Health

Brain Cancer Likely to Affect Men and Women Differently

Published

5 years ago

January 4, 2019

A recent study has been conducted, which explains how brain cancer affects men and women differently. According to that study, men are more likely to die due to brain cancer than their female counterparts.

Glioblastoma tumors, one of the rare subtypes of brain tumor, in men and women respond differently to the treatment. This research was conducted by Dr. Josh Rubin of Washington University, who found that the standard therapy for brain tumor is much more effective in the case of women, than men. And the similar results can be believed to be true about any other cancer type as well.

According to the American Cancer Society, around 10,000 women and 14,000 men were diagnosed with any sort of nasty brain tumor in 2018. Out of all types, Glioblastoma is one of the nastiest tumor having very low survival rate. Only 19% of the people aged up to 44 years, can live 5+ years after getting diagnosed with the tumor. And if the age is over 55, then the survival rate drops down to mere 5%.

Even though the survival rate is low overall, women tend to live longer than men once diagnosed with the tumor. Since the sex difference affected so much, Dr. Rubin decided to carry out the underlying differences in the behavior. The genetic structure – X and Y chromosomes in men, and X and X chromosomes in women play a major role in cancer behavior. These chromosomes lead to the cancer cells grow more quickly in men.

Overall, for any cancer treatment, personal therapy needs to take place, keeping into account the sex of the patient and their age as well. Since the hormones, testosterone and estrogen, vary greatly with age, the medicines have to be personalized depending upon the age of the patients.

Health

9 Simple Steps to Dealing with a Broken Tooth

Published

2 months ago

February 14, 2024

Michelle Langton

Credit: freepik via Freepik

It’s movie night, and you have an obligatory bowlful of popcorn balancing on your lap. You toss a handful of popcorn and — crack — you unknowingly bite down on a kernel with the full power of your jaw.

Lightning strikes your mouth as you realize this humble kernel broke your tooth.

Now what?

Besides pausing the movie and spitting out your mouthful of popcorn and tooth, you might not know your next steps.

What should you do, and how can you pay for it? Find the answers to these questions and more below:

1. Save the Pieces

If possible, save any broken pieces of the tooth. Your dentist might need these pieces.

2. Rinse Your Mouth

Gently rinse your mouth with warm water to clean the area. Avoid using hot or cold water, as it might aggravate any exposed nerves.

3. Control Bleeding

If you bleed, apply gentle pressure to the area with a clean cloth or gauze. You can also use a cold compress on your jaw or cheek to reduce swelling.

4. Contact Your Dentist

Reach out to your dentist immediately. Explain the situation and try to schedule an emergency appointment. Many dentists reserve slots for urgent cases. If they don’t have a spot available, look at specialty emergency clinics in your area.

5. Get Over-the-Counter Pain Relief

Broken and chipped teeth can hurt, so take some over-the-counter pain relievers to help manage this pain until you can see your dentist.

6. Check Insurance Coverage

Review your dental insurance policy to understand coverage details. Some policies may cover emergency procedures, while others may have limitations.

7. Discuss Payment Options

If cost is a concern, discuss financing options with your dentist. Some dental offices offer flexible arrangements that give you a break. If you qualify for these plans, you might be able to push out your due date to coincide with your payday. You may even be able to break up your total outstanding amount over several payments.

8. Take out a Personal Loan

If you’re just shy of what you need to cover your emergency dental expense, consider going online to scope out personal loans. A personal loan may fill in for savings in urgent situations. You can quickly visit a website like MoneyKey to see what you need to apply. If approved, a personal loan gives you the means to pay for your visit upfront and pay off what you owe over time.

9. Consider Urgent Care Clinics

If your financial situation is such that you can’t afford a personal loan’s payments, reconsider your choice of dentist. Some dental practices apply a sliding scale to their services so that they can provide immediate care at a lower cost for at-risk individuals.

Next Steps: Thinking About the Future

So, you’ve managed to repair your tooth and pay the bill, too. What’s next? Make sure you hit these three goals soon. They can help you prevent another broken tooth in the future!

Stay on Top of Dental Hygiene: Brush at least twice a day and floss once a day — these simple habits can protect your teeth over time.
Schedule Regular Checkups: Keeping up with regular cleanings can also help you prevent future dental emergencies.
Build an Emergency Fund: Sometimes, accidents happen. Consider building an emergency fund specifically for unexpected dental emergencies.