Dr Azariah's Cancer Care

11/11/2023

02/03/2023

The Seriousness of Obesity and Cancer:

Though most of us know that obesity can cause cancer, hardly few of us knew the real impact of it that we never attempt to control our weight gain.

Let us look into what science have to tell us about the effect of obesity on developing cancer.

If your body mass index is above 30 kg/m2 , then you are obese.

( You may calculate body mass index by dividing your body weight in kilogram by square of your height in meters. You can also use free online calculators for the same ).

If you fall in the obese category, then several research have confirmed that you are at increased risk of developing cancer. Let's look into what they say in a nutshell.

1. Out of 100 new patients diagnosed with cancer, 20 of them have probably developed it due to obesity.

2. People who are obese are about 50 % more likely to develop and die from cancer than those who are not obese.

3. Obesity can lead to 13 different types of cancer particularly cancer of uterus (Endometrium), Cancers of food pipe(Esophagus), liver cancer, kidney cancer, breast cancer and multiple myeloma( a type of blood cancer).

4. Scientific research shows that obese women who can reduce their body weight by atleast 10 kg can reduce their risk of developing cancer by a huge 30%.

5. For patients who have been already diagnosed with cancer, obesity at the time of diagnosis can increase their death rate from cancer by 30 % than a cancer patient who is not obese. This may be because of their cancer coming again or because of the increased side effects of the treatment.

Hence it is very certain that obesity is a major concern for developing cancer. I shall be posting the scientificlly proven methods to control weight gain that helps in a big way to reduce the risk of developing cancer in my subsequent post.
Let's live happy and healthy..😊

Dr. BIJU AZARIAH M
MBBS, DNB , FRCR (London), CCEPM , MBA, MNAMS , ( DM Medical Oncology)

Consultant Clinical , Radiation and Palliative Oncologist.

04/02/2023

As we move on to recognize another world cancer day today, several of its theme pass by unfulfilled. With those pending ambitions in place, the current theme of closing the care gap is a monumental hope that , the campaign is itself designed to be worked upon for three consecutive years.

The year 2022 aimed to realise the problem that a wide care gap do exist and the year 2023 aims to unite all of us in raising voices and take action . The coming 2024 will aim to challenge those in power to bring changes in the health care bureaucracy to narrow this care gap.

Its understandable that people who seek cancer care hit barriers at every turn due to inequity in cancer care untimately costing their lives. Income, education, location and discrimination based on ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, disability and lifestyle are some of the factors which negatively affect care. The gap affects everyone, including you and your loved ones.

We all do understand that these barriers are not set in stone. They can be changed by all of us uniting together to adress this issue to raise our voice. This is the year to question the status quo and help reduce stigma; to listen to the perspectives of the people living with cancer and their communities and let those lived experiences guide our thoughts and actions.

That’s how we can begin to imagine a better way of doing things and to build a fairer vision of the future—a future where people live healthier lives and have better access to health and cancer services, no matter where they are born, grow, age, work or live.

Let's raise our voice together to overcome discriminations in health care

Dr. Biju Azariah M
MBBS, DNB, FRCR, CCEPC,MBA, MNAMS ,(DM)
Consultant Clinical Radiation and Palliative Oncologist.

17/12/2022

POST CHEMOTHERAPY HOME CARE INSTRUCTIONS

25/10/2022

PINK OCTOBER 2022- “Together We RISE” - Rally in Screening Everyone (or) Rely in Self Examination :

With more 1.7 lakh breast cancers diagnosed in India every year, this incidence of breast cancers raising at a complex rate, could easily become a unfortunate part of anyone’s proximal concern sooner or later.
However, drastic advancements in the field of breast cancer treatment have dropped breast cancer death by about 40 percent in past 30 years. With current medications, the chance of a stage I (disease confined to breast) breast cancer patient surviving beyond 5 years is more than 95%. This has forced us to pick up breast cancer as early as possible, preferably in stage I.
With government initiated screening programs in our country with more than 40 crore eligible women, beyond the scope of imminent implementation, it comes down to the simple task, “Breast Self Examination” . I may be one amongst a hundred health care professional whom you would have heard talking about this. Albeit, I reiterate here, as this is the easy possible way for most of the women in our country to diagnose their breast cancer early.
Please go through the simple steps of “Breast Self Examination” and implement it in your life. Remember, you are the only person who knows well about the architecture of your breast than anyone else.
1. This is to be done by every woman, more than 20 years of age.
2. This is to be done once a month.
3. This is to be done 4 days after the beginning of menstrual cycle.
4. Steps in Breast Self Examination:
a. Stand in front of the mirror, undress yourself above waist, and inspect your breast with your eyes in three positions: standing, arms raised above your head and your hands placed firmly on your hips. Get to know well about your normal breast appearance in these positions.
During monthly inspections, look for any changes in the appearance like swelling, redness, skin changes and ni**le shrinkage.

b. On Standing, Use your right hand to examine your left breast for lumps, thickened areas and other unusual changes. Using the pads of your three middle fingers, press on every part of your breast and underarm area. Follow a circular pattern to help ensure that you don’t miss any areas. Gradually increase the pressure you apply from light to firm. Gently squeeze your ni**le to check for any oozing . Then, use your left hand to manually examine your right breast using the same techniques.

c. Lie down on a bed or couch, place a pillow under your left shoulder and put your left hand behind your head. Use your right hand to manually examine your left breast using the same techniques outlined in step (b). Then, position the pillow under your right shoulder, put your right hand behind your head and use your left hand to manually examine your right breast using the same techniques.

There are plenty of video and pictorial demonstrations available in electronic media. You can get the help of nearby government or private health care facilities for further clarifications if required.

If you discover a lump or another abnormality during your monthly breast self-exam, don’t panic; most breast lumps are not cancerous. Just be sure to discuss any unusual changes with a surgeon or Oncologist right away.
Please share this information with your mother, sisters and friends. Consider this as a matter of responsibility with your loved ones, as “Together we RISE”, by spreading the awareness of early detection of breast cancer.
Though the actual theme of PINK OCTOBER 2022, “ Rally in screening everyone” may be an Indian vision, “ Relying in Self Examination”, is definitely an accomplishable Indian goal. Lets raise together to accomplish this goal.

27/09/2022

The Mind Body Connection:

Being an Oncologist, I would like to begin the write up on my page about a most important, but often played down issue in our cancer patients - " The Psychosocial well being" or " The Mind Body Connection".
The diagnosis of cancer and the treatment sequence that follows , enforces a substantial amount of stress in our patients, which not only affects their mental and emotional well being but also induces physiological changes that can affect treatment response and recovery in a detrimental way. The belief that what we think and feel influences our health and healing, is millennium year old and has been part of traditional Chinese, Tibetan and Ayurvedic medicine. Even Modern research supports the impact of mental , emotional and behavioral well being on outcome in cancer patients.

Poor mental well being in a cancer patient often leads to poor diet, lack of exercise, poor sleep and also reduced compliance to treatment follow up. Hence it is imperative that any cancer patient , who is on or completed anti cancer therapy, involves themselves in de stressing activities like music therapy , yoga, meditation, massage / acupuncture therapy ( under qualified therapist) and engage in positive group discussions by creating social groups both online and offline. Devout patients should continue their religious practices faithfully as it helps to overcome depression and anxiety and overcome stress.

It is important both for the oncologist, the patient and their care takers to have active conversations on this complementary and integrative medicine so that it achieves its expected purpose.
These complementary therapy invites positivity, positivity dispense hope, and hope is all what our patients longs for. Let's join hands to deliver this hope to our beloved patients.