Health

By Harleen Walia

Over the past 20 years, there has been a substantial increase in our knowledge of the hereditary diseases. Specifically, several variants of genetic genes have been found that leads to the development of cancer. It has been known since a long time that the variation in BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes of human beings lead to cancer, especially in the breast and the ovaries. But according to the researchers, a large number of variants are present in our hereditary system that may lead to fatal diseases like breast cancer.
To increase our knowledge about the hereditary genes and the biological procedure attached to the formation of breast cancer, a research team from the University of Copenhagen, BRIC and Rigs Hospitalet has embarked on a new chapter in their research. In this research, the presence of RBBP8 gene has been described as the vital factor that leads to the formation of breast cancer in young women.
Claus Storgaard Sorensen, BRIC, Research Director, University of Copenhagen said, “We have studied the biological significance of RBBP8 gene variants in a group of young women with breast cancer. It is a patient group where we assume that a genetic factor plays a role. We have now shown that RBBP8 normally protects the cells against the damage to the genome and that a reduced RBBP8 function may, conversely, lead to cancer.
The research was conducted on 129 young Danish patients who were diagnosed with breast cancer. Subsequently, extensive gene sequencing was performed by the research team on a large number of people, who either had breast cancer or any other type of cancer that did not have variation in BRCA 1 and BRCA2 genes.
The variation of BRCA1 and BRCA2 explains the development of cancer in young women. According to the scientific studies, RBBP8 plays a very important role in protecting and regulating the DNA in human body since it repairs the damage to the chromosomes.
Another reason behind young women developing breast cancer is that their breast tissues are generally denser and by the time the lump is formed in the breast, the cancer may have already been developed. Not only this, the breast cancer in young women may be aggressive that is, it is less likely to respond to the treatment.
Delay in diagnosing breast cancer can be really very dangerous. Some of the early symptoms of breast cancer include breast lump or unusual discharge from the nipple. These early symptoms are usually ignored by the young women. There are also many cases where doctor dismisses the case calling breast lumps as cysts in young women.
Some of the factors which make women more prone to breast cancer include –
A personal history of breast cancer
Genes/ Hereditary/ Family history (especially in mother or sister)
History of radiation treatments to the chest before the age of 40
Variation in BRCA1 or BRCA2
Getting periods before the age of 12
Heavy consumption of alcohol
High intake of red meat
Heavier breast
Obesity
Young women are generally busy with making major life decisions like dating, childbearing, parenting and career. In a research, it was found out that women face many psycho-social challenges when detected with breast cancer. These challenges include – a career decision issue with reduced earning potential; on-going fear of re-occurring of cancer; psychological concerns of the treatment affects the sexuality, self-esteem, self-image, and intimacy of the women. The treatment also impacts the fertility and pregnancy.
In a report issued by the Indian Council of Medical Research, the total numbers of Cancer cases in 2016 were expected to be around 14.5 lakhs, and by the end of 2020, it is expected to be 17.3 lakhs. We can bring these numbers down only by creating awareness.
The rate of survival of breast cancer in India is comparatively low. The reason behind this is that the early symptoms are ignored by the young women and due to detection at the later stage, the rate of survival declines. Breast cancer is not something which cannot be treated; in fact chances of survival are higher, if detected at the right time and at the right stage.
Few tips for the prevention of breast cancer are –
Self-examine – Women usually know how their breast looks like. If you observe any change, immediately consult your doctor.
The women, who are above the age of 40, should get their mammography done. Mammography helps in detecting irregularities in the breast tissue.
By adding fruits and vegetables to your diet.
New mothers are advised to breastfeed their child at least for a year.

By Harleen Walia

In 2018, in a survey conducted by the Government, it was found that about 3% women had undergone hysterectomy which is an operation to remove a woman’s uterus. 

These women are mostly uneducated, rural women, which include teenagers as well. 

In the survey, it was found that more than 22,000 Indian women aged between 15 and 49 had undergone a hysterectomy.

Some women in rural India have been pressured into hysterectomies so that they can work as cane cutters without periods to interrupt their ability. In the past, there have been news of unwarranted hysterectomies from many states of India. Not only are these cases a gross violation of sexual and reproductive health rights, but in many cases, they have exploited the labor laws as well. 

On the other hand, a recent investigative story brought the financial burden of these operations to limelight. Many women have been unable to work after the operation and the cost of the operation forced the families to borrow money at high interest from the money lenders.

Most victims of these unwarranted hysterectomies belong to poor and illiterate families. Doctors have been making decisions on the treatment without giving these women any options. They don’t even give time to consult their family members. There are many women who are not even given the accurate information and explanations for the cause of hysterectomies, nor are they informed about the procedure of the treatment. 

The women should have basic knowledge of what the doctors are removing. They don’t even know whether just the ovaries are being removed or uterus or both. In a study where 200 women who had undergone hysterectomy were interrogated, it was found out that 69% women did not know whether the ovaries were removed along with uterus. This particularly is a very important information because the removal of both the ovaries and uterus induces surgical menopause and can result in severe osteoporosis, cardiovascular and neurological disorder. 

There were some cases in which the doctors had claimed money for performing hysterectomy, but in fact made only a superficial incision, leaving the uterus intact. 

To ease the burden of the rural people, government launched a scheme in 2008 in which people below the poverty line can receive treatment from the designated private hospitals which claims the cost from government later, worth up to Rs.30,000 every year. Surprisingly in Samastipur district in Bihar, more than a third of operations carried out under this scheme were hysterectomies.

Speaking on this, Narendra Gupta, a public health expert said, “Unlike in the West – where hysterectomy numbers spike post-menopause, in India, younger women are undergoing the procedure.”

Mr. Gupta campaigned for the government to conduct this survey. He also filed a case in India’s highest court in 2013 to win compensation for hundreds of women who underwent this surgery forcefully. 

The case in ongoing and women in India are still undergoing hysterectomy in large numbers which they really do not need. Why is there no prime TV debate, no discussion, no awareness sessions on this very crucial subject – a question we need to ask ourselves.

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By Seerat Kaur

Racism is a very common evil even in today’s society. The famous ‘Black Lives Matter’ movement which stands for supporting equality for people, irrespective of their colour of skin has been in the news again after George Floyd’s killing. After George Floyd was killed on 25^th May in Minneapolis, protests had erupted in different parts of the world and the black lives matter supporters took to the streets. Demonstrators gathered at various historically significant buildings and kneeled in solidarity. Huge demonstrations took place in Berlin, Paris, Dublin, Amsterdam, and of course, the U.S. The anger was not just limited to these few countries, the effect was rather global. 

In order to sustain this movement, offices and brands in various countries ensured that their workspace gave equal opportunities and remove all traces of skin colour differentiation. The effect was witnessed in India too, the age old symbols of racism. Hindustan Unilever’s ‘Fair and Lovely’ cream which is guilty of perpetrating the idea of white being the colour of beauty in every teenager’s mind also decided to remove the word ‘fair’ from its name, along with any other symbols that portrayed a racist idea behind what defined beauty. The black lives matter movement has been important, it not only united every equality supporter, but also reignited the basic idea of the need to value human rights. This further gave a favourable push to the campaign for justice for Jayaraj-Bennix case, where the Indian father-son duo were brutally assaulted by the police and had sadly succumbed to their injuries. Soon after widespread public pressure, the police man was suspended.

Well, this is not the only reason why the black lives matter has been important. The movement also brought to common knowledge, some shocking facts from our history. 

One of such widely recognized historial figure was the ‘Father of modern Genecology’, James Marion Sims. His most significant work was the development of a surgical technique for the repair of vesicovaginal fistula, a severe complication of obstructed child birth. He is also remembered for inventing Sims’ speculum, Sims’ sigmoid catheter, and the Sims’ position. However, one would not find a more controversial physician in history. In the 19^th century United States, J .Marion Sims purchased enslaved black women and used them as lab rats for his untested surgical experiments. He performed repeated genital surgery on black women, without any anaesthesia. He did so with an implied assumption that black women did not feel any pain or had a much higher pain threshold. 

Anarcha Wescott was one such documented woman on whom Sims performed at least 30 surgeries. She recalled how she was made to squat like an animal while Sims sent chills down her spine.These enslaved black women had to go through extremely painful surgeries without any pain numbing medicines while he honed his skills and gained excellence in his field. These women are the ones on whose shoulders he attained major breakthroughs and invented necessary tools.

Sims later went on to establish the very first women’s hospital in which he treated only the white and wealthy ladies.

What is sad is that this idea that black women feel less pain is believed till date, even by physicians. There have been various researches which show that black women patients are not treated equally as the white patients. In Australia, there is statistical data that says that women of colour do not receive the same pain management as other women. Women of colour often report on being ignored by the medical staff when in pain, especially post childbirth C section surgery.

It was because of the ‘Black Lives Matter’ movement that this piece of information flooded the screens of people globally. As a result, recently the New York City removed and brought down the statue of Marion Sims from the pedestal of Central Park and subsequently buried it in a cemetery in Brooklyn. This was an emotional moment for many.

Unfortunately, despite being built on the backs of enslaved black women, modern healthcare system still does not pay attention to ensure quality access for women of colour.

The statue of other celebrated historical figures like Winston Churchill faced similar anger by the equality seekers, the supporter of the ‘Black Lives Matter’ movement. Now that such information has been dug up, it is important for such histories to be added to the course content of academicians and students throughout the world. After all the first step to any change is acknowledgement and sharing of information.