Multiple Sclerosis is a chronic inflammatory condition that attacks the central nervous system. In addition to causing disabilities of the brain and spinal cord, it results in a wide range of symptoms. Controlling the relapse of the condition is an important part of the treatment for multiple sclerosis. Treatment for these symptoms also takes up significant time, space, effort, and resources of the patient. A clear knowledge of when it would be ideal to start, stop, and change the treatment strategies for multiple sclerosis is not common knowledge. The article below answers some questions on the same. 1. When to start? First-line DMT should begin when the patients get diagnosed with relapsing multiple sclerosis and have already experienced at least one attack in the time period of the past two years. While injectable therapies with glatiramer acetate or high dose of IFNB 1-a are the preferred medications, oral therapies through teriflunomide, dimethyl fumarate, and azathioprine are also known to have similar effects. DMT-naïve multiple sclerosis patients who have been through two attacks in the previous year and now have an active MRI scan should be provided with a second-line regimen like natalizumab, or fingolimod. If the condition has been aggressive right from the onset, alemtuzumab can be considered to be prescribed.

Radiation therapy is used as the main course of non-small cell lung cancer treatment, even alongside chemotherapy, if there is no possibility of removing the cancerous tumor due to its size and location. It is also the prescribed course of action if the individual is not eligible for surgery or if they refuse to take surgery. Radiation therapy is used for non-small cell lung cancer treatment based on the stage of cancer alongside other factors that define the cancer’s characteristics. Some of the ways in which radiation therapy is used have been listed as follows: 1. Post-surgery Radiation therapy is administered after surgery, with or without chemotherapy, in order to ensure any form of residue cancer, that may have been missed during surgery, is completely flushed out. 2. Prior to surgery In some cases, it might even be given before surgery, mostly along with chemotherapy so that the size of the tumor can be shrunk as much as possible. This will make the surgery process even easier and slightly less complicated. 3. Regional cancer growth When the cancer growth is specific to certain regions like the brain or adrenal glands, then in order to treat the main lung tumor as well as the growth, radiation therapy would be prescribed alongside surgery.

Salivary gland cancer starts in any of the glands that make saliva. Other than three major pairs of salivary gland, the human body has over 600 minor ones, which are present throughout the lining of the mouth and throat. The salivary glands produce spit which helps keep the mouth and throat moist. They help swallow and digest food as well. They also protect the teeth and keep the mouth and throat from infections. There are two types of salivary glands: Major salivary glands: There are three main pairs of major salivary glands. They are the parotid glands, which is located under the lobes of the ears; sublingual glands, which are under the tongue; and the submandibular glands found under each side of the jawbone. Minor salivary glands: Other than those, over 600 smaller, minor salivary glands can be found throughout the lining of the throat and mouth. Cancer in the salivary glands starts in the parotid glands. Approximately, around 80% of salivary gland cancers begins here. Just over 10% start in the submandibular gland, while the rest begin in either the sublingual glands or in the minor glands. Sometimes, it is common to have a non-cancerous (benign) lump in these glands.

Ovarian cancer occurs when abnormal cells in the ovary begin to multiply so excessively they and form a tumor. The treatment for ovarian cancer is decided based on the stage of cancer, type of tumor, and based on whether one would want to get pregnant in the future. One of the most popular treatment options is referred to as local treatment where the treatment is done without affecting the rest of the body. Local treatments may include the following: 1. Surgery Surgery is one of the prominent and initial treatments for ovarian cancer if the person is medically fit. If they are not fit for surgery, they will be treated with chemotherapy and will later be considered for surgery. The main aim of surgery is to see how far the cancer has spread and to remove all the possible visible tumors. The surgery is undertaken for removing both ovaries and the womb or removing the affected ovary and fallopian tube or removing the uterus. 2. Radiation therapy It is a procedure that carefully uses directed high-energy rays that are used to kill the remaining cancer cells in the pelvic area and prevent them from further growth. Radiation therapy is either done externally or internally.

Ovarian cancer is the most common type of cancer in women. According to statistics, it affects women of varied age groups and lifestyles. Although the causes are ambiguous, advanced medical studies have formulated its probable risk factors. Chemotherapy is a widely used treatment in ovarian cancer. It is believed to be a systemic approach to dealing with this type of cancer. Chemo is a therapy with the administration of drugs to cure cancer. This particular type of treatment may be advised before or after the actual surgery, depending on the extent and size of cancer. Here are some particulars concerning chemo for ovarian cancer treatment: 1. Chemotherapy for ovarian cancer treatment Chemo refers to the standard oral medicines that destroy cancerous cells in any part of the body, as they enter the bloodstream and reach every minuscule location in our system. Hence, it can be used either before or after the surgical procedures. Primarily, it is a routine practice to understand and estimate the type of cancer first. 2. When chemo is used Chemotherapy is a common type of ovarian cancer treatment that may be administered for two different conditions. Firstly, in case the cancer is found to have penetrated to other areas in tiny proportions.

Parkinson’s disease is a degenerative nervous system disorder where the neurons that produce dopamine in the substantia nigra of the brain are affected. Dopamine helps in maintaining smooth and coordinated body movements. So, when the production of dopamine is affected, it results in abnormal functioning of the nerves, thereby losing the ability to control body movements. It is a progressive disease wherein the motor abilities are slowly stripped away resulting in tremors, lack of balance, stiffness in the limbs, and slow gait. Experiencing tremors is one of the common symptoms of Parkinson’s, however it can also be caused by dyskinesia: Tremors with Parkinson’s: Usually your fingers or hand may start shaking in rhythmic oscillations, when at rest. Tremors improve as soon as you start moving your muscles. Dyskinesia: is an involuntary, disorderly movement that is not controllable and occurs on one side of the body in general. Dyskinesia occurs in the later stages of Parkinson’s, as a side effect of the drug levodopa, which is used to treat the disease. 1. Tremors vs. dyskinesia Tremors and dyskinesia are two types of involuntary movements that are uncontrollable, but they have unique causes and result in different kinds of movement. It is important to make the right diagnosis and differentiate between the two as it can alter treatment decisions profoundly.

Peptic ulcer refers to open sores that are formed in the lining of the stomach and the upper part of the duodenum, which is the first part of the small intestine. Peptic ulcer sores are very painful and cause a great deal of discomfort. In severe cases, they cause internal bleeding inside the stomach lining and result in vomiting blood or passing blood through stools. They are usually caused either by the bacteria H. Pylori or the damage occurs in the stomach lining. This is typically due to prolonged usage of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). If you are suffering from any of the symptoms of peptic ulcers and none of the home remedies or over-the-counter antacids or acid blockers are working, then you need to go to a doctor to get diagnosed and treated properly. There are several tests that a doctor may use to diagnose peptic ulcer: 1. Endoscopy test A scope will be used to examine and look at your upper digestive system to see if there are any open sores in the lining. The scope which is a hollow tube with a lens is inserted through your mouth, down your throat and goes down into your stomach and then into your small intestine.

Clinical research and studies have revealed genetic inheritance as a risk factor of prostate cancer. The molecular genetics of the disease has been analyzed and further research has given rise to understanding inherited pathogenic anomalies better. The inference is based on extended family members who had the variant pathogens, where the risk factors of prostate cancer became a high probability. Prostate cancer is one of the most rampant cancers that affect men. Although it may not be fatal in a majority, it may be chronic or life-threatening if undetected. Furthermore, it may, in certain cases, metastasize to other connected parts and grow in intensity. Hence, active investigations of the portrait of the genetic arrangements of prostate cancer and risk factors are closely investigated. Prostate cancer risk factors may include: 1. Family history and ethnicity Prostate cancer risk factors increase in family history and race. The reason for this is still unclear. Whether it is one’s diet, stress, or lifestyle that results in its high risk associated with particular races is still under scrutiny. For example, although different ethnicities live in the country, prostate cancer risk factors are substantially steep in African-American men specifically. The probability may rise higher if other family members, including extended family, has had an episode of certain types of cancer like ovarian, colon, breast, or pancreatic cancer.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension is different from regular hypertension such that this particular condition is quite severe and life-threatening in nature. Getting a diagnosis is quite tricky in the initial stages because the symptoms don’t really manifest themselves in the beginning phase. In case one is experiencing any form of shortness of breath, then consulting a doctor is a good first step to getting the diagnosis cleared. Some of the basic questions that a medical practitioner may ask in the initial stages are as follows: Do you have the habit of smoking? Is there any family history of lung or heart diseases? Do you remember when your symptoms started? Is there any factor that is aggravating or easing your symptoms in particular? Do you experience the symptoms continuously or do they appear in some instances? Based on how one answers these questions and based on any red flags that the doctor finds, there will be a round of diagnostic tests that will be needed to confirm pulmonary arterial hypertension. Some of these common diagnostic tests for pulmonary arterial hypertension include the following: 1. Echocardiogram The blood pressure in the pulmonary arteries is checked by taking an ultrasound picture of the heart by recording its beating.

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC), also referred to as renal or kidney cancer is the most prevalent kidney cancer found in adults. There are many risk factors that can increase the chance of developing renal cancer, but it is still unclear as to how some of these risk factors can be the cause of cancer in kidney cells. Let’s take a look at some of these risk factors that might be responsible for causing renal cancer: 1. Mutations or changes in genes The changes that occur in the DNA inside our cells are basically how cancer is caused. The chemical in our cells that makes up our genes is known as DNA. The DNA that we inherit from both our parents affects more than just how we look. There are some genes that help control our cells when they grow, divide to become new cells, and then die. But there are certain cells called oncogenes that help cells grow, divide into new cells, and stay alive. Tumor suppressor genes are genes that help keep cell division under control or cause cells to die at the right time. Cancers can be caused by DNA mutations or changes that turn on oncogenes or turn off tumor suppressor genes, thereby resulting in cells growing out of control.