The primary responsibility of journalism is to present facts with social significance as it is. There is hardly any reason for journalists to express their personal opinion on issues or facts. Forming a judgment or an opinion or idea based on a journalistic report is the readers' prerogative. On the other hand, journalists are the narrators of facts or reality, not campaigners for upholding or promoting an idea or opinion. Apart from describing or narrating what stands in the open, journalists need also to dig deep so as to look into the roots; inviting the readers to have a look at it with them: Journalism becomes meaningful when it tells us the stories that are hidden behind what we all can see. Journalists should and must not give undue importance to sensational news that do not have much significance in the lives of the readers and the audience alike; this sort of practice primarily comes from the desire to attract attention of the latter, which, more often than not, overshadows the primary journalistic responsibility of presenting socially significant facts that concern the readers and the audience in one way or the other.
It's only, and only, the readers and the viewers who are the 'jury and the judges'; journalists should and must let them pass their judgment on various issues, - it's their responsibility, while a journalist's responsibility is to provide the readers with enough information for them to form correct judgment on various issues and themes. Sometimes journalists strive to influence public opinion in favor of a particular side of an issue; this is potentially a fatal practice, especially if the side the media takes is the wrong one, and the public opinion has actually tilted in favor of that particular side in consequence of such role on the part of the media. Setting heinous crimes such as rape and murder themselves as socially significant issues without giving undue (and almost indecent and inappropriate) importance to social identity of individuals against whom these crimes have been committed is one of the fundamental prerogative of the journalist.
So much so that when a girl is raped and murdered; the news should be expected to be on the front page, better still if it comes out as the 'lead news' of the day regardless whether the victim is a poor girl from a street corner or an actress, a celebrity, or a girl from a rich or upper-middle class family. This approach makes room for treating news involving the same crime on equal footing regardless the social identity of the victims in each case, and goes a long way in forming public opinion against heinous crimes. It might be the case that in a society crime news, such as news of rape and murder, have not been given due treatment and importance for a fairly long period of time, as if they are not very serious issues. This would ultimately result in the general tendency of taking heinous crimes like rape and murder lightly in that society.
A very small and 'carelessly written' news of a murder or rape of a girl from among the common folks on the back-page or at the remote corner of an inside-page of a newspaper makes murder or rape look like nothing much or even less than that. Proper understanding of which type of news is socially more important than the other (types) and the capability for grading news items according to their social significance or possible and probable social impact is the hallmark of true journalism.
The social significance of a news item that does not profit us in the least (although, it might make us amused or sad in an indifferent way) is far less than that of a news item that makes us feel very worried about our personal safety. This is so, because this type of news also makes us mindful of our personal safety and security. Sugar-coating the bitter-truth and hard-realities results in the distortion of the facts. Most of us fear the truth, because we deem it as 'too terrifying' and 'too unbearable' to know or utter, - something that is better hidden than revealed. However, the fundamental responsibility of a journalist is to reveal the facts in all their aspects and truthfulness; exposing, in the process, the 'hard and harsh' reality.
Sunday, 12 August 2018
Tuesday, 3 July 2018
Food and Breast Cancer
Food or diet cannot cure breast cancer. But there are some foods which can make your body healthier and boost your immune system to fight the risk of this type of cancer. But if we count only food to fight breast cancer then it will be an utter mistake. Your whole lifestyle is linked to the possibility of having this type of cancer. To reduce the chances of breast cancer women should maintain proper healthy weight. If a woman is overweight she must be given proper guidelines to keep and maintain good weight. Overweight women should seek the help of expert physicians for this issue.
Regular physical activities and maintaining healthy eating habit will be helpful. Fruits, vegetables, sufficient water and reducing calories, junk foods, and fried foods will help prevent breast cancer risk. Food keeps important role in dealing with cancer. When you are about to take your meal, you should try to be cautious and patient about it. Instead of taking two cookies take one! Consider eating lots of vegetables. Fiber foods are very beneficial because they have the potentials of fighting cancer in the body. Eat salads as it's good for all of us. For breast cancer protection, you can include all cruciferous vegetables (cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, brussels, sprouts); dark leafy greens (kale, collards, spinach); tomatoes and carrots. One more important thing is taking sufficient amount of sleep. Scientists found that insufficient sleep or less sleep, more sleep can overweight people. But sufficient six-hour sleep is mandatory for all of us.
Drink water and avoid hard drinks, wine, and even soft drinks, instead of these drinks take fruit juices. Avoid taking too much sugar. Drinking alcohol is the most well established risk factor for breast cancer, and it is proved. The Harvard Nurses' Health study, with many others, has recently shown that taking more than one alcoholic drink a day can raise breast cancer risk by 20-25 percent. Alcohol does not have impact only on breast cancer but it is responsible for immature death and early aging. You should give your stomach a little rest. You should fast two to three hours after taking a big meal; this will boost your immune system and help working your stomach well. Don't just grab and eat. We need to avoid this tendency. Be patient while eating, and always be careful. Do not eat while you are walking. Eat patiently and focus on your eating.
Regular physical activities and maintaining healthy eating habit will be helpful. Fruits, vegetables, sufficient water and reducing calories, junk foods, and fried foods will help prevent breast cancer risk. Food keeps important role in dealing with cancer. When you are about to take your meal, you should try to be cautious and patient about it. Instead of taking two cookies take one! Consider eating lots of vegetables. Fiber foods are very beneficial because they have the potentials of fighting cancer in the body. Eat salads as it's good for all of us. For breast cancer protection, you can include all cruciferous vegetables (cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, brussels, sprouts); dark leafy greens (kale, collards, spinach); tomatoes and carrots. One more important thing is taking sufficient amount of sleep. Scientists found that insufficient sleep or less sleep, more sleep can overweight people. But sufficient six-hour sleep is mandatory for all of us.
Drink water and avoid hard drinks, wine, and even soft drinks, instead of these drinks take fruit juices. Avoid taking too much sugar. Drinking alcohol is the most well established risk factor for breast cancer, and it is proved. The Harvard Nurses' Health study, with many others, has recently shown that taking more than one alcoholic drink a day can raise breast cancer risk by 20-25 percent. Alcohol does not have impact only on breast cancer but it is responsible for immature death and early aging. You should give your stomach a little rest. You should fast two to three hours after taking a big meal; this will boost your immune system and help working your stomach well. Don't just grab and eat. We need to avoid this tendency. Be patient while eating, and always be careful. Do not eat while you are walking. Eat patiently and focus on your eating.
Understanding the Mechanisms of Breast Cancer
What Is Breast Cancer? Breast cancer is a malignancy of the breast tissues that is usually identified as a small extra mass or lump in the breast in the beginning. If left undetected for some time, it can spread to other parts of the body including the surrounding lymph nodes. Most of the cancer of breasts occur in women, but men can get it too in some cases. What Causes Breast Cancer and How Does it Spread? A lot of research has been done to understand the mechanisms and pathogenesis of breast cancer. It is, however, difficult to predict who will develop it as scientists do not still know the exact causes of breast cancer fully.
There are, however, several risk factors that may put a person at higher risk than others. These include a personal history of breast cancer, family history, age, gender, previous radiation therapy, hormone therapies, and excessive alcohol drinking. A recent study published in 'Cancer Cell International' Journal found that pepsinogen C (PGC) that belongs to aspartic protease family and is secreted by gastric chief cells is linked to cancer development. Another report published in BMC suggests that penetration of the mammary gland basement membrane by cancer cells is an important step in the progression of the tumor from the mammary glands to other surrounding tissues.
These findings also indicate that peptidylarginine deiminase 2 (PAD2) plays a crucial role in cancer cell transfer and movement. A research on a mouse model of ductal carcinoma in situ shows that inhibition of peptidylarginine deiminase 2 activity can maintain basement membrane integrity in xenograft tumors. PAD2 depletion or inhibition can suppress cell migration and alter the morphology of cells and can serve as a potential treatment option in future. How to Prevent Breast Cancer? We can little do to prevent cancer since we do not know the exact cause. However, in view of the recent findings and the knowledge of probable causes of the cancer, researchers have come up with a list of things that can benefit toward a cancer-free life. Pomegranate is a nutrient-rich unique fruit that has been used for centuries for the prevention and treatment of various inflammation-driven diseases. This has been proved through certain studies published in reputed journals of nutrition. A few studies suggest an inverse relationship between vitamin D levels and breast density.
As breast density is considered a risk factor for breast cancer, monitoring your vitamin D levels can offer a starting point as a prevention strategy. Some studies reinforce the assumption that higher levels of 25(OH)D pre-menopause and vitamin D are associated with lower breast density. Screening is an established approach to keep a track of what is going on in your body. Doctors recommend a regular screening after every three years after the age of 40. If you are a higher-risk individual, it may be recommended to start the screening even earlier and more often. Keeping your weight under control, nutritious diet intake, and limiting alcohol consumption are other elements of your cancer prevention strategy.
There are, however, several risk factors that may put a person at higher risk than others. These include a personal history of breast cancer, family history, age, gender, previous radiation therapy, hormone therapies, and excessive alcohol drinking. A recent study published in 'Cancer Cell International' Journal found that pepsinogen C (PGC) that belongs to aspartic protease family and is secreted by gastric chief cells is linked to cancer development. Another report published in BMC suggests that penetration of the mammary gland basement membrane by cancer cells is an important step in the progression of the tumor from the mammary glands to other surrounding tissues.
These findings also indicate that peptidylarginine deiminase 2 (PAD2) plays a crucial role in cancer cell transfer and movement. A research on a mouse model of ductal carcinoma in situ shows that inhibition of peptidylarginine deiminase 2 activity can maintain basement membrane integrity in xenograft tumors. PAD2 depletion or inhibition can suppress cell migration and alter the morphology of cells and can serve as a potential treatment option in future. How to Prevent Breast Cancer? We can little do to prevent cancer since we do not know the exact cause. However, in view of the recent findings and the knowledge of probable causes of the cancer, researchers have come up with a list of things that can benefit toward a cancer-free life. Pomegranate is a nutrient-rich unique fruit that has been used for centuries for the prevention and treatment of various inflammation-driven diseases. This has been proved through certain studies published in reputed journals of nutrition. A few studies suggest an inverse relationship between vitamin D levels and breast density.
As breast density is considered a risk factor for breast cancer, monitoring your vitamin D levels can offer a starting point as a prevention strategy. Some studies reinforce the assumption that higher levels of 25(OH)D pre-menopause and vitamin D are associated with lower breast density. Screening is an established approach to keep a track of what is going on in your body. Doctors recommend a regular screening after every three years after the age of 40. If you are a higher-risk individual, it may be recommended to start the screening even earlier and more often. Keeping your weight under control, nutritious diet intake, and limiting alcohol consumption are other elements of your cancer prevention strategy.
The Future Of Genetic Cancer Screening
Cancer is the second-driving cause for death in the United States. In 2015, cancer ended the lives of 595,930 individuals, equaling 22% of all passing's in the United States, as indicated by the CDC. This number keeps on rising, and it was assessed that before 2017 is over, cancer will have taken more than 600,000 lives last year. According to the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, in 2014 $87.8 billion was spent in the U.S. related to health care provided services stemming from cancer. Genetic screenings are accessible to help patients fight the war against the disease. Early detection of cancer helps to assign the proper treatment and heighten survival rates. Early disease testing is accessible for various kinds of malignancies. Genetic testing for predisposition and early detection have positively adjusted the survival rates from various types of cancer growths by up to 35%, as per the National Institutes of Health. Genetic cancer screenings offer multiple positive outcomes, as in, increased survival rates as well as possibly lowering health care costs for both patients and providers. What Is Genetic Screening? Genetic testing is a type of medical screening that identifies changes in genes, chromosomes, or proteins.
The finding that are discovered during a genetic test can affirm or rule out a suspected genetic condition or help ascertain a person's chance of developing or passing on a genetic disorder. There are more than 1,000 genetic tests currently in use. Enhancing Outcomes The essential objective is distinguishing proof of the highest risk cancer populations and early growth cancer screening of patients to decrease mortality. Proper early screening may modify mortality rates as well as offer a possibility for a prolonged and offer better quality of life for the patient. For instance, breast cancer is one of the main sources of death among women with a malignancy. Insights delivered by the National Cancer Institute have demonstrated that women who experienced a standard mammogram lessened the danger of death by 15% to 20%. Generally, screening consistence is low, implying that the quantity of people who ought to be tested for specific growths isn't ideal. For instance, in 2014 the CDC showed that only 65.7% of patients older than 50 had colon malignancy screenings, while 27.3% had been screened at all. Investigators at the University of Michigan found that at risk individuals that had a colon cancer screening could prevent 90% of a cancer diagnosis.
According to the CDC, 9 of 10 patients who discovered colon growth through normal screening were still alive 5 years after the initial diagnosis. Additionally, people with a malignancy that took part in counteractive action program, like, way of life adjustments and that stopped smoking, could receive reduced out of pocket costs and lower healthcare benefit premiums. In some instances, early detection and treatment before metastasis can positively alter treatment and results as well. New Genetic Screen Tests Are Coming Researchers at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, led another strategy for malignancy identification known as target error correction sequencing. It is utilized to recognize even the most reduced levels of circling tumor DNA, which is ordinarily discovered in those with early stage growths. In the examination, 200 samples were taken from people with colorectal, breast, ovarian, and lung cancer, which distinguished 62% of stage I and II tumors. What's also worth mentioning is that, no false positives were found in 44 healthy people who were tested. Different biomarkers have been recognized for a large group of growths, including breast, colorectal, lung, ovarian, and prostate.
In 2016, 15,000 patients with 50 unique kinds of tumors experienced liquid biopsy screening, yielding perceptible changes in 6 distinct sorts of biomarkers, for example, the epidermal development factor receptor communicated in late-arrange lung growths, and proto-oncogene B-Raf, which has been connected to an expanded occurrence of melanoma, with 94% to 100% specificity of comparative tissue biopsies. This could take into account potential focused on treatments intended for gene specific malignancies to be customized and treatment options for those not already qualified. Liquid biopsies could help decrease the danger of disease re-manifesting by finding circulating DNA after colon growth surgery.
In 2016, researchers found that by reviewing the metrics from tumor DNA from the blood of patients with stage II colon cancer they could predetermine which patients would be at a higher danger of a recurrence from any lingering residual circulating DNA from the tumor. The individuals who had circulating tumor DNA after surgery will probably endure a repeat diagnosis, individuals who then had genetic liquid biopsies after the cancer extraction would be better equipped to evaluate enhanced post operation treatments. A liquid biopsy then may be an affordable non invasive way to help recognize the individuals who could benefit from postoperative chemotherapy.
The finding that are discovered during a genetic test can affirm or rule out a suspected genetic condition or help ascertain a person's chance of developing or passing on a genetic disorder. There are more than 1,000 genetic tests currently in use. Enhancing Outcomes The essential objective is distinguishing proof of the highest risk cancer populations and early growth cancer screening of patients to decrease mortality. Proper early screening may modify mortality rates as well as offer a possibility for a prolonged and offer better quality of life for the patient. For instance, breast cancer is one of the main sources of death among women with a malignancy. Insights delivered by the National Cancer Institute have demonstrated that women who experienced a standard mammogram lessened the danger of death by 15% to 20%. Generally, screening consistence is low, implying that the quantity of people who ought to be tested for specific growths isn't ideal. For instance, in 2014 the CDC showed that only 65.7% of patients older than 50 had colon malignancy screenings, while 27.3% had been screened at all. Investigators at the University of Michigan found that at risk individuals that had a colon cancer screening could prevent 90% of a cancer diagnosis.
According to the CDC, 9 of 10 patients who discovered colon growth through normal screening were still alive 5 years after the initial diagnosis. Additionally, people with a malignancy that took part in counteractive action program, like, way of life adjustments and that stopped smoking, could receive reduced out of pocket costs and lower healthcare benefit premiums. In some instances, early detection and treatment before metastasis can positively alter treatment and results as well. New Genetic Screen Tests Are Coming Researchers at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, led another strategy for malignancy identification known as target error correction sequencing. It is utilized to recognize even the most reduced levels of circling tumor DNA, which is ordinarily discovered in those with early stage growths. In the examination, 200 samples were taken from people with colorectal, breast, ovarian, and lung cancer, which distinguished 62% of stage I and II tumors. What's also worth mentioning is that, no false positives were found in 44 healthy people who were tested. Different biomarkers have been recognized for a large group of growths, including breast, colorectal, lung, ovarian, and prostate.
In 2016, 15,000 patients with 50 unique kinds of tumors experienced liquid biopsy screening, yielding perceptible changes in 6 distinct sorts of biomarkers, for example, the epidermal development factor receptor communicated in late-arrange lung growths, and proto-oncogene B-Raf, which has been connected to an expanded occurrence of melanoma, with 94% to 100% specificity of comparative tissue biopsies. This could take into account potential focused on treatments intended for gene specific malignancies to be customized and treatment options for those not already qualified. Liquid biopsies could help decrease the danger of disease re-manifesting by finding circulating DNA after colon growth surgery.
In 2016, researchers found that by reviewing the metrics from tumor DNA from the blood of patients with stage II colon cancer they could predetermine which patients would be at a higher danger of a recurrence from any lingering residual circulating DNA from the tumor. The individuals who had circulating tumor DNA after surgery will probably endure a repeat diagnosis, individuals who then had genetic liquid biopsies after the cancer extraction would be better equipped to evaluate enhanced post operation treatments. A liquid biopsy then may be an affordable non invasive way to help recognize the individuals who could benefit from postoperative chemotherapy.
Know The Main Causes Of Breast Cancer
In today's time, we all are aware of the term breast cancer, which happens because of the uncontrollable growth of the cells in the breast. Women are more at the risk of it than the men. It is one of the most common cancer diagnosed in women and is mainly occurs in either the ducts or lobules of the breast. It is important for every woman to take some preventive measures to avoid such awful condition and for this, having a proper knowledge related to its root cause is a must. If you don't have it, scroll down to grab now. Causes: Although the main cause of breast cancer in women is not known yet. Still, there are some factors that increase your risk of getting affected by the disease such as: Aging: Hard to believe, but it is the truth that aging is one of the common factors.
When you start to age, your risk of getting affected by the disease also gets increased. Alcohol Consumption: Excessive drinking of alcohol also doubles your risk so, you should limit its quantity to avoid it. Dense Breast Tissue: Another reason that causes the condition is having the dense breast tissue. It may boost the growth of cells that further create the disease. Early Menstruation: Women who have their periods before the age of 12 are more at the risk of getting afflicted by the disorder than others. Late Child Birth Or Never Being Pregnant: Women who due to any reason have their very first child at an older age are more at the risk of getting the breast cancer.
Also, women who are not able to conceive easily get affected by it. Previous Or Family History: If you have breast cancer in one breast, so, you are more likely to have it on the other side too. Also, if anyone in your family had it before, so, this may also double your possibilities of breast cancer. These are a few reasons that increase your risk of getting the breast cancer. And if you are the one who has the condition, so, instead of suffering in silence, go and get the proper treatment that doubles your chances of getting recovered. There are different types of treatment available to heal the problem such as surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, hormonal or endocrine therapy, etc. Always go to the right breast cancer treatment as per your current condition.
When you start to age, your risk of getting affected by the disease also gets increased. Alcohol Consumption: Excessive drinking of alcohol also doubles your risk so, you should limit its quantity to avoid it. Dense Breast Tissue: Another reason that causes the condition is having the dense breast tissue. It may boost the growth of cells that further create the disease. Early Menstruation: Women who have their periods before the age of 12 are more at the risk of getting afflicted by the disorder than others. Late Child Birth Or Never Being Pregnant: Women who due to any reason have their very first child at an older age are more at the risk of getting the breast cancer.
Also, women who are not able to conceive easily get affected by it. Previous Or Family History: If you have breast cancer in one breast, so, you are more likely to have it on the other side too. Also, if anyone in your family had it before, so, this may also double your possibilities of breast cancer. These are a few reasons that increase your risk of getting the breast cancer. And if you are the one who has the condition, so, instead of suffering in silence, go and get the proper treatment that doubles your chances of getting recovered. There are different types of treatment available to heal the problem such as surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, hormonal or endocrine therapy, etc. Always go to the right breast cancer treatment as per your current condition.
Latest Advancement in Breast Cancer Treatment
The latest advanced therapies can be an alternative to traditional therapies for breast cancer patients. These therapies are Cryosurgical Ablation (CSA), Seed Knife Therapy (Brachytherapy), Percutaneous Ablation, Combined Immunotherapy and Targeted Chemotherapy. 1. Cryosurgical Ablation (CSA): Cryosurgery is an important ablation technique for tumors. It destroys tumors by cycles of freezing and thawing. Cryosurgery's destructive effects on tumors are due to two major mechanisms, one immediate, the other delayed. The immediate mechanism is the damaging effect of freezing and thawing the cells. The delayed mechanism is the progressive failure of microcirculation; ultimately, vascular stasis becomes operative as an important cause of tumor tissue destruction. Once the temperature falls below -40oC, ice crystals may form within the cells. Once it occurs, cell death is almost certain. During cryosurgery, progressive failure of microcirculation occurs due to a cascade of events: endothelial layer destruction causing vessel walls to become porous, interstitial edema, platelet aggregation, microthrombii, and ultimately vascular congestion and obliteration. It was theorized that during cryosurgery, the immune system of the host became sensitized to the tumor being destroyed by the cryosurgery. Any primary tumor tissue undamaged by the cryosurgery and the metastases were destroyed by the immune system after cryosurgery.
This response was termed the "cryo-immunological response". 2. Seed Knife Therapy (Brachytherapy) Seed Knife Therapy (Brachytherapy) is used for breast cancer treatment, Seed implantation with iodine-125 or palladium-103 seeds (brachytherapy) is a highly effective treatment for patients with cancer. Brachytherapy requires no surgical incision, offers patients a shorter recovery time, and has less chance of troubling side effects. For example, for prostate cancer, brachytherapy is an outpatient procedure and most patients go home the same day as their treatment. They can also return to their normal activities a few days after treatment. Seed implantation takes only 45 minutes to 1 hour. Seed implantation with iodine-125 seed gives a lower dose rate of radiation than palladium-103. Because iodine-125 works in your body longer than palladium-103, it is ideal for treating slow growing tumors such as most prostate cancers. The 125 iodine seeds-which have a half -life of 59 days-release a short-course of gamma ray. The seeds implanted into cancerous masses and nearby tissue radiate targeted cells and ultimately destroy cancer. This prevents unnecessarily exposing the whole body to radiation. 3. Percutaneous Ablation Thermal injury to cells begins at 42? Only 8 minutes at 46? Is needed to kill malignant cells, and 51? Can be lethal after only 2 minutes. At temperatures above 60? Intracellular proteins are denatured (killed) rapidly, cell membranes are destroyed through dissolution and the melting of lipid bilayers, and lastly, cell death is inevitable. Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a new technique for treating tumors localized to certain organs. A needle electrode is advanced into the targeted tumors via either a percutaneous, laparoscopic, or open (operation) route.
The RF energy causes the tissue around the tip of the probe to heat up to a high temperature above which cells break apart and die. For eradication of all cancerous cells, the goal is to place the probes so that they destroy the entire tumor plus an adequate "rim" of non-cancerous tissue around it. 4. Combined Immunotherapy Immunotherapy, also known as CIC-combined immunotherapy for cancer-has increasingly become the focus for cancer researchers. The past 10 years have seen an increased understanding of immuno-surveillance and appreciation of the mechanisms by which tumors escape its notice. This has led to the development of promising new strategies against cancer, such as immunotherapy, which is focused on increasing of the body's natural immune functions against cancer cells. 5. Targeted Chemotherapy Targeted Chemotherapy is can be an alternative as it leaves minimal side effect as compared to traditional chemotherapy. Targeted therapies are drugs or other substances designed to block the growth and spread of cancer by preventing cancer cells from dividing or by destroying them directly.
While standard chemotherapy affects all cells in the body, targeted therapy directs drugs or other specially created substances (e.g., immune system proteins developed in the lab) to attack cancer cells. The goal of targeted therapy is to interfere with genes or proteins involved in tumor growth to block the spread of the disease. By targeting specific molecules that are responsible for the growth, progression and spread of cancer, targeted therapy differs from standard chemotherapy, which attacks the disease systemically and, therefore, also damages healthy cells. Because targeted therapy specifically seeks out cancer cells, it is designed to reduce the harm to healthy cells, which may lead to fewer side effects than standard chemotherapy. Targeted therapies serve as the foundation of precision medicine, which uses information about a tumor's DNA profile to identify additional treatment options. Tailored treatments target abnormalities that may be found in each tumor's DNA profile. This innovation marks a shift from traditional treatments designed for the average patient, toward more precise therapies.
This response was termed the "cryo-immunological response". 2. Seed Knife Therapy (Brachytherapy) Seed Knife Therapy (Brachytherapy) is used for breast cancer treatment, Seed implantation with iodine-125 or palladium-103 seeds (brachytherapy) is a highly effective treatment for patients with cancer. Brachytherapy requires no surgical incision, offers patients a shorter recovery time, and has less chance of troubling side effects. For example, for prostate cancer, brachytherapy is an outpatient procedure and most patients go home the same day as their treatment. They can also return to their normal activities a few days after treatment. Seed implantation takes only 45 minutes to 1 hour. Seed implantation with iodine-125 seed gives a lower dose rate of radiation than palladium-103. Because iodine-125 works in your body longer than palladium-103, it is ideal for treating slow growing tumors such as most prostate cancers. The 125 iodine seeds-which have a half -life of 59 days-release a short-course of gamma ray. The seeds implanted into cancerous masses and nearby tissue radiate targeted cells and ultimately destroy cancer. This prevents unnecessarily exposing the whole body to radiation. 3. Percutaneous Ablation Thermal injury to cells begins at 42? Only 8 minutes at 46? Is needed to kill malignant cells, and 51? Can be lethal after only 2 minutes. At temperatures above 60? Intracellular proteins are denatured (killed) rapidly, cell membranes are destroyed through dissolution and the melting of lipid bilayers, and lastly, cell death is inevitable. Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a new technique for treating tumors localized to certain organs. A needle electrode is advanced into the targeted tumors via either a percutaneous, laparoscopic, or open (operation) route.
The RF energy causes the tissue around the tip of the probe to heat up to a high temperature above which cells break apart and die. For eradication of all cancerous cells, the goal is to place the probes so that they destroy the entire tumor plus an adequate "rim" of non-cancerous tissue around it. 4. Combined Immunotherapy Immunotherapy, also known as CIC-combined immunotherapy for cancer-has increasingly become the focus for cancer researchers. The past 10 years have seen an increased understanding of immuno-surveillance and appreciation of the mechanisms by which tumors escape its notice. This has led to the development of promising new strategies against cancer, such as immunotherapy, which is focused on increasing of the body's natural immune functions against cancer cells. 5. Targeted Chemotherapy Targeted Chemotherapy is can be an alternative as it leaves minimal side effect as compared to traditional chemotherapy. Targeted therapies are drugs or other substances designed to block the growth and spread of cancer by preventing cancer cells from dividing or by destroying them directly.
While standard chemotherapy affects all cells in the body, targeted therapy directs drugs or other specially created substances (e.g., immune system proteins developed in the lab) to attack cancer cells. The goal of targeted therapy is to interfere with genes or proteins involved in tumor growth to block the spread of the disease. By targeting specific molecules that are responsible for the growth, progression and spread of cancer, targeted therapy differs from standard chemotherapy, which attacks the disease systemically and, therefore, also damages healthy cells. Because targeted therapy specifically seeks out cancer cells, it is designed to reduce the harm to healthy cells, which may lead to fewer side effects than standard chemotherapy. Targeted therapies serve as the foundation of precision medicine, which uses information about a tumor's DNA profile to identify additional treatment options. Tailored treatments target abnormalities that may be found in each tumor's DNA profile. This innovation marks a shift from traditional treatments designed for the average patient, toward more precise therapies.
Saturday, 30 June 2018
Mural Painting Advice
I thought that it would be interesting and informative to write this article about the process of painting a wall mural but first of all I would like to talk about a few factors and experiences. The job of a wall mural painter (not a service, which a lot of websites think) which I specialise in I find to be highly understated, underappreciated and undervalued. It is expected to paint a wall mural in a day by some people I've spoken too, it sometimes leaves me flabbergasted to think that my talent which I've built-up for nearly 30 years of my life could result in a whole wall hand-painted with a beautiful unique scene in the same time it would take to go to a painting & decorating store, buy a tub of magnolia paint and blanket paint the walls with a roller which requires little in the way of skill or talent and further-more be offered a similar price.
Then we have the situation of people wanting the mural painting carried out on a voluntary basis. Now, please don't get me wrong, I believe every artist should pay their dues in some respect and it would be good work experience to carry this out as college or university project but this is your job, your profession, your livelihood no-less. Let me ask this question to those that ask you to work on a voluntary basis, if your car broke down would you ask for it to be repaired free of charge? No, this goes for every situation in life, us muralist's do not do this for "the love of painting", we do it because it is our profession, our bread and butter, our day job to pay our bills. I'm sure that many other professional mural painters out there that read this article will be nodding in agreement with my previous paragraph's above.
Anyway, now I have those negative experiences off my chest let's get back to my advice on painting a wall mural which I am going to keep as a beginners guide. This is what I believe to be the most essential steps to creating a wall mural in the easiest, hassle-free way. Step 1 Develop your ideas on paper or on a computer using graphics software, I tend to devise most of my plans through the computer as I can easily print out a scale overlay grid onto my design. I doesn't matter what software you use to create your plans, I would choose Photoshop or GIMP the majority of the time but it really doesn't matter as the task in-hand to get from a design idea/concept which you are happy to carry on further.
Please pay special attention of the following aspects of the planning your mural painting; 1. This is the most crucial part of mural painting, make sure your plans are exactly as you would like the final design to look. 2. Some people will choose to draw a design freehand but I would strongly advise against this for something like a person, animal or character. These type of things have to be pixel perfect and I would always use a scale grid for 100% accuracy. 3. Liaise fully with your client until they are 100% satisfied with your final design. Remember this is their wall and your final design should represent a near identical rendition of what will be painted. Step 2 Now that you have liaised with your client and they are happy with your design plans it is time to approach the wall or walls. The first thing to do is always make sure the wall or surface is in a good condition for you to carry out your work. If you feel that the wall is not ready for you to work on then you may want to discuss carrying out any repair duties at a small fee. Maybe you will be faced with filling some holes and smoothing the surface where there was once screws/nails. Be upfront and let your client know if you are unhappy with the wall surface which you are about to commence your work on.
Now you want to draw a grid across the area that you're working which is in-scale to your design plan, although this is quite a boring aspect of the overall process this is extremely important to get right and spot-on with measurements. Remember not all walls are perfectly straight so you have to work with these imperfections to a certain degree but what is essential is that your grid lines on a horizontal and vertical axis are perfect. I have a 1200mm spirit measure stick which I use for this type of task which is invaluable to me, the average size I would draw my grid is (6" x 6") but this can vary depending on the space, shape and image complexity, remember a (6"x 6") can easily be modified even finer if needed. Finally use masking tape to cover other walls, skirting boards and then cover the floors just in-case the worst happens. Personally I am very careful with my client's floors and carpets and I would lay newspaper, polythene sheets and decorators dust sheets on top. These are the following steps I would take summarised;
1. Discuss any concerns of the wall which I discussed above.
2. Draw your scale grid making sure to be 100% accurate using a spirit measure.
3. Mask the near-by area and cover the floor and carpets thoroughly with polythene, newspaper and decorators dust sheets.
Step 3 So now your mural design has been finalised and your client is satisfied and your wall is gridded accurately and masked accordingly it is finally time to draw your mural. Sometimes it can feel a relief to finally put your pencil to the wall but from my experience, thorough and precise planning is always the best policy.
Never take shortcuts because in the end something will/could go wrong. Draw your design lightly on the wall, keeping to your guide. One tip that I would say is to draw a section or object and then stand back and observe what you have drawn. When you are satisfied draw your lines bolder, you should also be aware of smudging your pencil and guide lines with your hand so work from one side to the other depending on which hand your draw with. Now that you have your design drawn out nicely and it's very clear and accurate it is time to erase all your pencil and guide lines. I would strongly advise this step as painting over pencil lines can prove very tricky, they are very resilient those pencil lines! Now it's time to start painting your mural.
As this is my first guide to mural painting I am going to describe something relatively easy to paint, something which you would typically see in a school, hospital or children's bedroom - please don't miss-interpret what I mean here by saying easy, something bright and colourful like a cartoon or character with block colours rather than a realistic scene with highly detailed depth and shading. Note - This example is for a relatively simple mural painting, I will create guides to more complicated wall mural paintings in the future. I use acrylic odourless paints which I mix beforehand to create the correct colour variant which I will keep them in containers, I use small plastic decorators paint kettles with lids which you can buy in many sizes, use water to thin the paint if it feels "stodgy", get the consistency right as you don't want to be thinning the paint much at all.
Most importantly of all is to mix more than enough of the colour you require, too much is never a bad thing. Paint the areas now which have the most of a certain colour, if your mural has more blue than any other colour then paint the blue first, wait for your paint to dry then apply another coat of paint. When you are satisfied with the coverage do the same with your next colour. Now this part can be tricky, you need to outline all the colours with a black (or outline colour of choice). Make sure to have a steady hand, a small brush with good resistance and your paint is not too thick, which is why I spoke of adding a little bit of water to your paint above. To finish your work use an acrylic matte varnish which will act as an invisible layer of protection. This is the short step-by-step guide of the paragraphs I spoke about it more detail above;
1. Draw your design, when satisfied draw your outlines bolder.
2. Erase all pencil and guidelines thoroughly.
3. Mix your paints to the correct colours and keep in containers with lids, making sure to mix enough paint.
4. Paint the areas with the most colour first and apply 2 coats or more to fully cover.
5. Outline your work with a strong/bold colour, be accurate and use a quality firm brush.
6. Coat the wall with acrylic matt varnish to give that hidden layer of protection.
Final Thoughts Now your mural should be complete and your client is over-the-moon with joy, you are happy and now it's time to move on to your next exciting job which could be a totally different experience all together with a whole new set of challenges to test your artistic capabilities.
Being a Muralist, Artist, Interior Painter... whatever they like to call us (don't ask me who "they" are), is an extremely rewarding and often challenging career option and I'm not going to lie when I say this but, you're going to have to be extremely persistent and outgoing if you want to build a long lasting career. In the future I would like to talk more extensively about the trials and tribulations of gaining a career as a full-time muralist, more specifically speaking about my personal experiences, education gained and the advertising and networking processors involved. I would also like to talk in greater detail with regards to the actual tools that I use, the storage containers, paints, brushes and much more, there is a surprising amount of content to write here which I think would prove fascinating to share.
This article which is now knee-deep on to the fourth page of my writing software (no free plugs or advertising here) is only just scratching the surface on what I wanted to share as a muralist and only covers the very basics of my daily process. If you made it this far then thanks for sticking with me and all I can say to you if you are just starting a career as a Muralist is keep pushing and working hard and eventually your opportunity's will arise... nobody said it was going to be easy, but persevere!
Then we have the situation of people wanting the mural painting carried out on a voluntary basis. Now, please don't get me wrong, I believe every artist should pay their dues in some respect and it would be good work experience to carry this out as college or university project but this is your job, your profession, your livelihood no-less. Let me ask this question to those that ask you to work on a voluntary basis, if your car broke down would you ask for it to be repaired free of charge? No, this goes for every situation in life, us muralist's do not do this for "the love of painting", we do it because it is our profession, our bread and butter, our day job to pay our bills. I'm sure that many other professional mural painters out there that read this article will be nodding in agreement with my previous paragraph's above.
Anyway, now I have those negative experiences off my chest let's get back to my advice on painting a wall mural which I am going to keep as a beginners guide. This is what I believe to be the most essential steps to creating a wall mural in the easiest, hassle-free way. Step 1 Develop your ideas on paper or on a computer using graphics software, I tend to devise most of my plans through the computer as I can easily print out a scale overlay grid onto my design. I doesn't matter what software you use to create your plans, I would choose Photoshop or GIMP the majority of the time but it really doesn't matter as the task in-hand to get from a design idea/concept which you are happy to carry on further.
Please pay special attention of the following aspects of the planning your mural painting; 1. This is the most crucial part of mural painting, make sure your plans are exactly as you would like the final design to look. 2. Some people will choose to draw a design freehand but I would strongly advise against this for something like a person, animal or character. These type of things have to be pixel perfect and I would always use a scale grid for 100% accuracy. 3. Liaise fully with your client until they are 100% satisfied with your final design. Remember this is their wall and your final design should represent a near identical rendition of what will be painted. Step 2 Now that you have liaised with your client and they are happy with your design plans it is time to approach the wall or walls. The first thing to do is always make sure the wall or surface is in a good condition for you to carry out your work. If you feel that the wall is not ready for you to work on then you may want to discuss carrying out any repair duties at a small fee. Maybe you will be faced with filling some holes and smoothing the surface where there was once screws/nails. Be upfront and let your client know if you are unhappy with the wall surface which you are about to commence your work on.
Now you want to draw a grid across the area that you're working which is in-scale to your design plan, although this is quite a boring aspect of the overall process this is extremely important to get right and spot-on with measurements. Remember not all walls are perfectly straight so you have to work with these imperfections to a certain degree but what is essential is that your grid lines on a horizontal and vertical axis are perfect. I have a 1200mm spirit measure stick which I use for this type of task which is invaluable to me, the average size I would draw my grid is (6" x 6") but this can vary depending on the space, shape and image complexity, remember a (6"x 6") can easily be modified even finer if needed. Finally use masking tape to cover other walls, skirting boards and then cover the floors just in-case the worst happens. Personally I am very careful with my client's floors and carpets and I would lay newspaper, polythene sheets and decorators dust sheets on top. These are the following steps I would take summarised;
1. Discuss any concerns of the wall which I discussed above.
2. Draw your scale grid making sure to be 100% accurate using a spirit measure.
3. Mask the near-by area and cover the floor and carpets thoroughly with polythene, newspaper and decorators dust sheets.
Step 3 So now your mural design has been finalised and your client is satisfied and your wall is gridded accurately and masked accordingly it is finally time to draw your mural. Sometimes it can feel a relief to finally put your pencil to the wall but from my experience, thorough and precise planning is always the best policy.
Never take shortcuts because in the end something will/could go wrong. Draw your design lightly on the wall, keeping to your guide. One tip that I would say is to draw a section or object and then stand back and observe what you have drawn. When you are satisfied draw your lines bolder, you should also be aware of smudging your pencil and guide lines with your hand so work from one side to the other depending on which hand your draw with. Now that you have your design drawn out nicely and it's very clear and accurate it is time to erase all your pencil and guide lines. I would strongly advise this step as painting over pencil lines can prove very tricky, they are very resilient those pencil lines! Now it's time to start painting your mural.
As this is my first guide to mural painting I am going to describe something relatively easy to paint, something which you would typically see in a school, hospital or children's bedroom - please don't miss-interpret what I mean here by saying easy, something bright and colourful like a cartoon or character with block colours rather than a realistic scene with highly detailed depth and shading. Note - This example is for a relatively simple mural painting, I will create guides to more complicated wall mural paintings in the future. I use acrylic odourless paints which I mix beforehand to create the correct colour variant which I will keep them in containers, I use small plastic decorators paint kettles with lids which you can buy in many sizes, use water to thin the paint if it feels "stodgy", get the consistency right as you don't want to be thinning the paint much at all.
Most importantly of all is to mix more than enough of the colour you require, too much is never a bad thing. Paint the areas now which have the most of a certain colour, if your mural has more blue than any other colour then paint the blue first, wait for your paint to dry then apply another coat of paint. When you are satisfied with the coverage do the same with your next colour. Now this part can be tricky, you need to outline all the colours with a black (or outline colour of choice). Make sure to have a steady hand, a small brush with good resistance and your paint is not too thick, which is why I spoke of adding a little bit of water to your paint above. To finish your work use an acrylic matte varnish which will act as an invisible layer of protection. This is the short step-by-step guide of the paragraphs I spoke about it more detail above;
1. Draw your design, when satisfied draw your outlines bolder.
2. Erase all pencil and guidelines thoroughly.
3. Mix your paints to the correct colours and keep in containers with lids, making sure to mix enough paint.
4. Paint the areas with the most colour first and apply 2 coats or more to fully cover.
5. Outline your work with a strong/bold colour, be accurate and use a quality firm brush.
6. Coat the wall with acrylic matt varnish to give that hidden layer of protection.
Final Thoughts Now your mural should be complete and your client is over-the-moon with joy, you are happy and now it's time to move on to your next exciting job which could be a totally different experience all together with a whole new set of challenges to test your artistic capabilities.
Being a Muralist, Artist, Interior Painter... whatever they like to call us (don't ask me who "they" are), is an extremely rewarding and often challenging career option and I'm not going to lie when I say this but, you're going to have to be extremely persistent and outgoing if you want to build a long lasting career. In the future I would like to talk more extensively about the trials and tribulations of gaining a career as a full-time muralist, more specifically speaking about my personal experiences, education gained and the advertising and networking processors involved. I would also like to talk in greater detail with regards to the actual tools that I use, the storage containers, paints, brushes and much more, there is a surprising amount of content to write here which I think would prove fascinating to share.
This article which is now knee-deep on to the fourth page of my writing software (no free plugs or advertising here) is only just scratching the surface on what I wanted to share as a muralist and only covers the very basics of my daily process. If you made it this far then thanks for sticking with me and all I can say to you if you are just starting a career as a Muralist is keep pushing and working hard and eventually your opportunity's will arise... nobody said it was going to be easy, but persevere!
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