Ankylosing spondylitis is a type of arthritis that affects the spine primarily. The condition forces the individual vertebrae of the spine to fuse together. The bone fusion also affects the nearby bone mass, including one’s rib cage, resulting in an abnormal joining of bones. Spondylitis commonly results in pain, stiffness, and inflammation right from one’s neck to the lower back area.

Cancer is said to have metastasized when the cancerous cells spread to the other parts of the body. The signs and symptoms of this disease depend on what other organ has been affected by the rogue cells. If breast cancer metastasizes, it typically affects organs like the bones, brain, lungs, and liver.

A protein receptor in our body, also called the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2, controls the cells’ ability to grow, divide, or repair itself. However, when there is something wrong in the gene that is responsible for HER2 protein, the body starts creating too many receptors. This causes excess production of the breast cells, creating a tumor.

According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, about 20% of the total population suffers from gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD). This condition occurs when the stomach acid frequently flows back into the tube called esophagus which connects the mouth and stomach. This backwash of the stomach acid, also known as acid reflux, can irritate the lining of this tube.

Major depressive disorder or clinical depression has a negative effect on how a person feels, thinks, and reacts. It causes a perennial feeling of sadness accompanied by a loss of interest in once enjoyable activities. Moreover, it causes a number of emotional and physical problems that can decrease the affected person’s ability to function normally.

The term metastatic is used to define cancer that spreads from the place of origin to other parts of the body. Metastatic breast cancer forms in the breasts but spreads to the lymph nodes and other organs such as the brain, lungs, or liver. In most cases, or rather in a majority of patients diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer, there is no real cure for the disease.