Some forms of inflammation like chronic inflammation happen without any provocation in our bodies. The reasons may be smoking, detection of foreign bodies, or toxic progression, but these could also be underlying cancer symptoms and hence should be taken as a sign of a fatal disease.

Expert says that chronic inflammation may be linked to different types of cancer. In 1863, German scientist Rudolf Virchow observed that cancer cells often develop at parts of chronic inflammation. However, researchers have lately stated that chronic inflammation acts as a prime risk factor for cancer ailments. Chronic inflammation causes few outward symptoms, which could be signs of cancer.

What is Inflammation?

The concept of inflammation is tricky to grasp because inflammation is a healthy process that is essential to the body's ability to heal itself.

When there is an injury or an infection, the body's immune system releases white blood cells to fight them and repair damaged cells. However, the healthy tissues get damaged when the immune system triggers an inflammatory response for a healthy body (as in the case of autoimmune diseases).

Dr Eugene Ahn, Medical Director at Chicago Hospital, states that chronic inflammation is occasionally called 'smouldering inflammation' because its inflammation never really resolves. It is the opposite of 'good' inflammation, which your body uses to get rid of bacteria and viruses.

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How does it develop?

Researchers have a broad understanding of inflammation's dual personality in today's time. Chronic inflammation is caused by inherited gene mutations and some other factors outside of our control.

It may also result from lifestyle preferences that can be changed. Dr. Ahn describes that the association between inflammation and cancer has been apparent for a protracted time; however it's currently coming back into focus owing to the rise in lifestyle-dependent inflammation we're seeing,

Few causes of chronic inflammation:

• Cancer-causing chronic inflammation can sometimes stem from a disease identified by inflammation. Inflammatory diseases like colitis, pancreatitis, and hepatitis, are associated with a greater risk of colon, pancreatic, and liver cancers, respectively where immune cells produce extremely reactive molecules that may modify the DNA structure.

• Chronic inflammation can also result from chronic infections due to abdomen cancer, and hepatitis B and C related toliver cancer.

• HIV also may increase the risk of different viruses and extremely rare cancers; like Kaposi malignant neoplastic disease, non-Hodgkin cancer, and invasiveCervical Cancer.

How to detect inflammation in the body?

The most common way to measure inflammation is by conducting ablood testfor C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), which is a marker of inflammation. Doctors also measure homo cysteine levels to evaluate chronic inflammation.

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Preventive Care:

• Whether it's an autoimmune disease like lupus or rheumatoid arthritis, if we can lessen the number of inflammatory processes in our environment, we can subdue our risk of cancer. The immune cells can get tricked into believing that cells are lacking oxygen, to make them retreat from the area of inflammation to preserve energy

• There is evidence building around that aspirin may help limit chronic inflammation. This non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug reduces the production of prostaglandins( chemicals that elevate inflammation, pain, and fever).

• With nearly 35 per cent of cancers linked to dietary factors like obesity, stress, and lack of exercise; the connection between lifestyle habits and inflammation prevails as a concern. These factors trigger an immune response without an infection to fight off or injured tissue to heal.

• Diet and exercise top the healthy lifestyle list, says Dr Lynch. Even little changes, like adding more plant-based foods that contain anti-inflammatory phytonutrients to your meal and consuming more fermented food products like yoghurt and miso, which contain natural probiotics, help reduce inflammation.

Try to consume food products that consist of these anti-inflammatory food ingredients like curcumin, ginger, garlic, berries, and omega-3 fatty acids.

Curcumin

• Curcumin is a vital ingredient in turmeric.
• It is a powerful antioxidant having anti-inflammatory properties.
• It works against cancer cells to decrease their progress.
• A small quantity of turmeric in a daily meal is sufficient.
• Acts as a good appetizer and digestive aid.

Ginger

• It reduces anti-inflammatory response andPlateletaggregation.
• Adding Ginger to soups, dals, veggies, teas and broths works well during intensive Cancer Treatment.
• It works best for people havingnauseaand improves their taste buds.
• It assists in lowering blood sugar and prevents heart disease.
• It treats chronic indigestion; it also significantly reduces menstrual pain, muscle pain, and soreness.

Garlic

• It's the rawgarlicthat's more effective.
• It needs to be chopped/crushed when added to food.
• It limits the effect of proinflammatory cytokines.
• Allicin, a compound found in garlic, is an anti-inflammatory, antioxidant substance and is good for cell activity.

Berries

• Different types of berries, like strawberries, blackberries, black raspberries, and blueberries, are known to play a protective role against cancer.
• Berries are loaded with beneficial properties, they are rich in antioxidants as well as vitamin C, quercetin, manganese, and dietaryFiber.
• Similarly, fruits like peaches, nectarines, oranges, pink grapefruit, red grapes, plums, and pomegranates are good sources of Flavonoids and Carotenoids which are anti-inflammatory substances.

Omega 3 Fatty acids

• A good anti-inflammatory agent that fights againstdepressionandanxiety.
• It is found in fish oil, walnuts, and flaxseedsand promotes brain health during pregnancy and early life.
• Omega 3 fatty acids result in reducingcolon cancersymptoms.
• Widely used as supplements, they fight against autoimmune diseases

We can affirmatively say that lifestyle changes can help keep cancer at bay. Apart from palliative care and reducing cancer symptoms, anti-inflammatory foods also help to heal cancer in a better way.

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Reference:

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2. Barnard RJ. Prevention of Cancer Through Lifestyle Changes. Evid Based Complement Alternat Med. 2004 Dec;1(3):233-239. doi: 10.1093/ecam/neh036. Epub 2004 Oct 6. PMID: 15841256; PMCID: PMC538507.