In dogs, soft tissue sarcoma is a group of malignant cancers that come from skin or connective tissue. Now, a new research review says when a tumour is completely removed, the risk of cancer returning is cut by nearly two-thirds.

Veterinary researchers from Oregon State University analysed 10 studies, which included 278 dogs operated on for soft tissue sarcoma.

Complete removal of tumour

Cancer returned in less than 10% of dogs where the cancer was completely removed, compared to 33% of animals who showed microscopic evidence that tumour cells remained after surgery.

That means that the risk of recurrence was 60% lower in dogs that had complete removal of tumours, according to the review authors.

“You want to get all of the tumour out if you can,” lead author Dr Milan Milovancev said in a university news release. “That’s what most veterinarians, including myself, have thought, but this makes it more official. Now we can say, here’s the data.”

Milovancev is an associate professor of small animal surgery at OSU’s Carlson College of Veterinary Medicine in Corvallis.

The study was an analysis of existing studies, which offered conflicting information about the removal of soft tissue sarcoma in dogs.

Similar to human trials

By looking at multiple studies, researchers sometimes uncover information that could be missed in any of the smaller, individual studies.

The approach is uncommon in veterinary research, but likely to be used more as evidence-based research practices increase in the field, according to Milovancev.

The findings are already influencing his own work. He said he’s changing his design of future research to make it more similar to that of human trials.

“I’d like to do additional meta-analyses like this, as well, with the goal of further improving the quality of the science and the quality of care of our furry family members,” Milovancev said.

The study was published recently in the journal Veterinary and Comparative Oncology.

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High blood pressure is a serious risk factor for heart disease, stroke and other life-threatening medical conditions. While many people need medication and dietary changes to control their blood pressure, exercise is a key component of nearly every management plan.

Scientists know that exercise causes the body to adapt in ways that lower blood pressure, but there’s no single formula guaranteed to work for everyone. However, there are general guidelines regarding four key aspects of exercise.

Frequency: Aim to do aerobic exercise on a daily basis and strength training twice a week (on non-consecutive days to allow for muscle repair).

Intensity: Aim for moderate intensity exercise to start. For aerobic workouts, that means reaching between 60% and 70% of your maximum target heart rate (or 220 minus your age). Evidence suggests that higher intensity exercise can result in greater reduction of high blood pressure, but at the moment the risks aren’t clear.

Duration: Aim for at least 30 minutes of aerobic activity a day, increasing to 60 minutes if possible. If time or ability is a problem, work out in 10-minute segments that add up to your daily total. Strength training should target all major muscle groups using weight that enables you to complete two to three sets of 10 to 12 reps each.

Type: Effective aerobic activities that are easy to start with are walking, cycling and swimming. Strength training can be done with free weights, weight machines, stretchy resistance bands and/or your own bodyweight (pushups, for instance).

Working with your doctor on your exercise plan is a must. They may suggest testing to determine your ideal target heart rate during vigorous activity. If you’re on high blood pressure medication, you’ll want to make sure that it doesn’t affect your ability to exercise.

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Your bladder health is often overlooked until it’s too late. In a previous Health24 article, we discussed how the bladder can be kept healthy as we grow older.

But since the function of the bladder is so important for kidney health and for preventing urinary incontinence and infections of the urinary tract, it’s important to be able to spot signs that something is not okay.

1. You suddenly need to urinate much more than usual

Loo habits differ from person to person depending on our age, gender and how much water we drink in general. The number of times you need to go during the day is a good indication of your general hydration and bladder health.

According to Dr Ferdi Marais, a Cape Town urologist, a normal adult urinates about 300–400ml five to six times a day. If you take in more fluid than normal you will naturally pass more urine, but according to Dr Marais, urinating more than six times a day is abnormal.

If you suddenly find yourself passing urine a lot more than usual, there are a number of conditions that may be the cause. If your frequent urinating is also accompanied by excessive thirst, sudden weight loss and fatigue, you might want to get your blood sugar tested as these symptoms may indicate diabetes.

More urination than usual may also signal an overactive bladder, a common condition that can be treated.

Take our quiz to see if your urination habits are normal.

2. Your urine is a weird colour

Foods such as beetroot and rhubarb and some medications can give urine a rosy tint, but if you spot pinkish or reddish pee and you haven’t eaten any of the above foods, it might be blood – and that’s always a cause for concern. You should see your doctor right away as blood in your urine (haematuria) can signal a number of conditions, such as a urinary tract infection, kidney infection, kidney stones, bladder stones, a kidney injury or bladder cancer.

If your urine is a dark amber or orange, this may signal severe dehydration. Increase your water intake, and if the dark colour persists, see your doctor.

3. You suddenly leak urine when you cough, sneeze or laugh

Sudden urinary incontinence can be a sign of various conditions and the sooner you talk to your doctor about it, the sooner you can start treating and managing the problem.

According to Dr Margaret Fockema, a general practitioner with an interest in incontinence, the most common cause of incontinence is a condition called overactive bladder. But sometimes, when urinary incontinence appears out of the blue, it may signal a more serious underlying condition such as a tumour or cancer in the pelvic region.

See your doctor, especially when you have a tingling, numb sensation in your legs, back or groin area as this may indicate nerve damage.

4. Your bladder never feels empty, even after urination

If you frequently feel an uncomfortable amount of bladder pressure, even after you passed urine, it might be a urinary tract infection or another underlying condition. 

In more common cases, the constant pressure might also be a sign of overactive bladder. Speak to your doctor about treatment recommendations and how to relieve discomfort.

5. It hurts when you pee

Dysuria is a condition where you experience sharp, burning, stinging pain or discomfort when urinating. According to Dr Thomas Michels, almost 3% of adults older than 40 experience dysuria, and it’s the most common sign of a UTI.

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Marelize Wilke

What impact do high temperatures have on our bodies?

The bacterium has infected more than 30 people in Essex, claiming 13 lives.

Since being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis nearly one year ago, Selma Blair has been an open book about dealing with her diagnosis. Now, in a new interview with People magazine, Blair, 47, opened up about what it's been like to live with an incurable, chronic disease, and revealed new details in how her condition is progressing—including how she currently can't see out of her right eye.

Blair was initially diagnosed with MS in August 2018—news that, she says, actually lifted a weigh off of her shoulders. "For some people, the diagnosis is hard; for me, it was great," she told People. According to Blair, receiving a specific diagnosis allowed her to "stop a lot of the self-loathing I had for my fatigue and confusion." 

But, when Blair consulted the internet to learn more about MS, she came up pretty fruitless: "I remember when I found MS, I couldn't find anything on the internet," she said. "You'd find the worst-case scenario—people totally contorted and atrophied in a wheelchair—or far easier than my case when I couldn't relate."

But as Blair's condition progressed, she said the symptoms "hit kind of hard—the speech and vertigo and vision." Blair went in to more detail about exactly what she deals with regarding her symptoms: "I do have gait issues," she said. "My left side is primarily affected but when I get very tired my body gets very similar to cerebral palsy."

RELATED: Selma Blair Reveals She's Getting 'Seemingly Sicker' With MS In Emotional New Post

Blair also addressed her vocal issues (specifically known as spasmodic dysphonia, a condition that causes involuntary movements in the vocal box or larynx). "My voice is like, you know when you were a child and you cried too much and you couldn't get your breath after? So I'm not in pain, although it's an effort, but it's like a baby that's so distraught that can't get enough air," she said. Blair did say, however, that she can "get it to settle" once in a while if she relaxes enough—or if she yells. "If I yell I can push enough air out so I don't have it."

But Blair also revealed a newer symptom she hasn't talked about before: Vision loss. "My vision's affected," she said. "I don't see out of my right eye right now," which Selma says she disguises by wearing her hair in a deep side part to cover her affected eye.

Overall though, Blair says she takes pride to be one of the faces of people with a chronic or incurable illness—and has been surprised at how supportive people have been. "I was really surprised at how much it meant to people to be willing to talk about it," she said. That's why it's so important to her to continue to be so open about her MS diagnosis. "I wanna say it's okay if you're not someone's version of best, be your version for the day, worry about the rest later."

RELATED: Could You Have MS? 16 Symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis

Tooth decay, gum disease and oral cancers can lower the quality of life in many ways, including pain, infections, problems with eating, speaking, diminished confidence and disrupting people’s social lives, work and school. 

According to a new Lancet Series on Oral Health study, sugar consumption is the underlying cause of tooth decay, with untreated dental decay being the most common health condition worldwide, and lip and oral cavity cancers among the top most common cancers.

For Trudy Magolela (24) from Groblersdal, Limpopo, oral disease has been part of her life since childhood. 

“I have had dental problems since I was a kid; every time I eat something solid or brush my teeth they bleed. It’s very painful. My gums are itchy all the time and some of my teeth have cracks. I no longer eat sweets and chocolates because of the pain,” she says. 

Magolela has also stopped drinking sugary drinks and eating junk food to avoid cavities – but despite her dental discomfort, she has never sought help from a dentist. 

Oral diseases have a major economic impact on individuals and the wider health-care system, according to The Lancet study, which was led by University College London researchers. 

The study brought together experts from 10 countries to better understand why oral diseases have persisted globally over the last three decades, despite scientific advancement, and why prevalence has increased in middle-income countries, and among vulnerable people, no matter where they live. 

Oral diseases present a major global public health burden and have been largely ignored by the global health community, the study further states. 

‘A state of crisis’

Professor Richard Watt, the lead author of the series, says dentistry is in a state of crisis. He adds that dental care and public health responses have been largely inadequate, leaving billions of people without access to even basic oral health care. 

“In high-income countries, dentistry is increasingly technology-focussed and trapped in a treatment-over-prevention cycle, failing to tackle the underlying causes of oral diseases. Oral health conditions share many of the same underlying risk factors as non-communicable diseases, such as sugar consumption, tobacco use and harmful alcohol consumption,” Watt explains.

The study also found that the underlying cause of tooth decay is rising rapidly across many low middle-income countries (LMIC). While sugary drinks consumption is highest in high-income countries (HIC), the growth in sales of sugary drinks in many LMIC is substantial. 

Research conducted in South Africa by Fitch Solutions reveals that sugary drinks sales are expected to decline for a second consecutive year since the introduction of the Health Promotion Levy, also known as the sugary drinks tax. 

Khodani Mpilo (29) from Thohoyandou has already lost six teeth due to decay. “My teeth hurt a lot, especially when I eat red meat and some foods that have a lot of sugar. I have had dental problems since I was 7 years old,” she says.

Prevention better than cure 

According to Watt, the use of clinical preventive interventions, such as topical fluorides to control tooth decay is proven to be highly effective, but because it is seen as a remedy, it can lead to many losing sight of the fact that sugar consumption remains the primary cause of disease development. 

“We need tighter regulation and legislation to restrict marketing and influence of the sugar, tobacco and alcohol industries, if we are to tackle the root causes of oral conditions,” he says.

Dr Jocalyn Clark, an executive editor at The Lancet, says dentistry is rarely thought of as a mainstream part of healthcare practice and policy, despite the centrality of the mouth and oral cavity to people’s well-being and identity. 

“A clear need exists for broader accessibility and integration of dental services into healthcare systems, especially primary care, and for oral health to have more prominence within universal health coverage commitments. Everyone who cares about global health should advocate to end the neglect of oral health.”

Lancet Series authors have called for wholesale reform of the dental care model in five key areas, which are:

– Close the divide between dental and general healthcare;

– Educate and train the future workforce with an emphasis on prevention;

– Tackle oral health inequalities through a focus on inclusivity and accessibility;

– Take a stronger policy approach to address the underlying causes of oral disease; and

– Redefine the oral health research agenda to address gaps in low middle-income countries knowledge.

 – Health-e News

Ndivhuwo Mukwevho

Women should not be misled into thinking that thermography is an effective alternative to mammography for breast cancer screening, the US Food and Drug Administration warned.

Despite claims to the contrary, thermography should not be used in place of mammography for breast cancer screening, detection or diagnosis, the agency said.

Non-invasive test

“There is no valid scientific data to demonstrate that thermography devices, when used on their own or with another diagnostic test, are an effective screening tool for any medical condition including the early detection of breast cancer or other diseases and health conditions,” according to an FDA news release.

Thermography is a non-invasive test in which an infrared camera produces images that show patterns of heat and blood flow on or near the surface of the body. Thermography devices – also called digital infrared imaging devices – are approved by the FDA only for use with another screening or diagnostic test like mammography, not as a stand-alone diagnostic tool.

“Mammography [taking X-ray pictures of the breasts] is the most effective breast cancer screening method and the only method proven to increase the chance of survival through earlier detection,” the FDA said.

But the agency said that health spas, homeopathic clinics, mobile health units and other health care facilities are using thermography on its own for breast cancer screening or diagnosis.

The FDA said it has “received reports that these types of facilities provide false information that can mislead patients into believing that thermography is an alternative or better option than mammography.”

No scientific evidence

These inaccurate claims include statements that thermography can find breast cancer years before it would be detected through other methods, or that thermography improves detection of cancer in dense breasts, the agency noted.

Such claims are false or have no scientific evidence to support them, the FDA stressed.

If women fall for these falsehoods, the regulators fear they might not get mammograms to screen for breast cancer.

“People who choose thermography instead of mammograms may miss the chance to detect cancer at its earliest and most treatable stages,” according to the report.

The agency said it’s taking action to stop false advertising about thermography. Last week, it issued a warning letter to one company, Total Thermal Imaging, Inc., in La Mesa, California., for marketing and promoting thermography devices for uses that have not received marketing clearance or approval.

The FDA has also told five other facilities to stop making inappropriate claims about thermography devices.

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If you ask anyone how and why they started running long distances, you are sure to hear an interesting story – whether it’s for weight-loss, a health overhaul, in remembrance of someone close to them, for a good cause, or fighting an addiction – runners tend to have inspirational backgrounds and a reason why they adapted their lives to include running.

My initial reason was for vanity. I wanted to look good in a wedding dress, but I also wanted to join some form of activity in my community as I was always immersed in work, with little interests beside, well, work. I actually don’t have a great story about overcoming a battle, and I’ve never even been overweight.

Somehow, while dreading those early, cold mornings, I needed to find my own “why”. I thought hard about the ways running is still changing my life – I use the present tense as I’m still in the middle of this journey.

1. Running helps with my anxiety

General anxiety disorder makes me dread crowds, traffic and meeting new people. Running exposes you to all three of these elements, especially if it’s a big race. Somehow, I found that immersing myself in these situations I generally hated before, helped me cure my fear of people. There is nothing like lining up for a half marathon with 20 000 other people in the dark to help you get out of your comfort zone – and nothing like friendly banter with the person next to you to help you shake the fear of meeting new people. I also found that regular exercise helps me control my general anxiety much better.

2. Running is changing my perception about my body and food

If you asked me if running transformed my body, I can’t really say yes. As someone who was initially quite skinny and didn’t eat a proper meal during the day, I had to come to grips with a “heavier” self over the years. But instead of seeing extra kilograms, I see strength – a body that can complete 42.2 km with relative ease. And for me, food is no longer viewed as either “sinful” or “healthy”. I now see food as fuel and a celebration. After running, my food tastes better, my digestion is better, and I simply generally feel better.

3. Running is introducing me to people outside my circle

Running is all about learning to run alone and learning how to run with other people all at the same time. Joining the running community, I was introduced to people I wouldn’t have met under normal circumstances. Out on club runs, you hear life stories, you laugh, you stop thinking about your own life and start genuinely listening to other people. You also meet some of the most inspirational people you can imagine. Whenever I get stuck in a rut, I think of all those people who managed to change their lives for the better.

4. Running is helping me cope with intense migraines and sinus headaches

As a health writer, I need to back up anecdotal claims with specific studies. In this case, I can’t say with certainty if there is a link between decreasing migraines and regular exercise. All I know is that the intense headaches I used to suffer from are fewer than in the past and they tend to go away more quickly. 

5. Running is helping me to plan better

When following a training plan, it makes it easier for me to prioritise other things around that. It makes the time you plan with friends more valuable and helps you organise your days. It generally helps me manage my time better.

6. Running is making me take better care of my health

Where, in the past I would have ignored any niggles, pains, sniffles and ailments, I now address health issues as they pop up, as I don’t want to sit out due to any untreated health problems. I also consider my future health as I see so many people older than 60 still running long distances. This inspires me to stay active for as long as my legs will carry me.

7. Running is making me take better care of my skin

Hitting your 30s makes you pay more a lot attention to skincare. As someone who didn’t give sun protection a second thought, I now see pigmentation and fine wrinkles popping up. As running exposes you to the sun for extended periods, I now pay more attention than ever to applying and reapplying sunscreen, going for regular mole mappings at my dermatologist, and introducing good anti-ageing ingredients into my skincare regime.

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Marelize Wilke

Research shows that MRI scans at a person’s first diagnosis could inform patients’ treatment choices.