ALTERNATIVE CANCER TREATMENTS- ARE THEY REALLY USEFUL?

Although alternative cancer treatments are not yet backed by hard facts and proofs, they are still accepted by many patients suffering from cancer. A long debate has been going on about the effectiveness of these treatments.

Unlike the more conventional methods, alternative treatments for cancer take some time to show any effects on the patients body. Allopathic method of treatment is based on early medical philosophy and is the most preferred form of treatment among patients. It fights the cancerous cells by methods like radiotherapy or radiation therapy, chemotherapy and surgery. But alternative cancer treatments make use of various diets, exercises, chemicals and manual procedures which treat the entire body. The alternative treatments can be administered in two ways- purely alternative or complementary.

Minimally invasive spine surgery explained

Minimally invasive spinal surgeries have been much talked about. It is a treatment worth looking into for anyone with back problems such as spinal tumors, any type of deformity, spinal stenosis, compression fractures, herniated discs or degenerative diseases. But not everyone is a suitable candidate for a minimally invasive spine surgery. The patient situation should be thoroughly examined by an experienced spinal surgeon to determine if the person can opt for this treatment.

Understanding Cervical Spinal Stenosis

What is cervical spinal stenosis?

The spinal cord is a group of nerves that run from the shaft of your brain to your lower back. Your spinal canal is the open space in the vertebrae that form and compose the spinal column. These spinal nerves are responsible for movement and sensation, control of bladder and bowel movement, and other functions. When the canal constricts due to age or injury, it can compress and squeeze the nerve endings at the place where they separate from the spinal cord, and also irritate and damage the spinal cord. This can alter the normal functioning of the spinal cord and cause pain, stiffness or numbness of the arms, neck and legs. Cervical spinal stenosis is the narrowing of the spinal canal in the neck region.

Foot problems for which you need to consult a podiatrist

A podiatrist is a physician or a surgeon who deals with the diagnosis and prevention of foot problems followed by its appropriate treatment.

When must you consult a podiatrist?

We have busy lifestyles and very little time for ourselves. Hence most of us do not even pay attention to foot pain, much less seek help of a medical practitioner.

Foot doctors south FL may prove to be one of the best whenever there is a need to consult a podiatrist. We must go to a foot doctor whenever the pain in the foot goes above normal.

All You Need to Know about All on Four Dental Implants – Teeth in a Day

All on Four is a revolutionary new technique that offers an optimal solution for patients who suffer from multiple teeth loss and those who are on the way to edentulism (having no neeth). The All on Four dental implants procedure was developed by Dr. Paulo Malo, a Portugal dentist who was frustrated by the prolonged healing time, patient discomfort, limited functionality and high failure rate of traditional dental restorative methods.
The All on Four technique uses only four dental implants to create a customized dental bridge. The implants that are used here are specially designed for immediate functioning. They do not require bone grafting because they take advantage of the higher bone density in the front of the jaw. Even with extraction of failing teeth, All on Four dental implants technique allows the patient to go back home with a brand new set of teeth on the same day of the procedure.

Effects of Prostate Cancer Treatment on Sexuality

Many men who are diagnosed with prostate cancer have little knowledge on how the disease and the treatment regimen can completely change their lives. Prostate cancer treatment typically involves a radical prostatectomy, radiation and a course of potent drugs that blocks testosterone production. Most patients receive little or no information about how the treatment regimen will affect an important part of their lives – their sexual health.
If your physician does not bring it up, it is up to you to initiate the discussion on how cancer treatment will affect your sexuality. It is important to be well-informed so that you can ask the right questions.
There are studies that show that though a vast majority of health professionals identify sexual concerns as within their scope of practice, only very few directly address it. Different cancers affect sexuality in different ways. Physicians usually discuss it only when it directly affects the sexual organs.

Stem Cell Treatment for Cancer

Stem cells are primitive or immature cells that have the ability grow into any other cell in the body. There is a lot of controversy surrounding embryonic stem cell research because of its religious, ethical and moral implications. But there are also two other lesser known types of stem cells – cord blood cells and adult stem cells.
Cord blood cells are stem cells present in the umbilical blood of a newborn child. Since it is considered a waste product anyway, there are lesser number of people protesting research on cord blood stem cells. Some people even freeze their newborn baby's cord blood cells in the eventuality that the baby may need it sometime in the future. Adult stem cells are present in the bone marrow of adult human beings. Just a few years ago, adult stem cells were used only for producing blood, but now research shows that they can be used for many more cutting edge treatments.

All on Four Dental Implants – Get a New Smile in a Day

Each tooth in your mouth serves a particular function, so the loss of even one may significantly affect your day-to-day activities such as biting into foods, chewing or talking.

Traditional alternatives to missing teeth include dentures and dental bridges.

Dentures are inexpensive removable teeth, but not only are they aesthetically unappealing but their functionality is also limited. Dentures need to be fixed to your gums using messy adhesives; they cause a slur in your speech, bad breath and may even slip as you are laughing or talking. How embarrassing!

Dental bridges are a more permanent option; they are fixed to existing healthy teeth, essentially forming a bridge across the missing teeth. This means that the neighboring teeth have to be modified to accommodate dental bridges.

Breast Cancer Treatment and Fertility

Being diagnosed with breast cancer can be a devastating experience for women. Along with the fear of death, surgery and harsh cancer treatments, breast cancer also elicits fears on loss of sexuality and body image. It is of utmost importance that the patient and her physician have an in-depth discussion, so that they can make the best decisions about her care. 

Most women are ill-informed about the questions they must be asking their doctor before the treatment starts. Young women who are yet to have children and mothers who are planning for more children are advised to talk to their physician about how cancer treatment can put their fertility at risk.