Cancer

A friend’s cancer and a stomach upset triggered Nitika Mehra to test herself and find out she had breast cancer. She spoke to us about her philosophy and approach to dealing with cancer and life after breast cancer. Please tell us a bit about your condition and can you describe it? What cancer did you have? I got diagnosed with stage 1 breast cancer in 2019. I was 50 years old.  What made you go to a doctor? Did you have any symptoms?  A friend of mine had breast cancer and needed a…

Rama Sivaram, a 20 year breast cancer survivor, patient navigator and an Independent Cancer Advocate reflects on her own tryst with breast cancer, and 20 years of survivorship and how it has shaped her perspective in life. Flashback 2004- A sense of well-being and fulfilment engulfed me not because of any dramatic moment because I am made that way and enjoy my small moments. I am a reasonable extrovert and warm person, romantic dreamer and possibly a little dumb too. I was my daddy’s…

Neeta Vyas is a senior physiotherapist who had breast cancer and now specialises in post-cancer rehabilitation. She talks about her breast cancer and how she dealt with it and what keeps her going. When were you first diagnosed with the cancer and what were the symptoms that made you visit a doctor? In 2017, when I was 58 years old, I had a prickling sensation in my breast. My gynecologist friend told me to get a mammogram done. I agreed but took it very lightly and went for it only a month and…

डॉ मैरी अब्राहम  दर्द और प्रशामक (उपशामक / पेलिएटिव केयर )देखभाल चिकित्सक (पेन एण्ड पेलिएटिव केयर फिज़िशन), और डॉ वंदना वी प्रकाश, नैदानिक मनोवैज्ञानिक (क्लीनिकल साइकालजिस्ट) इस लेख में बताती हैं कि कैंसर के दर्द का इलाज किया जा सकता है और कैंसर के रोगी की जीवन की गुणवत्ता को उपयुक्त दवाओं द्वारा बढ़ाया जा सकता है। वे इस से संबंधित अनेक प्रश्नों के उत्तर साझा करती हैं। कैंसर के दर्द पर अधिक ध्यान दिए जाने के बावजूद,  यह दर्द अभी भी कैंसर रोगियों और उत्तरजीवियों (सर्वाइवर) के लिए एक…

While fever is a normal response to infection, fever during cancer treatment needs to be taken seriously since the body’s immunity is compromised. Read on to understand how cancer treatment impacts immune systems, fever. Fever or pyrexia is a higher body temperature than normal. It may be due to an infection from bacteria, virus, fungus, parasite or even inflammation due to a disease or trauma. Fever is caused by substances called pyrogens. Contrary to what one may believe, fever is a good…

Madhavi Kumar pens the traumatic experience of her husband Ramendra’s sepsis soon after he was diagnosed with cancer and undergone surgery for it. Ramendra’s ileostomy procedure which was expected to be a “much, much simpler operation” but turned into a complete nightmare. Here is her account of the ordeal she and her children went through while Ramendra suffered multiple septic shocks. Your husband Ramendra's first septic shock occurred post his cancer related surgery. Did you understand what…

Rama Sivaram, breast cancer survivor and now patient counsellor talks about the issues of sexual wellbeing brought about by breast cancer and its treatment and how couples can bring back intimacy into their relationship “My coming of age was celebrated with such pomp and grandeur; I was just 13. I suddenly transitioned from being a girl child to woman physically, sexually and spiritually. On one hand I was embarrassed and scared and on the other rite of passage is a milestone –a social message…

Concerns regarding sexual health are quite common among patients who have undergone cancer treatment, but rarely are these concerns addressed by their medical care team. Most patients are shy or embarrassed to bring it up and even made to feel guilty about raising them, while they are trying to fight cancer. We spoke to Dr Prasad Raj Dandekar, consultant radio-oncologist who talked to us about the need for cancer patients to openly discuss their sexual health with their doctor to navigate…

Vandana Mahajan, a palliative care counselor, was diagnosed with thyroid cancer 15 years ago. She lost both her thyroid and parathyroid glands after cancer surgeries. In discussion with PatientsEngage, she reflects on her challenging journey and how her cancer diagnosis ultimately led her to find her identity. What were the initial symptoms that you experienced, and how did that lead to the diagnosis you received? In 2009, at the age of 36, I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer. Two years prior…

Kavitha*, 59 from Mumbai reiterates how appreciative she is that she went for a timely check-up. This is her story of how early detection of breast cancer through proactive screening prevented her from undergoing taxing treatment and an arduous journey with the disease. Please tell us a bit about your condition. Can you describe it? In 2011 during my annual check up I was diagnosed with calcification in my left breast. It was not immediately removed. There was no pain or any other symptoms…