Cancer

Cancer is not a death sentence. And many people continue to live fulfilling lives after cancer. In our Live Discussion sessions we talk to eminent doctors and brave survivors for tips, vital information and motivation. In the first of the series on Living Better After Breast Cancer we have with us Director and Breast Cancer Specialist Dr. D.G. Vijay, HCG Cancer Centre, Ahmedabad  Breast Cancer Survivor Nandita Muralidhar, Chennai   Breast Cancer Survivor Urvi Sabnis - Dave,…

Urvi Sabnis, 47 from Ahmedabad, India was diagnosed with 2nd stage breast cancer through a routine screening. However, she stayed focussed through the treatment and has emerged a more compassionate, grateful and fearless woman. Tell us about about yourself and your cancer history  The beginning of my story is rather mundane. A small town girl with big dreams. I made a name for myself as the rare female in the male dominated sphere of the corporate world. To round it off, I had a…

Pranab Basu has been a hands on caregiver for his wife, and has now devoted himself to helping and counselling people suffering from Cancer. He talks about the importance of counselling in Palliative Care. What is the role of Palliative Care? World Health Organization defines Palliative Care as "to prevent and relieve suffering by means of early identification and impeccable assessment and treatment of pain and other related problems, physical, psychosocial and spiritual". The intrinsic value…

Rita Banik, founder of RACE to Rein in Cancer has been living with cancer for more than 12 years. She reflects on her journey, the ups and downs and what keeps her going as the fear of relapse stays in the mind forever. The milestones and key incidents that come to mind Detected the breast lump in March 2006 Going for FNAC test was the hardest First reaction of relatives was that I was going to die The trauma of losing a breast came almost after a year of surgery First realization of what I…

Cancer patients and their families go through stressful, fearful and anxious times of emotional upheaval.  Dancer and Actress Kamalika Guha Thakurta talks to PatientsEngage on how Artscape is using art, music and  dance therapy to support healing and psychological rehabilitation of cancer patients and their family caregivers. 1.   Tell us a little about Artscape. Artscape is a non-governmental organization established in 2015, which works in the area of mental wellness. We…

Anita Nanda, 58 who resides in Mauritius, battled breast cancer with a positive attitude, which was, of course, aided by the loving comfort of her family. She recalls those difficult days in this personal account. What was the emotion uppermost in your mind when you were diagnosed with breast cancer in January 2017 - Depression, anxiety, fear or something else? All of these. Oh my God! It can’t be happening to me…’ was obviously the first thought. Did you face emotional turmoil throughout, or…

The 2018 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to James P. Allison and Tasuku Honjo for discoveries that have led to new medicines that activate the immune system and drive it to fight cancers. These therapies can defeat even the deadliest malignancies. Two scientists, Professor James P Allison from the US and Professor Tasuku Honjo from Japan, who discovered how to fight cancer using the body's immune system have won the 2018 Nobel Prize for physiology or…

Prof Anita Ghai, a leading disability rights activist and academic reflects on her own life, her life with polio,  rheumatic heart disease and breast cancer and her persistent struggles with undesirable societal attitudes towards disability. ‘How come you had polio? Were you not vaccinated? Why was your mother not more careful?’ These are some questions that always haunt me. Of course, there are many others such as ‘why me?’ that all of us always ask ourselves. But what can one reply…

Pranab Kumar Basu has turned a counsellor after being a full-time caregiver to his wife who was suffering from Cancer. He discusses his experiences of supporting cancer patients who are apprehensive about hair loss. In your experience, who suffer more hair loss after chemotherapy: men or women? Hair loss occurs in both men and women but in respect of volume women suffer more hair loss. For whom is it more traumatic: men or women? Is there an age profile that is affected more? It is more…

Pranay Rangra, 34 from Mumbai was diagnosed with Stage 2 Non Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. He shares his journey of dealing with cancer, the side effects of treatment and getting back into the workforce with the support of his family and colleagues Early Symptoms I have always been on the healthy side, but around late December of 2016, I started losing weight at a rapid pace. Initially I didn’t pay much attention to it and was actually glad to become a bit slimmer. Along with this weight loss, I started…