Pranab Kumar Basu has turned a counsellor after being a full-time caregiver to his wife who was suffering from Cancer. He discusses his experiences of supporting cancer patients who are apprehensive about hair loss.
In your experience, who suffer more hair loss after chemotherapy: men or women?
Hair loss occurs in both men and women but in respect of volume women suffer more hair loss.
For whom is it more traumatic: men or women? Is there an age profile that is affected more?
It is more…
Breast Cancer
Cancer stigmas are often barriers for seeking diagnosis, as well as treatment and rehabilitation. Shubha Maudgal and Susmitra Mitra of Cancer Patients Aid Association (CPAA), Mumbai give us an insight into the current taboos surrounding cancer and the challenges such stigmas pose for patients and society. 1. What does cancer stigma entail? There are two kinds of stigma involved with cancer. One is Self which is in the mind of patients themselves, stemming from guilt or shame. The other is…
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…
One of the largest studies on women (1.8 million women) tracked the effect of the use of hormonal birth control pills on risk of breast cancer. Read on to know the findings: The study: Recently, the New England Journal of Medicine published a research conducted by a team of scientists in Denmark. They studied 1.8 million women between the ages of 15 and 49 over a stretch of approximately 11 years. They were looking for women who used hormonal birth control — usually a combination of…
Moyna Sen, our editor reviews cancer survivor Geetha Paniker's book "When I Fell in Love with Life". Even as you read this beautiful review, you will feel emotional and want to read the book. Geetha Paniker does not come across as a Cancer survivor. She, on the other hand, seems like someone who has not only conquered the dreaded ailment, but has, also, in the process, learnt the prized art of celebrating life. Even though she calls Cancer the Emperor of Maladies as…
By Dr Raghuvirsinh Solanki, Consultant plastic and Oncoreconstructive Microsurgeon. Are all breast cancer patients, who have had their breast removed, eligible for reconstruction? All patients wishing to undergo breast reconstructive surgery are eligible for reconstruction provided medical fitness and stage of cancer allows it. We do not offer reconstruction in advanced stages usually as it delays adjuvant treatment. What are the different types of reconstruction…
Says Dr Subhojit Dey, cancer researcher at the Indian Institute of Public Health. He tells us why, and how to protect yourself. 70% of Indian women with breast cancer seek medical help at the late stage. 5-year survival rate is around only 60%. In Developed Countries, for example in the USA 60-80% women reach the doctor at an early stage and 5 year survival is almost 90%. Awareness is key and saves lives. Breast cancer incidence is increasing. What are the factors…
The difference between conventional X-ray therapy and proton therapy – and why we are re-examining the way we treat left-side breast cancer. The majority of breast cancer patients today are able to preserve their breasts as they undergo a lumpectomy followed by post-operative radiation. However, research shows that left-side breast cancer patients treated with radiation have an increased risk of radiation-induced heart problems. Here, Dr. Brian Chon writes about the connection…
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today granted accelerated approval to Ibrance (palbociclib) to treat advanced (metastatic) breast cancer. Breast cancer in women is one of the three common cancers in most countries. The drug, whose chemical name is palbociclib, was approved for previously untreated postmenopausal women whose cancer cells have receptors to the female hormone estrogen and who do not have mutations in the HER2 gene that can contribute to uncontrolled growth of breast…
