Cancer

Atharv, 7 was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma (bone tumour). His mother Nisha Dubey shares how the young boy soldiers on positively after a rare surgery, coping with the challenges of chemotherapy with the support of family and friends. Nisha, tell us about Atharv's diagnosis? My son, Atharv was diagnosed 2 years ago (he was 5) with Osteosarcoma (bone tumor) in his proximal femur (thigh bone). What were the early symptoms? What made you go see a doctor? Once while watching TV, he suddenly…

Dr Anand Mishra, Professor and Head of Department of Endocrine Surgery, King George’s Medical University, Lucknow, organised a ramp walk for breast cancer survivors including men with breast cancer, to focus awareness on early detection and treatment of breast cancer. He shares his views on how he went about it as also his future plans. Please share with us your journey with breast cancer patients. I am working with breast cancer since my early days of a trainee senior resident doctor…

We often tell cancer patients to be positive. But they go through a lot of psychological emotions including suicide ideation. It is also important that we are aware of the high rate of suicide among cancer patients. Psycho-oncologist Bincy Mathew sheds light on the signs of suicide and what caregivers and healthcare professionals can do. According to a SEER database analysis, the suicide rate among the cancer population was found to be 60% higher than the general population or with any other…

Parameswaran(Param), 51 is a CML (Chronic Myeloid Leukemia) survivor. He recounts his experience of battling the condition, going through a Bone Marrow Transplant and his journey to becoming a patient advocate. I was diagnosed with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) in Feb 2004 and was on standard treatment till Oct 2006 I was givenThyrosine Kinase Inhibitor tablets which secures the disease to be in control. But I developed resistance and had to undergo a Bone Marrow Transplant in Nov 2006. It is…

Screening for Cancer is a crucial part of Cancer Prevention and Control for women. In the second part of this guide on screening, Dr Gauravi Mishra  focusses on the screening strategies for women related cancers like Breast Cancer and Cervical Cancer.  Can you explain the difference between the various screening tools used for Breast cancer i.e. ultrasound vs BSE vs mammography vs thermography? Breast Self-Examination BSEs first started 1930s; gained more recognition in 1950s-1960s…

Screening for Cancer is a crucial part of Cancer Prevention and Control. Yet, screening is not integrated into our routine medical health care for our mass population. Dr Gauravi Mishra, of the Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai provides us with her expert guidance on advances and modifications in screening strategies for India including Genome Tests and Liquid Biopsy. And specific focus on Prostate Cancer. There have been recent changes in cancer screening. What are the current guidelines for…

While breast cancer patients are busy dealing with the effects of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation therapy, they are often not warned about Lymphedema, often called "the dirty secret" of breast cancer. Breast cancer survivors share their first hand experience of dealing with lymphedema.  What is Lymphedema Lymphodema is the accumulation of lymph (tissue fluid) below the skin. Lymph is normally drained by the Lymphatic system, which when obstructed can lead to accumulation of the lymph.…

Hair Loss is one of the more dreaded side effects of chemotherapy. But thats not the only side effect. Our contributors shared the other side effects they went through. Often the side effects were different in each cycle.  Here is a compilation of the various side effects experienced by our contributors. There have been a few who had no major side effects apart from hair loss. This article can help other patients and their families be prepared for these side-effects. Click on the name to…

A diagnosis of Osteosarcoma (Bone Cancer) when she was 26 years old changed Neema's life forever. She talks of her challenging journey including multiple surgeries, amputation and more and the person who motivated her to fight the cancer. Please tell us a bit about your condition It was November of 1998 when I was just 26 years old. I was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma (bone cancer) of my knee. What were the early symptoms? What made you go see a doctor? I used to work at a Research lab where I…

Ushakant Shah, 75 from Ahmedabad was diagnosed with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) 16 years ago. He went through intensive treatment which caused a lot of complications. He fought with all the courage he could summon and established an NGO KarunaKare to reduce the burden of care for poor cancer patients.  It was October of 2003, my family and I had gone to Bombay to attend a wedding. On the 2nd day, I had some back pain which I thought was due to the hectic schedule. On the 3rd day, there…