Cancer

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…

And other questions on types of radiation therapy and tips to handle the effects of radiation therapy answered by Dr. Arpana Shukla, Senior Consultant Radiation Oncology, Sterling Cancer Center Ahmedabad 1.   What exactly is Radiation Therapy? Radiation Therapy is a clinical modality mainly dealing with the use of ionizing radiations for the treatment of cancer patients (and occasionally benign diseases). The primary goal is to deliver a precisely measured dose of radiation to a…

This World Cancer Day, cancer survivors and PatientsEngage contributors share advice based on their lives experience on how best to deal with a cancer diagnosis. #WeCanICan #WorldCancerDay #WCD2018 What would you tell a person who just learned of their cancer diagnosis?’ 1. Dilip Kumar Mevada, Multiple myeloma survivor Cancer so what? You can overcome it. You have to accept and forgive that you have cancer.  If I can survive you can also survive. We are the luckiest human beings to have…

Nila, 80 from Ahmedabad talks about how a mild gastro issue led to a life altering diagnosis of Colorectal Cancer and how she learnt to live with a colostomy bag and a modified lifestyle. And her coping mantras. Please tell us a bit about your condition I had Colorectal Cancer and now have a permanent colostomy bag attached to me. I was diagnosed in summer of 2016. What were the early symptoms? It all started with sudden onset of diarrhea. This was very surprising because all my life, I have…

says Dr Geeta Kadayaprath, a Surgical Oncologist and Head of Breast Surgery at Max Super Speciality Hospital, New Delhi. She strongly recommends Breast Self Examination (BSE) as one of the methods for early detection. How do you spread awareness about breast cancer? Through lectures, videos and street plays mainly 1.   Would you say the awareness has improved over the years? It has, but in select pockets only, mainly urban. There is no comprehensive, concerted method of creating…