Tobacco, a controversial subject matter that has remained in the discussion for many years for no conclusion. The conflict is between the commercial and health related aspects of it. A news that was published in Economic Times about a year ago quoted that tobacco industry contributes Rs. 11,79,498 crores to Indian economy annually. It also stated that over 4.5 crore Indians earn their living out of the jobs offered by this industry. <br> <br>The flip side of the coin is that over 27% of total incidences of cancers in India are caused by Tobacco use in various forms, as quoted by ICMR in their recent report published in the year 2020. The cases of Lung cancer have consistently remained at peak for over a decade in a city that never sleeps. We can sarcastically call it a &#039;Çity that Struggles to Breath&#039;. Even today, Mumbai carries the highest incidences of Lung and Oral cancers, no wonder; tobacco is a prime culprit. India has the highest burden of Oral cancers even today because of the rampant consumption of Tobacco and related products. <br> <br>It therefore becomes a matter of monumental polarization that has enough reasons for users and non-users of tobacco to justify their own stand. One may stand with the economic benefit and the other may stand against the health hazards of tobacco, however, as a cancer specialist, I have another thoughtful dimension for consideration. <br> <br>It has been the observation of the oncology fraternity that the majority of oral cancer patients belong to middle or lower economic strata. Despite best and the most advanced treatments being available these days, the catastrophic cost of treatment will always remain a significant barrier for them to afford it fully or partially. <br> <br>Many patients are left with only 2 options, that is either to compromise their life to &#039;No Treatment&#039;; or reach out to government or charitable organizations for the financial assistance / relief for treatment. It leads us to an obvious conclusion that the collective economic burden that falls on the government funds, on the Indian economy and healthcare system and eventually on the pockets of the taxpayers and wishful donors is imposed by tobacco. Quitting of Tobacco alone can reduce such an economic burden on the system a great deal. <br> <br>We can choose to be selfish and deliberate if we can afford the physical, financial and mental hazards of tobacco and decide our priorities. <br> <br>Don&#039;t forget, Tobacco is a Poison that spoils generations and kills! <br> <br>Dr. Pradip Kendre <br>Consultant Cancer Specialist <br>Mumbai Oncocare Centre, Borivali and Malad <br>7506128787 / 7506128787 / 9920767626 <br>[email protected] <br>[a]www.mocindia.co.in[/a]

Dr. Vashishth Maniar (MD, DM, ECMO) is the director and consultant medical oncologist (cancer specialist) at Mumbai Oncocare Centre with over 11 years of clinical experience in cancer care. <br> <br>Dr. Vashishth Maniar <br>Consultant Cancer Specialist <br>Mumbai Oncocare Centre, Ghatkopar <br>9984899700 | 9769707204 | 022-21020017 <br>[email protected] <br>[a]www.mocindia.co.in[/a]

Dr. Sonal Dhande (MD DNB) is our consultant medical oncologist at Hope-Mumbai Oncocare Centre, Nashik, largely experienced in treating breast and gynecological cancers. <br> <br>Dr. Sonal Dhande (MD DNB) <br>Consultant Cancer Specialist <br>Mumbai Oncocare Centre, Nashik <br>[a]www.mocindia.co.in[/a]

Cancer of Breast has become a global issue, much beyond a disease; because of its rapidly rising incidences across the world. What used to be a disease commonly found in western female population is on a verge of becoming a health crisis in Indian subcontinent.Increasing urbanization, westernization of the lifestyle, increasing trend of &#039;post-30&#039; pregnancies, ignorance towards breast-feeding knowingly or unknowingly, rising alcohol consumption among females etc. and many such factors bring about the victimhood to females suffering with breast cancer. <br> <br>Over 2,00,000 new cases of breast cancer are diagnosed in India every year. Marked difference between the breast cancer cases presenting in the west as against those presenting in India is that 60%-70% of them are diagnosed in advanced stage and therefore, the intensity, cost and time required for treatment increases significantly. <br> <br>With the advancements in medical science and availability of newer and efficient medicines, offering longer and quality life to these females suffering with breast cancer has become possible. However, patients have to be prepared and committed to completion of prescribed treatment without being distracted or compelled to discontinue by the physical, mental and financial hazards that are inevitable while on the treatment. This needs a monumental support system that can protect patient&#039;s commitment to treatment. <br> <br>Such efficient support system is found inbuilt in societies with strong family and social values, typically characteristic of an Indian culture; and it plays a very important role in the life of cancer patients. Culturally influenced behaviors like treating elders in the family respectfully and with empathy, looking after them during their old age or illnesses, extending help and support to family members during difficult times are the pillars of this familial support system. Philanthropy, helping weaker sections of the society are also the social values that communities in India follow religiously to the best of their capacity, beyond their family commitments. <br> <br>The state of cancer patients while on treatment demands empathy, mental strength, support in terms of disease and treatment related information, fulfilment of their need for food and medicines. It is a duty of close and distant family members to meet these demands with the sense of responsibility. Family members should also ensure financial security and stability to patients and consciously create a positive environment around them. It is a joint responsibility of the treating oncologists (cancer physicians), family members of patients, relatives and friends to help patient in this regard and support the cause of offering longer &amp; quality life to cancer patients. <br> <br>I must mention that many charitable trusts and philanthropists are also the active promoters of this support system, with the unconditional donations and the other philanthropic deeds they undertake. Numerous beneficiaries of their donations and deeds will definitely advocate my claim. Many studies globally support the existence and positive impact exerted by this support system on recovery and overall well-being of cancer patients. <br> <br>I congratulate all the actors of this support system for their unparallel contribution to lives of cancer patients and I appeal to all the females to be vigilant about abnormal changes in their breasts and report them to doctors without any delay. <br> <br>Remember, early detection is the best protection! <br> <br>Dr. Sonal Dhande <br>MD DNB Consultant Cancer Specialist <br>Hope-Mumbai Oncocare Centre, Nashik <br>9322949845 | 0253-2510127 <br>For more details visit : [a]https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mocindia.co.in%2Fblog%2Fbreast-cancers-and-monumental-support-system-dr-sonal-dhande-cancer-specialist-hope-moc-nashik[/a]

Dr. Smit Sheth&#039;s Breast Cancer Awareness Article on Risk Factors &amp; Prevention in Mid-Day today; 29th October 2021. Dr. Smit Sheth, MD, DM, ECMO; is our consultant medical oncologist (cancer specialist) at Mumbai Oncocare Centre. He is an alumnus of Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, with over 8 years of experience in treating cancer patients. Dr. Smit looks after our Thane &amp; Mulund centre and shall be looking after our new centre in Panvel. #BreastCancer #BeatCancer #BreastSelfExamination #MumbaiOncocareCentre #MOCIndia

New Delhi: Covid-19 has shifted people&#039;s attention from other equally deadly ailments, even though many of them are as fatal as Covid-19. Among all the non-communicable diseases, cancer causes one of the highest cases in India. <br> <br>According to WHO, cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for 10 million deaths in 2020. Lung cancer is at the highest, with 1.80 million deaths and 2.21 million new cases. <br> <br>With the outrageous rise in pollution levels and the high number of smokers across genders, lung cancer has become common across households. However, a study by Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, along with the Lung Care Foundation in 2018, says that lung cancer is no longer limited only to smokers as many non-smokers too are falling prey to it. The study also revealed that air pollution has emerged as one of the leading causes of lung cancer in India, significantly for the age group below 40. <br> <br>Smoking is not the only cause of lung cancer; air pollution is also a vital trigger to develop this condition. Several studies conducted by government bodies and private organizations have found that harmful pollutants wreaking havoc on the quality of air. <br> <br>According to a study published in The Lancet, 1.67 million deaths were attributable to air pollution in India in 2019, accounting for 17.8% of the total deaths in the country due to cancer. <br> <br>Lung Cancer is a disease that primarily affects a person&#039;s ability to breathe and subsequently affects other body systems that depend upon function of lungs. Newer screening methods can help people who are at high risk for lung cancer, diagnose it at early stage and treat them optimally for better outcomes. Timely detection will allow them to initiate treatment in earlier and more treatable stages. <br> <br>With increasing number of lung cancer cases, the industry has also witnessed innovations across the treatment options. Scientists and researchers are also finding new techniques to fight against this deadly disease. Apart from surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy, there are several new-age treatments available today. These new treatments claim to have lesser side effects, which is an essential aspect of cancer treatment. <br> <br>The standard treatment for early-stage lung cancer is either surgery or radiotherapy, depending on the case. However, for a patient of stage 4 cancer which has spread to other organs, treatment options like newer chemotherapy drugs, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy are available. <br> <br>Immunotherapy is a treatment that uses the body’s immune system to help slow or stop cancer growth. Various forms of immunotherapy help the body recognize a tumor unlike normal tissues in the body. One of these immunotherapy methods is a group of medications called checkpoint inhibitors. <br> <br>&#039;Checkpoints&#039; are a built-in part of the immune system proposed to prevent it from attacking healthy cells. Checkpoint inhibitors act on the body’s lymphocytes (a type of white blood cell usually involved in fighting infections) to allow them to identify and abolish cancer cells. These inhibitors help to stimulate the immune system and gives it extra components to reinforce its ability to fight the diseased cells. They also provide a chance for immuno-oncology medicines increase the possibility for long-term survival and recover the quality-of-life. <br> <br>However, it is essential to remember that immunotherapy does not mean curative treatment. On the contrary, immunotherapy improves survival along with chemotherapy by a good margin. Different studies have also shown that immunotherapy combined with chemotherapy has improved the duration of survival compared to chemotherapy alone. <br> <br>There are many molecular targets, which could be found overexpressed in case of lung cancers. The two most commonly found targets are EGFR and ALK. If EGFR for example is overexpressed in a lung cancer patient, treatment usually begins with the tablets called ‘tyrosine kinase inhibitors’ (TKI), which have been found to be remarkably effective and have fewer side effects as well. <br> <br>With the advancement in molecular diagnostics, lung cancer treatment is evolving rapidly, with newer and advanced therapies providing better cancer control and minimum side effects. We expect that a time will come where we can offer long and quality life to cancer patients. <br> <br>For more details visit : [a]https%3A%2F%2Fwww.mocindia.co.in%2Fblog%2Flung-cancer-awareness-month-new-advancements-in-therapy-you-should-know-about[/a]