“Every six minutes there is a new diagnosis of PD, which means that in April alone nearly 7,200 people in this country will learn they have PD. These people need to know that they are not alone, and that APDA is here for them,” states Leslie A. Chambers, President and CEO, APDA.

The American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA) is a nationwide grassroots network dedicated to fighting Parkinson’s disease (PD) and works tirelessly to assist the more than one million people with PD in the United States live life to the fullest in the face of this chronic, neurological disorder. Founded in 1961, APDA has raised and invested more than $252 million to provide outstanding patient services and educational programs, elevate public awareness about the disease, and support research designed to unlock the mysteries of PD and end this disease.”

American Parkinson Disease Foundation

(https://www.apdaparkinson.org/article/american-parkinson-disease-association-to-celebrate-the-power-of-a-supportive-community-during-parkinsons-disease-awareness-month/)

“Parkinson’s Awareness Month is the perfect time to brush up on your Parkinson’s facts. Here are 5 fast facts about PD:

1. Nearly 90,000 people in the U.S. are diagnosed with Parkinson’s each year.
2. Scientists believe a combination of environmental and genetic factors cause PD.
3. People with Parkinson’s experience both movement and non-movement related symptoms.
4. Symptoms can be managed through treatments like medications, lifestyle changes, exercise and in some cases, surgery.
5. Early-onset Parkinson’s disease occurs in people younger than 50 years of age.”

Parkinson’s Foundation (Parkinson’s Awareness Month | Parkinson’s Foundation)

“A risk factor is anything that increases your chance of getting a disease such as cancer. Different cancers have different risk factors. For example, exposing skin to strong sunlight is a risk factor for skin cancer. Smoking is a risk factor for many cancers. But having a risk factor, or even several, does not mean that you will get the disease.

Several risk factors can increase your chance of developing cervical cancer. People without any of these risk factors rarely develop cervical cancer. Although these risk factors can increase the odds of developing cervical cancer, many with these risks do not develop this disease.

When you think about risk factors, it helps to focus on those you can change or avoid (like smoking or human papillomavirus infection), rather than those you cannot (such as your age and family history). However, it is still important to know about risk factors that cannot be changed, because it’s even more important for those who have these factors to get regular screening tests to find cervical cancer early.”

American Cancer Society (Cervical Cancer Risk Factors | Risk Factors for Cervical Cancer | American Cancer Society)

Cervical cancer risk factors

GENERAL

• Pregnancy: Women who have had three or more full-term pregnancies, or who had their first full-term pregnancy before age 17, are twice as likely to get cervical cancer.

GENETICS

• Family history: Women with a sister or mother who had cervical cancer are two to three times more likely to develop cervical cancer.

LIFESTYLE

• Sexual history: Certain types of sexual behavior are considered risk factors for cervical cancer and HPV infection. These include: sex before age 18, sex with multiple partners and sex with someone who has had multiple partners. Studies also show a link between chlamydia infection and cervical cancer.
• Smoking: A woman who smokes doubles her risk of cervical cancer.
• Oral contraceptive use: Women who take oral contraceptives for more than five years have an increased risk of cervical cancer, but this risk returns to normal within a few years after the pills are stopped.

OTHER CONDITIONS

• Weakened immune system: In most people with healthy immune systems, the HPV virus clears itself from the body within 12-18 months. However, people with HIV or other health conditions or who take medications that limit the body’s ability to fight off infection have a higher risk of developing cervical cancer.
• Diethylstilbestrol (DES): Women whose mothers took DES, a drug given to some women to prevent miscarriage between 1940 and 1971, have a higher risk of developing cervical cancer.
• HPV: Though HPV causes cancer, having HPV does not mean you will get cancer. The majority of women who contract HPV clear the virus or have treatment so the abnormal cells are removed. HPV is a skin infection, spread through skin-to-skin contact with a person who has the virus.

Additional facts about HPV:

• There are more than 100 types of HPV, 30-40 of which are sexually transmitted.
• Of these, at least 15 are high-risk HPV strains that can cause cervical cancer. The others cause no symptoms or genital warts.
• Up to 80 percent of women will contract HPV in their lifetime. Men get HPV, too, but there is no test for them.
• A healthy immune system will usually clear the HPV virus before there is a symptom, including the high-risk types of HPV.
• Only a small percentage of women with high-risk HPV develop cervical cancer.

Understanding risk factors:

Anything that increases your risk of getting a disease is called a risk factor. Having a risk factor does not mean that you will get cancer. Not having risk factors doesn’t mean that you will not get cancer. If you think you may be at risk, you should discuss it with your doctor.

Regarding symptoms of cervical cancer:

In most cases, cervical cancer does not cause noticeable symptoms in the early stages of the disease. Routine Pap screening is important to check for abnormal cells in the cervix, so they can be monitored and treated as early as possible. Most women are advised to get a Pap test starting at age 21.

The Pap test is one of the most reliable and effective cancer screening methods available, and women should have yearly exams by an OB-GYN. However, the Pap test may not detect some cases of abnormal cells in the cervix. The HPV test screens women for the high-risk HPV strains that may lead to cervical cancer. It is approved for women over age 30.

Although screening methods are not 100 percent accurate, these tests are often an effective method for detecting cervical cancer in the early stages when it is still highly treatable. Talk with your doctor about which type of cervical cancer screening is right for you.

When present, common symptoms of cervical cancer may include:

• Vaginal bleeding: This includes bleeding between periods, after sexual intercourse or post-menopausal bleeding.
• Unusual vaginal discharge: A watery, pink or foul-smelling discharge is common.
• Pelvic pain: Pain during intercourse or at other times may be a sign of abnormal changes to the cervix, or less serious conditions.

All of these cervical cancer symptoms should be discussed with your doctor.

Signs of advanced stages of cervical cancer:

Cervical cancer may spread (metastasize) within the pelvis, to the lymph nodes or elsewhere in the body. Signs of advanced cervical cancer include:

• Weight loss
• Fatigue
• Back pain
• Leg pain or swelling
• Leakage of urine or feces from the vagina
• Bone fractures

“Stress makes it hard for us to relax and can come with a range of emotions, including anxiety and irritability. When stressed, we may find it difficult to concentrate. We may experience headaches or other body pains, an upset stomach or trouble sleeping.

Everyone reacts differently to stressful situations. Coping styles and symptoms of stress vary from person to person. ​​Doing what matters in times of stress – aims to equip people with practical skills to cope with stress.”

WHO-World Health Organization (Stress)

“

“Stress is the natural reaction your body has when changes or challenges occur. It can result in many different physical, emotional and behavioral responses. Everyone experiences stress from time to time. You can’t avoid it.

Stress is a natural human reaction that happens to everyone. In fact, your body is designed to experience stress and react to it. When you experience changes or challenges (stressors), your body produces physical and mental responses. That’s stress.

Stress responses help your body adjust to new situations. Stress can be positive — keeping you alert, motivated and ready to avoid danger. For example, if you have an important test coming up, a stress response might help your body work harder and stay awake longer. But stress becomes a problem when stressors continue without relief or periods of relaxation.”

Cleveland Clinic (Stress: What It Is, Symptoms, Management & Prevention)

“Obesity is a disease in which a person has an unhealthy amount and/or distribution of body fat (1). Compared with people of healthy weight, those with overweight or obesity are at greater risk for many diseases, including diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, stroke, and at least 13 types of cancer, as well as having an elevated risk of death from all causes (2–5).”

NIH National Cancer Institute

Obesity and Cancer Fact Sheet – NCI

“AT/RTs occur in both children and adults and are very rare in both age groups. Most patients are younger than two years of age at diagnosis. An estimated 470 people are living with this tumor in the United States and only 50 are adults. AT/RTs occur slightly more often in males than females.”

NIH National Cancer Institute (Atypical Teratoid/Rhabdoid Tumors (AT/RT): Diagnosis and Treatment – NCI)

AT/RT is a primary central nervous system (CNS) tumor. This means it begins in the brain or spinal cord.

To get an accurate diagnosis, a piece of tumor tissue will be removed during surgery, if possible. A neuropathologist should then review the tumor tissue.

Central nervous system (CNS) atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor (AT/RT) is a very rare, fast-growing cancer that begins in the brain and spinal cord. It usually occurs in children aged 3 years and younger, although it can occur in older children and adults.

About half of these tumors form in the cerebellum or brain stem. The cerebellum is the part of the brain that controls movement, balance, and posture. The brain stem controls numerous functions breathing, heart rate, and the nerves and muscles used in seeing, hearing, walking, talking, and eating. AT/RT can also begin in other parts of the brain and spinal cord.

Certain genetic changes may increase the risk of AT/RT.

A risk factor is anything that increases the chance of getting a disease. Not every child with one or more of these risk factors will develop AT/RT. And it will develop in some children who don’t have a known risk factor.

AT/RT may be linked to changes in the tumor suppressor genes SMARCB1 or SMARCA4. Tumor suppressor genes make a protein that helps control how and when cells grow. Changes in the DNA of tumor suppressor genes like SMARCB1 or SMARCA4 may lead to cancer.

The changes in the SMARCB1 or SMARCA4 genes may be inherited (passed on from parents to offspring). When this gene change is inherited, tumors may form in two parts of the body at the same time (for example, in the brain and the kidney). For children with AT/RT, genetic counseling (a discussion with a trained professional about inherited diseases and a possible need for gene testing) may be recommended.

Most AT/RTs are caused by changes in a gene known as SMARCB1 (also called INI1), and less frequently by mutations in a gene called SMARCA4. SMARCB1 normally signals proteins to stop tumor growth. But, in AT/RTs, SMARCB1 doesn’t function properly and tumor growth is uncontrolled. In addition to occurring in the tumor’s DNA, SMARCB1 and SMARCA4 can also be found in a person’s own DNA. There are three groups of AT/RTs based on their genetic alterations: AT/RT-TYR, AT/RT-SHH, and AT/RT-MYC. Each group tends to develop in a different location of the CNS and is more common in different age groups. AT/RT-MYC is the most frequent group in adults.

Talk with your child’s doctor if you think your child may be at risk.

Cancer is a genetic disease—that is, it is caused by certain changes to genes that control the way our cells function. Genes may be mutated (changed) in many types of cancer, which can increase the growth and spread of cancer cells.

The Grades of the tumors:

Primary CNS tumors are graded based on the tumor location, tumor type, extent of tumor spread, genetic findings, the patient’s age, and tumor remaining after surgery, if surgery is possible.

AT/RTs are all classified as grade 4 (also written as grade IV) tumors. This means they are malignant (cancerous) and fast-growing.

The symptoms of AT/RT aren’t the same in each patient.

Symptoms depend on 2 major factors:

Because AT/RT is fast growing, symptoms may develop quickly and get worse over a period of days or weeks. It’s important to check with your child’s doctor if your child has:

These symptoms may be caused by problems other than AT/RT. The only way to know is to see your child’s doctor.

The prognosis of this disease:

The likely outcome of the disease or chance of recovery is called prognosis. Prognosis is based on the tumor grade, location, tumor type, extent of tumor spread, genetic findings, patient’s age, and tumor remaining after surgery (if surgery is possible).

Many factors can affect prognosis, including the tumor grade and molecular type, the person’s age and health when diagnosed, and how they respond to treatment. If you want to understand your prognosis, talk to your doctor.

The Treatment of  Teratoid/Rhabdoid Tumors (AT/RT):

The first treatment for an AT/RT is surgery, if possible. The goal of surgery is to obtain tissue to determine the tumor type and remove as much tumor as possible without causing more symptoms.

People with AT/RTs usually receive further treatments after surgery, which may include radiation, chemotherapy, or clinical trials. Clinical trials test new chemotherapy, targeted therapy, or immunotherapy drugs. Treatments are decided by the patient’s health care team based on the patient’s age, tumor remaining after surgery, tumor type, and tumor location.

“Heavy alcohol use causes numerous diseases that affect the brain, nerves, muscle tissue, heart, stomach, liver, pancreas and other organs. Consuming the substance is a risk factor for several cancers, and it’s associated with psychological disorders.

It doesn’t take long to recover from drinking. A person can take a quick nap to relieve the effects of a few beers. The worst hangovers usually subside in a day. But each drink makes a small amount of hidden damage inside the body. Years of heavy drinking can result in a plethora of long-term illnesses.

Nearly every part of the body is affected by alcohol. When a person drinks, alcohol heads to the stomach, where some of it is absorbed. The liver processes the liquid. Alcohol moves through the brain, the heart and the kidneys. Alcohol in the blood passes through the lungs.

Each part of the body experiences short- and long-term effects of alcohol. Your organs recover from the short-term side effects in hours or days, but they don’t recover from the long-term effects. That damage gets worse each time a person drinks. The risks of permanent damage are increased when a person is mixing drugs and alcohol.

In most people, the liver takes the most damage. Alcoholics are known for liver problems, and several liver diseases are caused solely by long-term alcohol abuse.”

DrugRehab.com

Alcohol-Related Diseases (Liver, Heart & Brain Damage)