Cancer

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.…

What is a Bone Scan? What do the results of the scan indicate? When do you need a Bone Scan? How often should you get a Bone Scan? We give you information that will help you discuss your options with your doctor. What is a Bone Scan  A Bone scan is done to check the bone mineral density (BMD) so as to assess strength of the bones and probability of any fractures. The scan helps identify any mild (osteopenia) or serious bone loss (osteoporosis). The most common bone density test is the DEXA…

Payel Bhattacharya, 38 suffers from a rare condition called VHL and has undergone countless surgeries and a liver transplant to overcome her various challenges. She is a warrior and here she recounts as to how tough her going has been Please tell us a bit about yourself, your condition, as in what you are suffering from and when you were diagnosed. I am Payel Bhattacharya. I was born and raised in Kolkata, but I am currently residing in New Delhi with my mother for the past decade. Ten years…

Cervical cancer refers to cancer that originates in the cells lining the cervix, which is the organ connecting the uterus and the vagina. There are two main types of cervical cancers: The most common is squamous cell carcinoma, arising in the squamous (flattened) epithelial cells that line the cervix. The other is adenocarcinoma, which starts in the mucus-producing gland cells of the cervix.  The human papilloma virus (HPV) infection is the leading cause of cervical cancer.…

Shailaja Asave, a non-smoker, who developed lung cancer at 67, believed to be due to a gene mutation prevalent in Asian women, is undergoing targeted therapy and living each day to the fullest. Read about her diagnosis, treatment and unbeatable spirit. When were you detected with lung cancer? Last year in February 2017. It was already in the advanced stage, what is called Stage IV. What were your initial symptoms? I had a persistent dry cough for 3 months which did not go away with anti-allergy…

Dr Kumar Prabhash, Prof. Medical Oncology, Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, gives insights into the different types and stages of lung cancer and outlines the benefits of targeted therapy as treatment. How many different types of lung cancer are there? Earlier lung cancer was classified only into two major types: Small cell lung cancers (SCLC) and Non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLC), based upon the microscopic appearance of the tumor cells. These two different types of cancers grow, spread as…

People get umpteen health news forwards and they often forward without verifying. Some even think "may be it will help some one". Dr. Aju Mathew, medical oncologist and director, Kerala Cancer Care shares his tips on how to spot the fake news forwards and whether you should forward or not. We live in an era of information superhighway. In a way, this is a more democratic way of communication. Everyone has a voice - not just those with power or knowledge. But in the cacophony of the voices, the…