Cancer

When Kamini Pradhan faced cancer recurrence a second time and chemotherapy with strong after effects could not be considered an option for treatment, the doctors decided to put her on Targeted Therapy with a rare drug which worked miracles! I was detected with a second recurrence of Ovarian Cancer in December 2015 and as always went to Tata Hospital in Bombay for treatment. I could feel no symptoms but the disease was so visible in the scans that malignancy did not even require a test. Yet, a…

This time in our Health by Numbers/Medical Tests series, Dr Shital Raval takes a look at the importance of Calcium levels in the metabolic panel. Read the previous parts on Sodium Levels, Potassium Levels and Chloride Levels CALCIUM: Calcium is an important component of our bones, teeth, nerve cells and organs such as heart and kidneys. A blood calcium test is ordered if there are any symptoms of any bone or neurological disorders, kidney stones etc or can be a part of a Comprehensive…

World Brain Tumour Day Primary brain cancers account for 2% of all cancers and represent about 20% cancer deaths per year. Dr. Suresh Sankhla, Consultant Neurosurgeon emphasises that increased awareness about brain tumours can result in early diagnosis, prompt treatment, and excellent outcome. What are the common signs and symptoms of brain tumour? Following are the most common symptoms of brain tumours, which may be present in various combinations. All symptoms are initially very mild but…

World Ovarian Cancer Day Nearly 70 % of ovarian cancers are not discovered until they have reached an advanced stage III or later when it is more difficult to treat and can be fatal. Dr Kiran Coelho, gynaecologist and obstetrician, counsels women, particularly those at high-risk, to undergo regular ovarian cancer screening to be safe. 1. What is the rate of incidence of ovarian cancer among Indian women? The incidence of ovarian cancer has shown an increasing trend in India in the last 20 years…

This time in our health by numbers/tests series, Dr Shital Raval takes a look at our platelet count that can be determined by a routine blood test. If the platelet count is high or low from the normal range, it can provide insight into various abnormalities and blood disorders including infections and cancer. A platelet count test is conducted to check the number of platelets in the blood. This test is usually a part of the CBC or complete blood count. Here is a look at what platelet count…

Among the ways to prevent cancer – eating a healthy, balanced diet could be your starting point. Try to consume all essential nutrients that will help detoxify your body, stimulate the immune system and prevent healthy cells from turning cancerous. Over the last 25 years, research has produced dietary guidelines that have become conventional wisdom when it comes to cancer prevention. There are a number of substances present in our daily diet which are carcinogenic (cancer causing substances)…

Breast cancer survivor Parul Banka wants to inform and inspire others through her own example about leading a physically active lifestyle, especially after cancer, to manage pain, fatigue, improve muscle strength and regain confidence. Physical activity played a massive role in helping me recuperate from the harsh side effects of the cancer treatment. It helped me with stress management, regaining my strength and rebuilding a life after cancer. There is increasing scientific evidence that…

Patients with cancer experience a loss of appetite and a change in taste during treatment, especially chemotherapy. Here are some tasty and healthy tips provided by CPAA that can help you cope with treatment better even at higher doses. A balanced diet for a patient must contain carbohydrates (bread, rice), proteins (meat, poultry, dal), fats (oil and butter), vitamins and fiber (fruits and vegetables). A typical daily diet should include 4 servings of cereals (1 bowl of rice/ 2 chapattis/ 1…

What does pain foretell? A reflective piece on what chronic pain means to triple negative cancer survivor Geetha Paniker that is beautiful and cathartic. It is one thing to feel empathy for others, but something totally different to be in pain. Each person's own pain is most difficult until one goes through chronic pain day in and day out or an illness that calls for sheer grit to go through it. Chronic pain is pain that continues for weeks, months and even years. The experience of acute pain…

London based Parul Banka has published a book in which she openly narrates her encounter with breast cancer. During her journey, she learnt that talking about cancer in the open enables us to choose – awareness over ignorance, courage over fear and empathy over judgement. Here she validates her viewpoint. My name is Parul Banka. I was diagnosed with an aggressive grade III (the fastest growing type) breast cancer in September 2012. The entire drill of cancer treatment - chemotherapy, surgery…