Cancer

A recent qualitative study evaluated the challenges of accessing health care for childhood cancer in India and the effect this had on treatment of children and impact on caregivers. In an email interview, Dr Neha Faruqui in consultation with other experts helped address questions raised by PatientsEngage.  Childhood cancers such as leukemia, retinoblastoma and meningiomas are commonly seen in India for the age group of 18 and under. The time period between the first onset of symptoms to…

Rashmi Sachade, 56 from Mumbai, who was diagnosed with GIST or Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumour 15 years ago treats cancer like a paying guest and depends on faith and laughter to see her through her cancer journey. It was 2004, I noticed that my stomach had started bloating and when I would be lying down to sleep, it would feel real tight especially on one side. I had no other health complaints at that time besides a distended abdomen so much so that people starting asking if I was…

In India, especially in field of cancer care, family caregivers often ask the doctors to not tell the patients the diagnosis, the staging and the expected time for survival.But does the patient not have a right to know? And would the patient want to know? A recent study by Ghoshal A., Salins N. investigated just this question. Dr. Naveen Salins talks to PatientsEngage on the study.   Do cancer patients want to know everything about their disease process? Contrary to the norms in…

A routine check up for Kiran Shah, 73 led to a diagnosis of Prostate Cancer. He shares the treatment he followed, the challenges faced and the rehabilitation and recovery journey. The Diagnosis: About 3 years ago, during a routine check-up, I was found to have an enlarged prostate gland with a high PSA value. I had no other symptoms at the time. My family doctor referred me to Dr Vinit Shah, an Urologist in Mumbai who advised me that there was nothing to be done at that time but to keep an eye…

Atharv, 7 was diagnosed with Osteosarcoma (bone tumour). His mother Nisha Dubey shares how the young boy soldiers on positively after a rare surgery, coping with the challenges of chemotherapy with the support of family and friends. Nisha, tell us about Atharv's diagnosis? My son, Atharv was diagnosed 2 years ago (he was 5) with Osteosarcoma (bone tumor) in his proximal femur (thigh bone). What were the early symptoms? What made you go see a doctor? Once while watching TV, he suddenly…

Dr Anand Mishra, Professor and Head of Department of Endocrine Surgery, King George’s Medical University, Lucknow, organised a ramp walk for breast cancer survivors including men with breast cancer, to focus awareness on early detection and treatment of breast cancer. He shares his views on how he went about it as also his future plans. Please share with us your journey with breast cancer patients. I am working with breast cancer since my early days of a trainee senior resident doctor…

We often tell cancer patients to be positive. But they go through a lot of psychological emotions including suicide ideation. It is also important that we are aware of the high rate of suicide among cancer patients. Psycho-oncologist Bincy Mathew sheds light on the signs of suicide and what caregivers and healthcare professionals can do. According to a SEER database analysis, the suicide rate among the cancer population was found to be 60% higher than the general population or with any other…

Parameswaran(Param), 51 is a CML (Chronic Myeloid Leukemia) survivor. He recounts his experience of battling the condition, going through a Bone Marrow Transplant and his journey to becoming a patient advocate. I was diagnosed with Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML) in Feb 2004 and was on standard treatment till Oct 2006 I was givenThyrosine Kinase Inhibitor tablets which secures the disease to be in control. But I developed resistance and had to undergo a Bone Marrow Transplant in Nov 2006. It is…

Screening for Cancer is a crucial part of Cancer Prevention and Control for women. In the second part of this guide on screening, Dr Gauravi Mishra  focusses on the screening strategies for women related cancers like Breast Cancer and Cervical Cancer.  Can you explain the difference between the various screening tools used for Breast cancer i.e. ultrasound vs BSE vs mammography vs thermography? Breast Self-Examination BSEs first started 1930s; gained more recognition in 1950s-1960s…

Screening for Cancer is a crucial part of Cancer Prevention and Control. Yet, screening is not integrated into our routine medical health care for our mass population. Dr Gauravi Mishra, of the Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai provides us with her expert guidance on advances and modifications in screening strategies for India including Genome Tests and Liquid Biopsy. And specific focus on Prostate Cancer. There have been recent changes in cancer screening. What are the current guidelines for…