Today is Ugadi, the traditional New Year Day in my part of the world. A special offering (prasada) on this day is the “Bevu-Bella” , a combination of neem flowers/leaves and jaggery. This prasada symbolises that life is a combination of sweet and bitter experiences and that we should accept both with equanimity. My own … Read more
This Women’s Day, I had the unique opportunity to be part of a virtual healthcare session for women across Africa and Asia. Many women shared their individual stories of empowerment and success in the face of various adversities. It was truly inspiring to learn how women from different walks of life and across so many … 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
My work is full of adult interactions involving serious illness and complicated treatments – not the brightest or most cheerful of work environments. When a young child with sparkly eyes and a bubbly smile walked up to me and presented this card, it was a refreshing change indeed. An unexpected ray of sunshine in an … Read more
February 4th was observed as ‘World Cancer Day.’ The global theme for this year was ‘Close The Care Gap’ – overcoming socio-economic barriers and making cancer care accessible to all. Manipal Hospitals held an awareness program on account of World Cancer Day. While I had surgery scheduled, and could not be a part of the … Read more
However experienced a surgeon is, upgrading skills is always important. There is always something new to learn. One must be humble in order to keep learning, because anyone can be a teacher – from seniormost colleagues to juniormost students, from operating theatre nurses to technicians. Last week, my learning was through an animal – a … Read more
Celebrations foster togetherness. People working together get to know each other better in an informal setting, building companionship and trust. I was reminded of this during an impromptu get-together of the Departments of Surgical Oncology and Medical Oncology at Manipal Comprehensive Cancer Center last week to mark the New Year. Thanks to my colleague Dr … Read more
No matter how grown up we may be, we all need a Santa sometimes. And sometimes, we get to be a Santa to others. I came across this heartwarming letter on Pinterest – “You’ll need to be able to believe in things you can’t measure or hold in your hands. Now you know the secret … Read more
In the current era of multi-modal cancer therapy, designing a personalized treatment plan for cancer is challenging. Patients, their families, and oncologists have to contend with a multitude of factors. These factors come under three categories – disease factors, patient factors, and environmental factors. Disease factors: the primary site of cancer, stage at diagnosis, type … Read more
A long and tiring day of surgery. Afterward, there are still rounds to do, pre-operative and post-operative patients to be seen. Lab reports to go through and act upon. Then read up for a difficult surgery the following day. But there is a short time before all that. A moment to bask in the glow … Read more