Having a nutritious and balanced diet is the most important way to keep ourselves healthy. This will support and boost our immunity. A healthy lifestyle always helps in building a healthy and immunized body. In specific to our diet, a well-balanced diet may help in reducing the risk of dealing with life threatening diseases like cancer, especially blood cancer.  Blood Cancer is among the common type of cancers that affect people of all age groups, and India stands 3^rd in number when it comes to blood cancer.

Blood cancer usually occurs when DNA is faultily altered. It happens when there is a fault in the development of blood cells, which leads to improper functioning of cells. As per many experts in the field of leukemia (blood cancer), 90% of the types of blood cancer can be cured. And almost 30-35% of people deal with these types of diseases only due to improper diet. This genetically occurring blood infection is among those diseases which can be prevented or delayed if your lifestyle and food patterns are healthy. And a balanced and healthy diet includes all types of nutrient-rich fruits and vegetables, and low-fat proteins, such as fish, lean meats and poultry.

Ways to lower the risk of blood cancer

Genetics and environment, are few risk factors for cancer. These factors cannot be avoided, but as per research about 70% of lifetime cancers can be preventable only through lifestyle changes, such as –

• Proper/right body weight
• Staying hydrated
• Zero usage of tobacco
• Exercising regularly

These changes in lifestyle can play a vital role in having a healthy body. Eating vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts, beans, cereals, grains, fish, and unsaturated fats such as olive oil also known as Mediterranean diet, can lower the risk of a variety of common cancers. And this effect is more on people who have a history of cancer in their family.These changes in the long term can bring in a huge impact on health. And for people who are already dealing with cancer, a rich nutritious diet will provide the immunity in them in their challenging times.

One of the other ways to prevent blood cancer is through consuming antioxidants, more specifically plant based foods. These foods have naturally occurring anti-oxidants in them, this will help in boosting your immunity system and help in fighting against cancer cells. Some foods that are rich in anti-oxidants are

• Carrots, Brussels sprouts, and squash
• Broccoli, spinach, and beans (non-starchy vegetables)
• Tomatoes, guava, watermelon lycopene high foods
• Oranges, berries, peas, bell peppers, dark leafy greens and other foods high in vitamin C
• Add ginger, garlic, onion, turmeric and coriander in your foods, this will boost your immunity to fight cancer producing cells.

Avoid practices like :

• Consuming apple juice, instead eat the whole apple
• Trans – fat, fried, foods should be avoided pizza, French fries, fried chicken, cookies, muffins
• Limit the saturated fat based foods like red meat and dairy products
• Consume more unsaturated fats like fish, olive oil, nuts, avocados, flax seeds

It is said that, “a healthy and balanced diet, builds and strengthens a person from their core.” Put a tab on your unhealthy habits, make them occasional and strictly follow a totally nutritional diet. Make sure that your diet includes all the energy and immunity building foods. Follow a proper diet plan, consult a dietician if required.

Ms. Pavithra Raj
Chief Dietician- Columbia Asia Referral Hospital
Yeshwanthpur, Bengaluru.

The post Genetically occurring blood cancer : Lower the risk with change in diet appeared first on Health Vision.

Prapul (21s) and Prajwal (24), siblings from Bengaluru helped save the lives of two blood cancer patients. The brothers were matched to two different genetic twins within a brief time after their registration as potential blood stem cell donors with DKMS-BMST a non-profit organization dedicated to the fight against blood cancer. This is the first time for DKMS-BMST that two brothers were independently matched with two different patients from India, and their donated stem cell helped save the two precious lives.

Prapul says, “As a dental student, I am aware of the challenges that blood cancer and other blood disorder patients face. Stem Cell transplant is the only chance at survival for most of these patients. I registered as a donor in one of the registration events organized by DKMS BMST Foundation India in my college. Registration is a simple process wherein you only have to give your cheek swab sample and fill a consent form. Within a year of the registration, I got the opportunity to donate my stem cells. It has been a great feeling knowing that I helped someone get a second chance at life!

Prapul is a BDS student, registered in 2019, and he got the opportunity to donate in 2021. Prajwal, the elder sibling got inspired by his younger brother and decided to register in 2021 and donated in 2022. Their parents and family were incredibly supportive, and they have become a role-model in their extended family and local community. The brothers are actively encouraging other people to register as potential donors.

Prajwal says, “After Prapul donated his stem cells, I noticed a profound sense of pride and fulfillment in him. It gave me the confidence and motivation to register as a donor. After I got the chance to donate, I could also feel the same as Prapul. It is a great feeling; I cannot express it in words. Both of us are now actively encouraging our friends and family to register as potential blood stem cell donors.”

In India, the percentage of people who know about blood stem cell transplant as a lifesaving treatment modality is abysmal.  When some patient needs a stem cell transplant, their odd of finding a match is more amongst people of similar ethnicity. For Indian patients, having a large donor registry comprising people of Indian registry will ensure that more people who can benefit from this treatment modality can find genetic matches.

Patrick Paul, CEO, DKMS BMST Foundation India, “In India, we see over one lakh new cases of blood cancer and blood disorders every year. Despite this huge burden, the number of Indians that are registered in stem cell registries are significantly lower than many other countries. A stem cell transplant is likely to be successful only if the donor’s HLA (Human Leukocyte Antigen) tissue type is a close match to that of the patient. Only about 30% of the patients can find a sibling match and the rest 70% depend on finding a matching unrelated donor. There is a possibility of finding the perfect match from a donor of the same ethnicity. Unfortunately, patients of Indian ethnicity have a hard time finding a matching donor due to lack of potential donors in Indian registries. Hence, there is an urgent need for youngsters like Prapul and Prajwal to come forward and register as a potential donor.”

Also Read: Genetically occurring blood cancer : Lower the risk with change in diet

According to World Marrow Donor Association, there are over 40 million donors registered across the globe and only 0.5 million of these are from India. India is an ancient population with a diverse ethnicity; therefore, it becomes especially important that more and more people from varied ethnic background to come forward to register as a stem cell donor.

Registration process:

Interested citizens between 18-50 age-group can register at:  dkms-bmst.org/register.

All it takes is five minutes of your time and a simple 3 step process:

Step 1: Visit the site, fill up an online form and you will receive a DIY swab kit at home.

Step 2: Once you receive the swab kit, fill out the consent form and take a tissue sample from the inside of your cheeks with 3 cotton swabs provided in the kit.

Step 3: Send back your swab sample in the pre-paid envelope provided.

DKMS laboratory will then analyze your tissue type and your details will be available in the global search for blood stem cell donors. If you do come up as a suitable donor, DKMS-BMST will get in touch with you straight away. Your blood stem cells will be collected from the bloodstream via Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Collection process, which is similar to a blood platelet donation wherein only your stem cells are taken. This is a safe, non-surgical outpatient process.

About DKMS BMST Foundation India

A non-profit organization dedicated to the fight against blood cancer and other blood disorders, such as Thalassemia and Aplastic anemia. Our aim is to improve the situation of patients suffering from blood cancer and other blood disorders in India and throughout the world, by raising awareness about blood stem cell transplantation and registering potential blood stem cell donors. By doing this DKMS-BMST provides patients in need of a blood stem cell transplant with a second chance at life.

DKMS-BMST is a joint venture of two reputed non-profit organizations: BMST (Bangalore Medical Services Trust) and DKMS, one of the largest international blood stem cell donor centers in the world. For more information, please visit dkms-bmst.org

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