Gallbladder Surgery – Basic Information

The gallbladder is a pear-shaped small organ behind the liver. It functions to secrete bile that aids in the digestion of fats. It may not be a very important body part but it has a role in making our life easier. It helps alleviate the liver from the difficult task of having storage for bile.

There are two types of gallbladder diseases. One is cholecystitis which is an inflammation of the gallbladder. The other is cholelithiasis which is presence of gallstones in the gallbladder.  Pain in the upper right side of the abdomen is one of the usual symptoms of gallbladder diseases. In severe conditions, this body organ had to be removed through surgery.

Gallbladder surgery is known as cholecystectomy; this procedure involves the removal of the gallbladder. There are two known types of gallbladder surgery. These are open and laparoscopic cholecystectomy. The open surgery is more invasive wherein a 7 to 9 inch incision is made to remove the gallbladder. In the more modern laparoscopic procedure, four tiny holes or incisions are made for its removal.  Hospital confinement is shorter with the laparoscopic procedure and it also has a faster healing period.

After surgery, you should be more watchful of your diet – less fats and more amount of dietary fiber. This is also a time for you to minimize or do away with fast foods and red (pork and beef) meats. Freshwater fish and chicken breast along with vegetables and fruits are best for someone who had lost his or her gallbladder.

Types of Breast Cancer

Breast cancer has different types, which when detected early can be treated efficiently. Never be afraid when you feel a lump in your breast. Go to the doctor and have the lump assessed and diagnosed. This is a life-saving action.

The different kinds of breast cancer are :

Invasive breast cancer - These are lumps that develop in the breast tissue.

Inflammatory breast cancer - This is a rare form of breast cancer where the blood vessels in the skin of the breast are affected. The breast becomes red and inflamed.

Paget's disease of the nipple - This is a rare form of breast cancer that affects the nipple and the areola or the area surrounding the nipple.

Ductal carcinoma in situ - This is non-invasive cancer that is confined in the ducts of the breast.

Lobular carcinoma in situ - This is non-invasive cancer that is confined in the lobules of the breast.

Locally advanced breast cancer - Invasive breast cancer that has spread to areas near the breast such as chest, neck and armpit.

This pink ribbon is a symbol for breast cancer.

What Is Early Breast Cancer?

Cancer is the term given to diseases caused by the uncontrollable growth of cells in the body. These over-grown cells spread into the tissues of the body.

Cells do grow in the body but they had to be controllable otherwise, spreading into the body's tissues result to what is called invasive cancer. We call the site where cancer grows as primary cancer. There are times when these cancer cells break away and go to our bloodstream (lymphatic system) and therefore may affect other parts of the body. When the original cancer grows on other parts of the body, this is called metastasis which is also called secondary or advanced cancer.

Early breast cancer is cancer that is contained in the breast which may or may not have spread to the lymph nodes in the armpit. When the cancer invades the lymph nodes, cancer of the breast can progress into higher stage.

It is not known what causes breast cancer but researches disclosed possible risks to this disease. One of these is the fact that you are a woman (although breast cancer also affects men). Getting older and having a strong family history of breast cancer are other risk factors. One other factor is inheriting faulty gene (called gene mutation).

Early detection of breast cancer is life-saving. Self-breast examination is a very great and inexpensive way to detect presence of lumps in the breast. Regular mammograms for women aged 40 years old is recommended; for ladies 35 - 40 years old, breast ultra-sound may suffice. But when there is suspicion of breast tumor, the doctor may recommend mammogram.

Ladies should develop the habit of breast self-examination. This is what helped me. Had I not detected it early, my Stage 2A cancer could have advanced. Of course, after feeling the lump, go to your doctor and have it examined.

Health Is Wealth - Be Fit And Healthy

"Health is wealth" is an old adage. But this statement can be conceived in two perspectives.

       1. The doctors, hospitals, drug manufacturers and health providers

        2. The patients

For the doctors and all those involved in the practice of medical profession, ill health means money to them. When you get sick, you go to the doctor. Medicines are prescribed. In worse case, you are confined in the hospital. The doctors, hospital owners, drug companies siphon your money and they get richer at your expense.

For the patient, being healthy is being free from illness. Thus, his funds and money are saved and used for other basic expenses. This can be savings that can be used for future investments.

Have you ever been seriously sick? Without a health card, you surely drained your wallet!!! This could be the reason why health cards are becoming more popular.

The best thing to do for all of us is to avoid incidences of sickness. Try to be  fit and healthy. This is easy if you have dedication and self control - watch your diet, exercise, keep your weight at normal level and adopt a healthy lifestyle. Could you do this? Well, this is your big CHALLENGE!