Question

Is cancer development related to lifestyle and environmental factors? What role does diet and exercise play in reducing the risk for cancer? Do you feel that you do all you can to lower your risk for cancer development? Why or why not? How are STIs caused by bacteria are treated differently than STIs caused by viruses? What are the most effective ways to prevent the contraction of an STI?

Answer 1

1.A single alteration of the genetic strucrure of the cell is not sufficient to result in cancer. Cancer development are increased with the presence of promoting agents. Promotion, the second stage of cancer development is characterized by reversible proliferation of altered cells. But the activity of promotion is reversible, hence cancer development can be prevent at this stage by controlling these promoting factors. Promoting factors include agents such as dietary fat,obesity, cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption. Changing a person's lifestlye to modify this can reduce the chance of cancer development. Approximately half of the deaths related to cancer in US are related to tobacco use, unhealthy diet, physical inactivity and obesity. Hence , I feel by controlling all these factors will help to reduce the risk of cancer development

Cigarette smoke, a complete carcinogen has the capacity to initiate and promote cancer development. Cigarette smoke is a promoting agent in bronchogenic cacinoma and in conjunction with alcohol consumption increases the risk of esophageal and bladder cancers. UV radiation has been associated with development of skin cancer such as melanoma, squamas and basal cell carcinoma. A higher incidence of bone cancer is seen in people exposed to radiation in certain occupations such as radiologists, radiation chemists and uranium miners

Avoiding smoking, alcoholism and decreasing consumption of fatty foods by adopting healthy lifestyle helps to control obesity to a greater extent

2. Sexually Transmitted Infections

Bacterial cause of STIs are treated with different types of antibiotics because certain organism are sensitive to certain antibiotics and resistant to others. Complete cure of the infection can only possible through administering specific antibiotics to different STIs

Gonorrhea

• Uncomplicated: Ceftriaxone IM or cefixime orally
• If chlamydial infection is not ruled out- doxycycline or azhitromycin
• Treatment of sexual contact
• Instructionfrom absistence from sexual intercourse and alcohol during treatment
• Reexamination if symptoms persists or recur after completion of treatment

Syphillis

• Pencillin G Benzathine or aqueous porcine pencillin G
• Doxycycline ot tetracycline
• These patients are at high risk of getting HIV infection because syphiltic lesions on the genitalia enhance HIV transmission
• Incubation period may vary upto 90 days with an average of 21 days , hence all the persons in the contact list has to be treated
• patients with neurosyphillis should be closely monitored with , periodic serologic testing and repeat CSF examination atleast 3 years

Chlamydial Infection

• Doxycycline or azithromycin
• Alternative regimen: erytromycin, ofloxacin or levofloxacin
• Patients should abstain from sexual intercourse  7 days after treatment and until the complete cure of all sexual partners full course of treament

In case of viral infection,

• Genital herpes is the most common one and is caused by Herpes simplex virus, Three antivirals available for its treatment- acyclovir, valacyclovir and famciclovir. treatment should be started before diagnostic tests are available because early treatment reduces transmission and duration of ulcers
• Although not a cure, these drugs shorten the duration of shedding and the healing time of genitla lesions and reduce outbreak by 75%
• Continued use of oral acyclovir therapy upto 6 years is safe for patinets who have frequent or severe recurrence

Most effective ways to prevent the contraction of STIs

• An inspection of sexual partner's genitalia before coitus is recommended
• Discharge, blisters,warts should be viewed with concern. Because it helps a person to take decisions whether to make modifications or elect not to have sexual relations
• In addition, the person should remember that, while engaging in sex, he or she is exposed to the infections of everyone with whom the partner has ever had sex
• Advise men that voiding immediately after intercourse and washing adjacent areas with soap and water will provide some protection from STIs. Women may also benefit from postcoital voiding and washing
• Spermicidal jellies and creams do not provide protection from STIs. Instead, they act as lubricating agents and prevent friction during coitus and reduce the chance of minor laceration which act as port of entry for the organism
• Proper use of condom is the highly effective barrier to the infection unless damaged and correctly in place throughout the all phases of intercourse
• Use of barriers requires planning and motivation both of which are impaied with alcohol or drug ingestion. hence, alcohol and drugs should be avoided before sexual intercourse
• Limiting sexual intimacies outside of a well-established monogamous reltionship can reduce the risk of contracting STIs
• Screening programs can prevent certain STIs