Cancer

Rebecca D'Souza, clinical psychologist with Nag Foundation, an NGO in Pune working for the welfare of cancer patients, says losing hair due to chemotherapy is one of the biggest fears for women, and suggests ways of dealing with the stress and emotions. Cancer is a much maligned and dreaded disease partly because of the lack of awareness and partly because of our understanding of the disease and its treatment. Lack of awareness is one of the main reasons for late diagnosis and a lack of…

Shilpa Aneja, 34 is a Stage 3 breast cancer survivor from Jaipur and credits her recovery to proper maintenance of a physical exercise routine and an unbeatable attitude and positive mindset. Here, she shares her gutsy life principles, strong commitment to mental and physical health, and immeasurable love for her daughter that helped her combat cancer. Shilpa, please tell us a bit about your diagnosis and the treatment I was diagnosed with stage 3 metastatic breast cancer in November 2016. My…

Children who are out of town patients often miss school for months on end. This affects the child socially and psychologically and often makes reintegration back to school difficult. Dr. Shital Raval visits Canshala which helps bridge that gap by providing continuity of education and normalcy to a child’s life. Set in a Municipal Marathi school in Parel, Canshala is a school for children with cancer, run in collaboration with the Mumbai MCGM. In contrast to the drab exterior, Canshala is a…

Mr Pranab Kumar Basu shares his experience of being the sole caregiver of his wife, who had metastastic colon cancer, and how he succeeded in keeping her mentally strong and cheerful till the end. I have been the sole caregiver for my wife who was suffering from cancer. My wife was under the treatment at the Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, from July, 2015. She battled for nearly 2 years and 6 months. She finally succumbed to it in October 2017. She was a victim of metastatic colon cancer. The…

You may have heard people refer to a ‘metastatic cancer' or  say that ‘cancer has metastasized’ or is ‘in Stage 4’. But what does that really mean. Dr. Shital Raval explains.  What is Metastasis? Metastasis is a term for when cancer has spread to a different part of a body from where it first originated. Because metastatic cancer is more difficult to control and treat, it is categorized as the last stage or Stage IV. How does Metastasis happen? This happens when cancer cells break…

Sandeep, 25 was diagnosed with Ewing Sarcoma at 12 years of age.  He saw his father cry quietly in the bathroom. Nobody told him what to expect.  His experience motivated him to work with cancer patients as a Patient Navigator at Cankids. And 5 tips for children facing cancer. I am a Ewing Sarcoma survivor! I was diagnosed at the age of 12.5 years. Early symptoms In September 2006, I started getting pain and some swelling in my right upper arm. Initially I never told anyone because I…

Sunil Dutta, a writer and a poet has found that accepting death, being curious rather than fearful helps in dealing with the diagnosis and treatment of lung cancer. He finds solace in Ghalib and Zauk. Sunil Dutta stared at a scan of his lungs. Hundreds of tiny nodules melded together into a snow-white mass — each pockmark occupying what was once healthy tissue. A normal lung scan is mostly dark grey hues, with a few white spots indicating abnormalities. This was something entirely different. “…

Smriti, 50 from Mumbai was diagnosed with cancer for the second time. The hospital nurse referred to her as the most cheerful patient in the ward. PatientsEngage spoke to her to find out her mantra for a positive attitude. Please tell us a bit about your condition  A. I was recently diagnosed with abdominal cancer. When were you diagnosed? A. My diagnoses came in January 2018. What were the early symptoms? What made you go see a doctor? A. It all started in August 2017…

It has been almost three years since his wife passed away, but the void is hard to reconcile. In an emotional piece, Mario recounts the day when his wife Cheryl was diagnosed with advanced pancreatic cancer, and how family and friends rallied together to make her comfortable and happy in her last days. I first met my wife around Oct 84 in a church in Lucknow and after wooing her to hell and back married her in Oct 85. As a family we had our ups and downs but I daresay we had a beautiful…

Nearly 50% of brain tumours detected are cancerous. While advances in immunological and genetic testing will make early detection possible, your biggest wall of armour will be leading a healthy life, emphasizes Dr. Mohinish Bhatjiwale, consultant neurosurgeon at Nanavati Hospital. What are the most common symptoms of brain tumour? The most common symptoms of brain tumour is headache, unremitting headache associated with vomiting and blurred vision, weakness of any one side. What percentage of…