Cancer

Every year in February, Ugam, the childhood cancer survivors support group at Tata Memorial, observes International Childhood Cancer Day by playing a friendly cricket match with different stakeholders. Here, we trace the journey of Shekhar Jha, who is a passionate cricketer and deeply indebted to the organization. In 1992 when 6-year-old Shekhar Jha came to Mumbai for treatment of Hodgkin's Lymphoma to Tata Memorial Centre, little did he know that it was the beginning of a deep lifelong bond…

In the second part of the soft food but nutritious recipes for oral cancer patients, we bring you snacks that you can quickly put together. If you have recipes for specific conditions that you would like to share write in to our editor.   Power Oats Porridge for breakfast is a great way to start the day! Oats are loaded with fibre and can be very useful for patients having constipation, a common side-effect of cancer treatment.  Flax seeds are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, fiber,…

The integration of psycho-oncology into cancer care has significantly helped alleviate emotional and psychological distress for both patients and caregivers. Savita Goswami, psycho-oncologist at Tata Memorial Hospital, discusses some of the psychotherapeutic intervention techniques used in paediatric cancer care. In recent years, there has been an increasing emphasis on psychosocial interventions in paediatric oncology care. What does it really entail? In the last two decades, great work has…

Shweta Chawre, animator and graphic designer, who was diagnosed with stage 2 osteosarcoma, an aggressive type of bone cancer, as a teenager, looks back over her life and celebrates her decade of survivorship with gratitude and optimism. It was the summer of 2008. I was 15 years old and had just completed my SSC board examinations. One day I developed a routine knee pain, nothing that signified a major health trouble. The pain was in my right knee. I was active in sports so we reckoned that the…

Mrunal Marathe, counsellor at St Jude India Childcare shares the challenges, fears and insecurities faced by children and teenagers affected by cancer and the impact on their families. What are the growing concerns of parents who have children with cancer? The first and largest problem is that most people aren’t aware that cancer is a disease that can affect children. Cancer is perceived as something adults get. After a diagnosis, parents often blame themselves and believe that is was something…

Living Better After Cancer - Adapting to a new Reality. This webinar, part of our ‘Living Better’ series on lived experiences of cancer survivorship sessions looks at the psycho-social aspects of young adults who have to deal with cancer. This session covers how cancer re-defines identity, how it affects relationships and friendships, equations at work and perspectives in life. Listen to an insightful and interesting conversation with Psycho Oncologist Aneri Shah and Cancer survivors…

Gauri Singh was 25 when she was diagnosed with Ewing's Sarcoma. Cancer free for 9 years, she shares her journey to send a message that with a touch of humour and family support you can thrive after cancer. Tell us about about yourself and your cancer history - early symptoms, diagnosis, treatment I grew up in Agra in a joint family. Went on to do engineering and then joined a software company. Got an opportunity to work in the US for about a year and a half. When I returned, my mom noticed a…

Cancer patients often self medicate with vitamins and mineral supplements and other dietary supplements during the course of cancer treatment. Dr. Shital Raval examines the commonly suggested supplements and herbs and the associated risks. During cancer treatment, eating right is extremely important in order to sustain the side-effects of cancer drugs as well as combat weight loss. Many patients find it difficult to eat, possibly due to loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, etc. or eat a well-…

Oral cancer patients struggle with eating regular meals.  However, it is important for them to eat nutritious meals to keep their strength up during treatment. Here are three simple recipes for lunch and dinner.  Hearty rainbow soup In this recipe, varied vegetables of all colours are used to create a multi-vitamin rich meal. It works well for lunch or dinner, as it fills the stomach but is also not too heavy for patients who may have nausea from treatment. Ingredients: 1/3 cup…

An informed and engaged cancer patient has better clinical outcomes and fewer side effects. Knowing the trajectory of the illness also helps the patient and their family plan for the treatment and other care related aspects. Dr. Shital Raval shares an exhaustive set of questions that you may need to ask your cancer specialist.   A Cancer diagnosis can be quite alarming but by taking an active role in planning treatment and care, it can help alleviate the unwelcome stress and anxiety.…