Cancer

A loss of a child is unimaginable. Different people try to cope with it in different ways. Deepa and Jacob K Joy set up the Asawari Music Foundation in memory of their daughter Asawari, who was a musical talent herself. Deepa Jacob talks about the Trust, grief and how she has coped with the loss of her child. Please tell us what led to Asawari Musical Foundation being set up? Asawari Music Foundation was set up to remember my daughter Asawari who passed away when she was 15. She was suffering…

This mother-daughter interview takes us through a journey of a patient and caregiver, facing the turmoil of ovarian cancer diagnosis and treatment. Alina Rizvi is a resident of New Delhi, who has been taking care of her mother, Rabab Rizvi, a cancer patient for the last three years. Their journey has been tough, but a source of inspiration, affection and sheer joy that a mother-daughter relationship constitutes. Please tell us a bit about your condition  Daughter - My mother was diagnosed…

Dr Pallavi Vasal, a Consultant Obstetrics and Gynecology at W Pratiksha Hospital, Gurgaon answers comprehensively to a wide range of questions on Ovarian Cancer - signs, screenings and risks, specifically with endometriosis, cysts and breast cancer.  #AskTheDoctor Series. 1.   Ovarian Cancer does not exhibit easy to spot signs and symptoms. So what should women watch out for? Most women have very few symptoms but you may experience one or more of the following: Lower abdominal…

An interview on a wide range of issues - from survival rates of breast cancer to quality of life, from the use of chemotherapy to breast reconstruction - with Dr. Vinay Deshmane, Consultant in Surgical Oncology & Breast Diseases and Medical Director and Jnt. Hon secretary of the Indian Cancer Society  1.    Has the survival rate of Breast Cancer changed in India in recent years? Why is that? There is paucity of data on survival rates of most cancers including Breast…

Suparna Mazumder has been a single caregiver for her mother who was diagnosed with metaplastic carcinoma of the ducts. She recounts her journey  – as an organizer of treatment, as a physical and mental care giver, as the only earning member of the family, as a single parent with a child The Diagnosis It all started in January 2004. 17th January, 11pm. While I was reading the newspaper, my domestic help told me that my mother had been feeling her breasts in the afternoon and had said…

Philip Jacob, 72, who has Stage 4 Pancreatic Cancer and has been under treatment since October 2017, demystifies life’s uncertainties as he narrates his own diagnosis of cancer. I strongly doubt that anyone of us believes in immortality. The adverb 'strongly' is used intentionally as experience has also exposed me to the existence of a lunatic fringe in every society. The real question, in my opinion, is how many of us even reflect on it except in brief moments when confronted up and personal…

Talking and writing about health related experiences is still not common in Asia.  This International Women’s Day, we reach out to three dynamic women who share their experience as patient or caregiver to understand their motivations. In the last part of the series, we feature Mariyam Raza Haider.   1)    Why did you choose to blog? My strongest reason for blogging was to bring perspective to my father’s illness and its impact on my life. As I began writing about…

Javed Khan and his wife describe their 14 year old son, Tavish’s journey with cancer - from diagnosis to treatment and the support they received from Accesslife. 5 months ago, Tavish started complaining of knee pain in his left leg. He was an avid hockey player and noticed frequent falls during a game and while riding his bicycle. Initially the pain was dismissed but soon it grew more intense and would be worse at night time. Tavish would often be unable to sleep all night due to the pain and…

Dr Gayatri Deshpande, senior gynaecologist, cautions against infection of the Human papillomavirus (HPV) transmitted mainly through sexual contact that can cause painful and highly contagious genital warts resulting in a range of cancers in both men and women and advises safe sex to reduce risks. What is Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection and how do you get it? This is an infection caused by Human Papillomavirus which is a DNA virus. One can catch this infection by sexual contacts which may…

On World Cancer Day, CPAA along with UICC held a mini symposium to address the 2nd most common cancer in India; Cervical Cancer. Keynote speaker, Dr Sarita Bhalerao (Gynaecologist & Obstetrician) provided a comprehensive view of Cervical Cancer. Dr Suresh Advani (Medical Oncologist) graced the occasion commencing the ceremony with good news about Cervical Cancer. Decreased incidence rates reported in India and globally. 60% survival rate with treatment. Increased screening and prevention…