Are You Eating Cancer?

        Most experts  say that  cancer  occurs  due to poor dietary habits. This means that people prone to eating without consideration of its kind or contents are prone to having cancer. About 35% or a quarter of the total number of cancer mortality cases has been associated to poor diet as the primary cause. Furthermore, researches say high fat diet has increased the risk to cancer.

       Fat intake is highly  related to emergence of cancer.  Low Density Lipid  (LDL) is needed for a cancer cell to grow. While one is enjoying a high fat diet from fast food, for example, there is an increase production of bile which is necessary in the digestion of fat. The over production of bile will cause congestion in the large intestine that could be converted to a Apcholic Acid,  a proven carcinogen. Without one knowing, the higher they are inclined to such comfort foods, the higher their risk of having cancer.

       Therefore, it is just right to think twice on being smart in choosing our diet. Meals taken should be well planned and balanced in terms of nutrition. Now there are some thoughts to ponder when planning what to eat.

      Good Fat versus Bad Fat.  Too much of everything is not good. A principle applying on our choice of food. Fat is also an essential component but  should be taken in moderation. Good fats include oils that can be found in fish, seafood, and legumes. These types of oil are proven to decrease the risk of having a cancer especially on women who are at risk for breast cancer. 

      Keeping Fiber Alive. High fiber diet guarantees effective elimination. With effective elimination, carcinogens has less contact with the intestinal wall which then lessens the risk for developing cancer. Fiber enables the  growth of good bacteria in the intestines inhibiting growth of carcinogens in the intestine.

     Strength of Antioxidants. It is necessary to ensure that the immune system is always healthy. One of the most effective way of boosting the immune system is eating foods rich in antioxidants. They will  serve as buffer that prevents harmful radicals from destroying healthy cells. Antioxidants will convert these harmful radical into a waste products which will be eliminated in the body.

      It is best to plan diet with your physician if you have been diagnosed to have cancer.We are what we eat so we should plan it well. A cancer-free life is a life lived well.

Say Goodbye to Surgical Scrubbing

       Surgical scrubbing means  doing a systematic routine of washing hands and arms following specific number of strokes. It involves lathering, soaking, and brushing one hand and arm and then the other. My students always do that before they start preparing the sterile field for the surgery. I remember doing that and counting the strokes in my mind at the same time.

       But when I when I went to duty last Monday, I noticed that the scrubbing area did not have that canister that contained the surgical scrub brushes. I looked for it but all the 3 scrubbing areas did not have that canister. I even thought that the staff of the previous shift did not just have the time to prepare it.

       Then, I was told that we were not using that anymore. There will be no surgical scrubbing done anymore in this hospital. Instead, a surgical handwashing solution replaces the surgical scrubbing procedure. All we need to do is wash our hands and our arms thoroughly with this solution and then we are already sterile enough to start wearing our surgical gown and gloves.

      
      Then I learned that hospitals from other countries also followed the same method. I was told that there are researches conducted which stated that surgical scrubbing breaks the integrity of the skin and predisposes us to infection. I will have to research on that to learn more.

       So, there will no be surgical scrubbing in this health facility. But still, the principle of Asepsis will be strictly followed.

Watching my Niece Grow.. A G6PD Baby.

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My cousin told me her baby was diagnosed with Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency  or G6PD deficiency.. It's a rare inherited condition where the body does not have enough glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase. This helps the red blood cells (RBC) of the body to function well.

My niece got  this deficiency from her mother or her father. This is hereditary which is passed as along in genes of either one or both parents to their child. But the gene responsible is accounted on the X chromosome as it is a  X-linked recessive hereditary disease.

This condition means that the RBC's of my niece have no much protection and can easily be damaged. This is the main function of G6PD. The bones marrow attempts to compensate the reduction of RBC's and when it fails, hemolytic anemia occurs as response also to other causes such as infections, food, medicines or chemicals.

My friend and I talked that the most important thing to do is to avoid anything that will cause destruction of the RBCs or hemolysis. In the event that the child may have attacks, blood transfusion may be necessary. But we will not let that happen as we will always see to it that the child will be protected from attacks. We will be keen with the breathing pattern of child as decrease in RBCs mean changes in breathing. If the child seem weak suddenly, we will have to make sure that she conserves her energy by letting her rest.

Prevention is the best tool that we have. The G6PD deficiency my niece had will be one reality we will accept.  But this is something that we can learn much  to make sure she enjoys her childhood like the rest of other kids will.