This article discusses the concept of 5-year survival in cancer, and addresses some common misinterpretations. Early on in my career, I was counseling Mrs T, a woman with stage I breast cancer. I explained the diagnosis and its implications, laid out the plan of treatment and then told her the prognosis – “You have a … Read more
“Doctor, my cancer treatment is complete. Henceforth, what foods should I avoid?” “I had breast cancer. Should I avoid milk?” “Isn’t it better for my father to give up eating meat, now that he has recovered from colon cancer?” “I have stopped eating rice. I eat only millets now” The recurring theme in these very … Read more
“Can an Ovarian Cancer go away on its own?” Mrs. Shalini was very distressed. She had come in for a consultation because an ultrasound scan done as part of a routine health check-up showed that she had a large ovarian mass. “Doctor, I have been scouring the internet about my condition. I came across a … Read more
Once, at a social gathering, the host introduced a friend of hers to me and referred to her as a ‘Cancer Patient.’ I could see that being referred to in this manner made the woman uncomfortable. However, she seemed to know that the host didn’t mean to offend her. She took it lightly and said … Read more
Note by Dr Suraj Manjunath : This is a guest post by Haripriya Suraj. Haripriya is a wellness practitioner, author, and early childhood educator. As my better half, she has been my source of support and inspiration through our years together. This post is based on a real-life incident. “I need to speak to Suraj, … Read more
Most people are overwhelmed when they learn they have cancer. Among the multitude of questions that start running through the mind, a key concern is “Is my cancer treatable?” This article gives a perspective into the meaning of “treat” and “cure” in the context of oncology. The goals of cancer treatment are to: Cure. Prolong … Read more
This article is a continuation of our series on myths about cancer. This segment highlights the fact that cancer is not contagious
As part of the series on breast cancer, the last post for this October (breast cancer awareness month) discusses a few common myths and misconceptions.
Getting a biopsy is an important part of cancer diagnosis and treatment. However, many people believe that the biopsy itself can cause cancer to spread. Sometimes, people seek medical care when the disease is already too far advanced, and a biopsy only diagnoses the cancer. This would be the first time people learn they have … Read more
