A New Cancer Treatment

A new cancer treatment may provide hope for cancer patients. Scientists have discovered that
some cancer cells in a person's body mutate in the same way. The breakthrough came when
researchers found out that cancer cells leave behind markers when they spread.
In the past scientists believed that the cancer cells of a tumour were not all the same. Changes
in cell structure varied in different parts of the cancer area. Now scientists claim that they
may be able to stop cancer cells at their roots. They aim to create a vaccine that
could guide immune cells to attack cancer cells and stop mutations from spreading.
Although it is still a long way before that happens, scientists hope that testing this new cancer
treatment on humans could begin within the next five years.
However, there are some facts to consider. First of all, not all forms of cancer develop at the
same speed . Some may be so quick that it would be impossible to find out
where mutations begin in time. Others would have a higher success rate. In addition, such a
treatment would be expensive, because each patient would have a "personalized" vaccine.
Immunotherapies have been on the market for some time but only about a third of the drugs
have worked and proved successful. Up to now doctors have mostly
used chemotherapy to treat cancer. Even though this form of treatment kills off cancer cells
when they divide it also attacks healthy cells and produces many side effects.
Chemotherapy could now be replaced with an individualized
treatment. Pharmaceutical companies have welcomed the new development and will spend
money on developing the required vaccines.

High Blood Pressure – A Silent Killer

According to the World Health Organization over a billion adults around the
world suffer from high blood pressure. It is now taking steps to fight against what is called a
silent killer. High blood pressure can lead to strokes and a heart attack.
Almost 10 million people die of these two diseases every year. They are the number
one causes of death globally. High blood pressure also leads to kidney failure, blindness and
other illnesses. It often goes hand in hand with diabetes and obesity, which increases heath
risks even further.
As the WHO reports, people in developing countries in Africa suffer more from high blood
pressure than people in developed countries. The reason is that health care in the developed
world is much better organized and people go to the doctor soon enough.
High blood pressure should never be ignored and always taken seriously. It is a warning sign
from your body that something is not OK. Although people may live with high blood
pressure for years without even knowing it, it is important to check your blood
pressure regularly and take the necessary steps.
The WHO says that you can reduce your blood pressure by changing your living habits.
Eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly, avoiding alcohol and nicotine are some things
that you can do without consulting a doctor.

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 Blood
Blood is an important fluid that keeps us alive. We cannot live without it. The heart pumps
blood to all parts of the body and brings themoxygen and food. At the same time blood
carries all the substances we don’t need away from us. Blood fights infections, keeps our
body temperature the same and carries chemicals that control body functions. Finally, blood
has substances that repair broken blood vesselsso that we don’t bleed to death.
What blood is made of
Blood is a mixture of fluid and solid matter.
Plasma is the liquid part of our blood. It makes up about 50 – 60 % of it.
Plasma consists mostly of water but many other substances are in it.
It contains dissolved food, chemicals that control our growth and do other jobs, proteins,
minerals and waste products.
Red blood cells look like flat round discs. They contain haemoglobin, a protein that
carries oxygen to the body and gives blood its red colour. Each drop of blood has about 300
million of these red cells.
White blood cells, also called leukocytes, fight infections
and harmful substances that invade the body. Most of these cells are round and colourless.
They have different sizes and shapes. White blood cells are not as numerous as red ones. For
every 700 red blood cells there is only one white blood cell.
Platelets are tiny bodies that are much smaller than red blood cells. They stick to the edges of
a cut and form blood clots to stop bleeding. The blood of a normal adult has about
2 trillion platelets.
How blood works in the body
The circulatory system carries blood to all parts of your body. The heart pumps blood through
big blood vessels called arteries and veins. In our body there are also millions of small blood
vessels called capillaries. Oxygen, food and other substances pass through the thin walls of
these capillaries into the tissue.
When you inhale air oxygen passes through your lungs and and is picked up by haemoglobin
which transports it to your whole body. It is released into cells which produce energy. In
return cells produce carbon dioxide which enters your blood stream and is transported back to
your lungs where it is exhaled.
Food also reaches your body by means of blood. It is digested in your stomach and
important substances like fat, sugar, proteins, vitamins and minerals are separated.
These nutrients enter your blood stream and are moved to the cells and muscles where they
are needed in order to give you energy or fuel. The work of the muscles and
other tissue creates heat. Blood is the transporting system which carries heat throughout your
body and warms you. The things that you don’t need are transported to
your intestines and kidneys and leave your body again.
White blood cells play an important role in your immune system.
When harmful substances invade your body an alarm goes off and white blood cells
are activated. Then they work to destroy the invaders. They fight off
viruses, harmful bacteria and begin anti-body production.

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Blood also carries hormones to places where they are needed. When a hormone reaches a part
of the body it controls growth, how the body uses food and other things.
You would bleed to death from a small cut if your blood didn’t clot. When a blood
vessel breaks platelets rush to the damaged area andstick to one another , forming a plug.
The blood supply
Blood cells come from bone marrow. They begin as stem cells and then develop into red or
white blood cells, or platelets. They don’t live forever and must be replaced by new ones.
Red blood cells live an average of 120 days before wearing out. Then they
are captured anddestroyed in the liver and spleen. Platelets live only for about 10 days.
The amount of blood in your body depends on your size, weight and the altitude at which you
live. An adult who weighs 80 kg has about 5 litres of blood, a 40 kg child about half
the amount. People who live in high areas where the air is thinner need more blood
to deliver moreoxygen to the body.
Blood groups
Blood groups are very important in order to find out if a person can donate blood
or receive blood in case of an accident or anotherdisease. Almost everyone’s plasma
has antibodies that that may not work together with another person’s blood.
There are four main blood groups :
 Type 0 is the most common blood group. In an emergency type 0 blood can
be transfused to anybody.
 Type AB is the most seldom group. People with this blood group can receive any other
blood in case of an emergency.
 Type A can only be received by donors with A or 0.
 Type B can only be received by donors with B or 0.
Blood transfusion
If an adult suddenly loses a litre or more of blood he may die unless the blood in his body can
be replaced. Over the years blood transfusions have saved countless lives. Transfusions can
also help patients who cannot produce enough blood cells to survive. They also help during
operations when patients lose some blood.
Blood banks collect blood from donors and put it in sterile bags. It is cooled down and can
be stored for up to 50 days. Laboratory workers screen blood for infectious
diseases like AIDS and hepatitis. Only clean and safe blood can be given to patients.
Blood diseases
When a person suffers from anaemia there are not enough red blood cells to supply the body
with the oxygen he needs. Leukaemia is a kind of cancer of the bone marrow, in which not
enough or abnormal white blood cells are produced. Without white blood cells diseasescan
enter your body without being controlled.
When your body does not have enough platelets blood cannot clot well. Even
small injuries can lead to a loss of blood because bleedingdoesn’t stop.