may receive local anesthesia with medicine to make you sleepy or you may receive general anesthesia.
A surgical cut is made in the skin. The wire and breast tissue around it are removed. Sometimes, testing is done at the time of the procedure, but a final diagnosis takes more time.
After the tissue sample is taken, the cut is closed with sutures. A dressing and bandage are applied.

If you receive general anesthesia, your vital signs (temperature, pulse, rate of breathing, blood pressure) will be monitored for at least an hour after the procedure. Your health care provider may prescribe pain medication.

How to Prepare for the Test

The health care provider will ask questions about your medical history and perform a manual breast exam.

You must sign an informed consent form. If you are going to have general anesthesia, you may be asked not to eat or drink anything for 8 - 12 hours before the test.

If you take medications (including aspirin or herbal medications), ask your doctor whether you need to stop taking these before the biopsy.

Tell your doctor if you may be pregnant before having an open biopsy.

Do not wear lotion, perfume, powder, or deodorant underneath your arms or on your breasts.
How the Test Will Feel

After the test, the breast may be sore and tender to the touch for several days. If a surgical cut is made, your doctor may prescribe pain medication.

You will probably go home the day of the procedure.

Do not do any heavy lifting for 24 hours after the biopsy. Do not take a shower for the first 24 hours.
Why the Test is Performed

A biopsy may be done if the doctor is concerned about breast cancer because of abnormal findings on a mammogram or breast ultrasound, or seen during a physical exam.

To determine whether someone has breast cancer, a biopsy must be done. Cells from the abnormal area are removed and examined under a microscope.
Normal Results

A normal result means there is no sign of cancer.

Your doctor or nurse will let you know when you need a follow-up mammogram or other tests.
What Abnormal Results Mean

Biopsy may identify a number of breast conditions that are not cancer or precancer, including:
Adenofibroma
Fibrocystic breast disease
Intraductal papilloma
Mammary fat necrosis

Biopsy results may show the following precancerous breast conditions:
Atypical ductal hyperplasia
Atypical lobular hyperplasia

Two main types of breast cancer may be found:
Ductal carcinoma starts in the tubes (ducts) that move milk from the breast to the nipple. Most breast cancers are of this type.
Lobular carcinoma starts in parts of the breast called lobules, which produce milk.

Depending on the biopsy results, you may need further surgery or treatment.
Risks

There is a slight chance of infection at the injection or incision site.

Excessive bleeding is rare, but may require draining or re-bandaging. Bruising is common.

There will be a small scar. Depending on the amount of tissue removed and how the breast heals, the appearance of the breast may be affected.
Alternative Names

Biopsy - breast; Open breast biopsy



Most women experience breast changes at some time. Your age, hormone levels and medicines you take may cause lumps, bumps and discharges.

If you have a breast lump, pain, discharge or skin irritation, see your health care provider. Minor and serious breast problems have similar symptoms. Although many women fear cancer, most breast problems are not cancer.

Some common causes of breast changes are
Fibrocystic breast condition - lumpiness, thickening and swelling, often associated with a woman's period
Cysts - fluid-filled lumps
Fibroadenomas - solid, round, rubbery lumps that move easily when pushed, occurring most in younger women
Intraductal papillomas - growths similar to warts near the nipple
Blocked or clogged milk ducts
Milk production when a woman is not breastfeeding
Injury

NIH: National Cancer Instituteclick to expand your study

The various cancer therapy treatments

Chemotherapy is the treatment of cancer with drugs that can destroy cancer cells by impeding their growth and reproduction.

At Cancer Treatment Centers of America (CTCA), we work closely with our patients to meet your individual needs before, during and after chemotherapy. Our supportive therapies help you relax and minimize side effects.

During chemoembolization, chemotherapy is injected through a catheter directly into a tumor using image guidance. The chemotherapy drugs are mixed with particles, called microspheres, which block the flow of blood to the tumor. Without a blood supply, the tumor no longer has the oxygen and nutrients it needs to grow.


Chemoembolization allows high doses of chemotherapy drugs to be targeted directly to the cancerous tissue for a longer period of time, without exposing the entire body to the effect of the drugs.
chemeombolization:
This method of chemotherapy is primarily used for the treatment of liver cancer, but may also be used for the treatment of other cancers that have spread to the liver, such as pancreatic and colorectal cancers.




chronotherapy:
One of these methods is chronotherapy, in which our doctors time the delivery of chemotherapy drugs based on a patient’s individual biorhythms. We use drug-specific research and track a variety of symptoms to discover when tumor tissues may be most sensitive to the chemotherapy drugs.


Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC):
this is a heated, sterilized chemotherapy solution which is delivered directly to the abdomen during a surgical procedure. First, surgical oncologists perform surgery to remove visible tumors within the abdomen. Then, using sophisticated technology and tools, the surgical oncologists administer the chemotherapy solution to penetrate and destroy cancer cells that remain in the abdomen after surgery.

HIPEC is a treatment option for people who have advanced surface spread of cancer within the abdomen, without disease involvement outside of the abdomen. It may be used to treat some cases of:
Colorectal cancer
Appendiceal cancer
Ovarian cancer
Stomach cancer
Primary peritoneal cancer

In comparison to traditional chemotherapy delivery, HIPEC allows for higher doses of chemotherapy treatment. Heating the solution (i.e., hyperthermia) also enhances the power of the chemotherapy, improving absorption by tumors and susceptibility of cancer cells to chemotherapy. Furthermore, because the chemotherapy is kept within the abdomen, it minimizes the rest of the body’s exposure to the treatment. This helps reduce some chemotherapy side effects.

As a result, chronotherapy helps to minimize the damage of chemotherapy to healthy tissues. By pinpointing the time of day that is best for treatment, we can deliver higher doses that do less harm to the rest of the body.



Intra- areterial chem otheraphy(IAC):
During IAC, your physician inserts a thin catheter through the femoral artery in the right leg. We perform an angiogram (injects dye under a special scope) to obtain a “roadmap” of the arteries. The physician then uses this roadmap to insert a line into the hepatic artery, which is the main blood vessel that delivers blood to the liver. Using dye from a syringe to make sure the line is in the correct position, the chemotherapy drug or drugs are injected directly into the artery.

Patients typically need to lay flat after the treatment to allow the chemotherapy to reach all areas of the spinal cord and brain. We offer a variety of supportive therapies to help make our patients comfortable during this time, including relaxation therapies from mind-body medicine and acupuncture.




intraperitoneal Chemotheraphy:
This innovative chemotherapy technique works by delivering chemotherapy drugs directly into the abdominal cavity through a catheter. Intraperitoneal chemotherapy directly targets cancer cells in the abdomen, minimizing drug exposure to healthy tissues.

Another innovative treatment we offer, hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC), circulates heated chemotherapy drugs in the abdomen during surgery.






intrathecal chemotherapy:
Intrathecal chemotherapy is delivered through a lumbar puncture (spinal tap) or a device placed under the scalp. Patients typically need to lay flat after the treatment to allow the chemotherapy to reach all areas of the spinal cord and brain. We offer a variety of supportive therapies to help make our patients comfortable during this time, including relaxation therapies from mind-body medicine and acupuncture.

Meet the five years apart twins

During the medical process, five embryos were created and two implanted in Mrs Blake, which resulted in the birth of their son Reuben, weighing 9lbs 5oz on 9 December 2006.

The couple, from Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, decided to try for another child in March last year using the three remaining frozen embryos.

Two of the embryos did not survive the defrosting process, but the final embryo was successfully implanted.

Against the odds, Floren arrived on 16 November 2011 weighing 8lbs 12oz - two weeks before her due date - but five years after her twin brother.

Simon, 45 and Jody Blake, 38, with their twins Reuben, five and Floren seven weeks./PA

So how were Mr and Mrs Blake able to have twins born five years apart?

Doctors at the Bristol Centre for Reproductive Medicine, based at Southmead Hospital, said the decision made by Mr and Mrs Blake to freeze their remaining embryos was a safer way to have twins.

[Relevant: One mum's £50,000 IVF struggle]

Dr Akande explained: “It's usually better to have one baby at a time rather than two because carrying twins is associated with greater risk. So we would very often recommend storing surplus embryos so that they can be used at a later date.

“In essence they haven't come from the same embryo but from the same batch of embryos. It does depend how you interpret the term 'twins' - twins generally means that they are born at the same time.

“But, yes, twins in that they have come from the same batch of embryos, collected from the same treatment cycle - so twins born at a different time - but not a twin pregnancy, when they have grown in the womb together.”

Twins Reuben Blake, five with his sister Floren seven weeks./PA

Speaking about his two children, Mr Blake, a lecturer at University College Birmingham told PA: “I find it very difficult to resist the temptation to say 'Oh and by the way they are twins'. It's almost just to see people's response. They are really amazed and surprised.”

Mother Jody, a programmes manager for the children's charity WellChild, said: “It does feel quite surreal. I think people are really, really surprised and it almost takes people a few minutes to get their heads around it.

“We obviously had nine months to get it straight and to think 'Gosh, we're having Reuben's twin', but it's incredibly special.

The couple said Reuben was a little apprehensive about having a sibling but has quickly settled into his role as the eldest.

Mr Blake said: “Since the day Floren was born, he's been really tender and loving with her. “

Reuben’s parents said he is aware of the special relationship he has with his seven-week-old sister but it would be a while before he fully understands.

His mother added: “He knows that she's been in the freezer - he likes to say she has been in the freezer with the chips and the chicken - so he is sort of aware that she is his twin, but obviously he doesn't really understand how it's all worked really.

Five ways to stay healthy this christmas

 

It’s that time of year again. Although it’s hard to believe another year has flown by, I am clearly not mistaken as today I heard my first Christmas song on the radio, shops are displaying their Christmas themed windows, and my inbox is full of “Christmas Gift Idea” emails from all my favorite brands that I subscribe to.

With the risk of sounding a little like the Scroodge, please be sensible. It’s not called the silly season for no reason. Partying, drinking, indulging, overeating and running around like a headless chicken from event-to-event and shop-to-shop, it’s no wonder many of us feel tired, rundown, overweight and stressed as the new year comes around.

What if this year you honored YOU and entered the new year feeling refreshed, energized, slim and relaxed? It’s really not so difficult. Just a little discipline and willpower, that’s all.

Logging in to Springday every morning to record your previous day’s points is a great starting point and reminder to keep on track with your wellness journey. Here are a few tips to help you keep on track.

Top 5 Tips to help you stay healthy over Christmas

1. Exercise
Remember to keep up with your exercise routine. Just because you were out and about the night before is no excuse to sleep in and forego your workout. Staying active will help you feel better. I promise! My favourite hangover cure used to be a run on the beach and swim in the surf. Great way to sweat out those toxins! Try and exercise outside as much as possible and take advantage of the bright sunny summer days. If a run is too much, how about calling a friend who was out with you the night before and take a brisk walk around the park.

2. Relaxation
As much as Christmas is a lovely time to catch up with all your friends and family, remember to take some time out for YOU. Take a few moments in the day to practice meditation or stress-relieving breathing techniques. We’re conditioned to think that Christmas is all about giving, so how about taking the time to give to yourself as well this year. Don’t get stressed out over Christmas present buying. Plan your shopping in advance, write a list of all the presents you need to buy and avoid the frenzied crowds.

3. Nutrition
Remember to make healthy choices this Christmas. It’s easy to get carried away with all the puddings and chocolates and shortbread and party food, but before over-indulging remember how it’s going to make you feel the next day. Remember to eat plenty of vegetables, fruits and whole grains. If you do like enjoying Christmas treats, limit your portion size. Read Dr Naras Lapsys article on the top 10 things to avoid when eating at Christmas.

4. Water
Drink plenty of water to keep you hydrated. If you do drink alcohol, remember to alternate every alcoholic drink with a glass of water and please don’t drink on an empty stomach. Best to have a healthy snack before you go to the party as it will also prevent you from snacking on unhealthy party food. Dandelion tea is a great herbal tea to drink throughout the days when you know you’re going to be out and about, partying and drinking alcohol at night, as it helps to detoxify the liver.

5. Sleep
Get plenty of rest and aim for 7-8 hours of sleep every night. It’s not going to make or break your life if you don’t go to EVERY party. How about having a night in? Create a relaxing spa experience at home, snuggle up on the couch with a good book or DVD and get to bed early.

And if all that fails, please don’t beat yourself up about it. Take each day as it comes and strive for a healthier day the next day.