What is Metastasis?

5 facts about Metastasis.

1. Definition
A tumor is said to have metastasized when it spreads from its primary site, to other nearby or distant parts of the body, via blood , lymph, etc.

2. What is the mechanism?
The tumor cells detach from the primary tumor, and enter the bloodstream via the process of angiogenesis, or spread via lymphatics.This mainly happens because the malignant cells possess certain properties, like an improper intracellular cementing substance.

the mechanism of metastasis via blood

What are Benign Tumors ?

5 facts about Benign Tumors

1. Definition
Benign tumor is a cell mass that does not have an invasive potential or the capacity to spread.

2. Characteristics

• they show a limited growth. 
• the cells are not anaplasitc. They still resemble the parent cells and have not undergone complete dis-figuration.
• the cells divide more than normal cells do, but this process slows down and stops in a certain amount of time.
• these cells are always confined in a capsule or fibrous tissue, which has a distinctive border and shape.
• these cells lack the ability to spread to neighboring tissues.

a benign tumor in the fibrous capsule

What is Malignancy?

7 facts about Malignancy

1. Definition
Malignancy is a life-threatening progressive condition.Malignant Cancer means unwanted, uncontrolled growth of cells which are structurally and functionally different from their parent cells.

2. What goes wrong?
The DNA present in the nucleus of all the cells in the body is the source of 'genetic-control' over the structure and function of each cell. When, due to some reason, the DNA is repeatedly damaged, it might undergo mutation (change) and and that 'genetic-control' is lost. Hence, the cells start dividing in a haphazard manner, only to produce more abnormal cells. This abnormal cell mass is what we call 'tumor'. It has the potential to damage to the surrounding tissues and organs, creating a 'micro-environment' of its own.

3. Proto-oncogenes and Tumor-suppressor genes.

 G1, S, M, G2 are the phases of a cell cycle which are regulated by the genes, mutation of which causes formation of tumor.

30 common terminologies in Oncology

These are some of the most commonly encountered terminologies in the realm of Oncology.

MALIGNANCY- a condition that is progressive and life-threatening. Malignant Cancer means unwanted and uncontrolled growth of cells destroying the surrounding tissues and having the potential to spread.

BENIGN- non malignant growth which is localized.

NEOPLASM- new-growth of cells that may be benign or malignant

TUMOR- a collection of cells that forms a lump or swelling

5 reasons why you should study Oncology

1.IMPORTANCE
Lets consider a usual 'there's a new disease breakout' scenario.When a disease is in the limelight for affecting many people all over the world, or some part of the world (or even just a few celebrities!), a lot of importance is given to that particular one. It's like an impending doom over all...There are a host of people researching all of a sudden,  new medications coming out every other day, and it stays in the news for quite sometime, atleast as long as the media's short-lived memory lasts! Then a very promising cure is found, and people die no more.
Well, this applies to a lot of diseases that have come and gone, which then seemed deadly, but eventually proved to be otherwise,for example, small pox, or polio. However, this does not apply to Cancer, and a few other diseases like AIDS. Cancer has beaten 'em all and stayed for decades, and it hasn't become any kinder. Allow my personification of Cancer, it helps me relate to it better. Cancer's like this cruel king who's been ruling over the 'health' of millions ever since it came into existence. Swift as a cat, it selects random, completely harmless, quite normal beings, and the next thing they know is their world's upside down! It leaves grieving families behind, if at all 'leaves' them completely...

Cancer and people.

Gone are those days when doctors were the only people who knew about diseases.This statement is true not only for simple flu, but also for complex cancer.In the present time, diseases exist beyond the big fat medicine books. With all the knowledge explosion on us by media, all the awareness campaigns by the governments, people are more than just aware of the diseases that exist for real. But all of this awareness and knowledge, does it really have a role to play? Are we, the so called city-people, considering getting ourselves screened and checked regularly? No. unless ofcourse we have visible symptoms which are hampering our lives.

Mastectomy | early and late complications

Complications of Mastectomy
Various complications can arise during or following the procedure of Radical Mastectomy. These can be categorized as early complications or late complications.

Early complications:

•  In our previous article, we saw that while operating, the nerves and veins around the breast have to be carefully preserved. So, the first complication that arises would be while operation, if the nerves and veins are injured. Injury to nerves of serratus anterior and lattisimus dorsi can take place. Cephalic or axillary veins can also be damaged affecting the circulation in and around the breast and increasing the chances of developing 'post-operative edema'
•  Chances of having an infection post-op are high if there's some amount of collection.
•  Because of the collection of fluid, there may be tension in the sutures.
•  If suturing is done under tension then sloughing of skin may occur.

Late complications:

• First of all, there can be a chance of local recurrence of cancer in the same area.
• There can be recurrence around the previous site, like in the axillla.
• There can be formation of distant metastases, like in the opposite breast.
• Difficulty with shoulder movements can be experienced.

edema seen in the right arm

Mastectomy | Types of Surgeries

What are the types of Mastectomy surgeries?
In the previous post, we learnt various aspects about Radical Mastectomy, like the structures that are removed, and are preserved, etc.Now, we will learn more about other modifications of Mastectomy which are the more extensive surgeries and the less extensive ones.

• The more extensive surgeries

1. Biopsy of the internal mammary node 
While performing the radical mastectomy, sometimes a biopsy can be taken from the internal mammary node which lies behind the 2nd intercostal space (between the two ribs)
This is done for the purpose of a better diagnosis and to know the extent of spread of cancer.

These are the Lymph nodes around the Breast