2024

Lung cancer stands as a leading cause of cancer-related deaths globally, characterized by high mortality rates due to frequent late-stage detection, as early phases are often asymptomatic. This article offers an in-depth analysis of lung cancer, covering its development, main risk factors—such as smoking, environmental pollutants, genetic predisposition, and pre-existing lung conditions—and examining its prevalence both worldwide and within India, where rising tobacco use and pollution contribute to increasing cases. It distinguishes between the two primary types, Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) and Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC), and describes their progression stages. The article also explores current treatment options, including surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy, while offering self-care strategies for patients. Emphasizing prevention, early detection, and lifestyle adjustments, the piece encourages proactive risk management to mitigate the global impact of lung cancer and improve patient outcomes.

The blog “A Deeper Dive into Understanding Breast Cancer” explains the disease’s development, risk factors, and treatment options. Breast cancer begins in the milk ducts or lobules and can spread if untreated, becoming life-threatening. Risk factors include genetic mutations (like BRCA1/BRCA2), hormonal influences, and lifestyle choices such as obesity and alcohol consumption.
Globally, breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, with rising rates, especially in India. Early detection through screening and genetic testing is key to improving survival rates. The article also describes various breast cancer types and stages, highlighting that treatment options include surgery, chemotherapy, and hormonal or targeted therapies. Lastly, it emphasizes prevention through regular self-exams, a healthy lifestyle, and awareness campaigns to encourage early diagnosis.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a crucial technique for disease diagnosis and treatment, with gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs) being useful and safe in some cases. GBCAs are pharmaceuticals that enhance diagnostic image information by altering tissue properties, influencing contrast mechanisms. They are used in MRI to study proton (1H) relaxation processes in water and soft tissues in biological systems. GBCAs are administered intravenously and distributed throughout the body, with most being eliminated within hours. They shorten the T1 and T2 relaxation times of water molecules, resulting in brighter signals on T1-weighted images and darker signals on T2-weighted images. When administered at relatively low doses in individuals with normal renal function, all GBCAs approved for clinical use have a broad safety margin. Understanding an agent’s relaxivity, concentration, and chelate stability is important for radiologists as these properties impact patient safety and the effectiveness of diagnosis. This blog summarizes an overview of Gadolinium based contrast agents usage in the diagnostic MRI imaging.