Volunteering: Evolving by touching lives

Volunteering: Evolving by touching lives – Dr. K. V. Ganpathy, Mumbai Context: Mr Ananth (name changed), the sole breadwinner in his family, was a Mathematics teacher by profession. He was referred to the Department of Palliative Medicine with relapsed Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML). He was well aware of his prognosis and was accompanied by his…

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Leveling up the Emotional Quotient: It’s scope in the Technocratic Oncosurgical suite

Leveling up the Emotional Quotient: It’s scope in the Technocratic Oncosurgical suite – Dr. Mayank Gupta and Dr. Nimish Singh, Bathinda The unsettling squeeze of hand and a frantic appeal to “save” her, by a lady about to undergo a hemi-mandibulectomy set an undertone of empathy and sadness in our minds. Her apprehension about who…

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Pages from the Diary of a Palliative Care Counsellor

Pages from the Diary of a Palliative Care Counsellor – Ms. Vandana Mahajan, Mumbai Context: I am a Palliative care counselor and have been counseling cancer patients for over 7 years now. I am associated with a cancer NGO, Cope with cancer-Madat Trust, and currently work at the Thoracic Disease Management Group (DMG) of Tata…

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The evolving social narrative of ‘Poverty’: A random recollection

The evolving social narrative of ‘Poverty’: A random recollection – M. K. V. Hamza, New Delhi Poverty is not having enough resources to meet one’s basic needs. The onset of chronic or terminal diseases aggravates an individual’s existing situation and pushes them into a state of deprivation; a possible aggregate deprivation of physical, psychological, financial…

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Palliative Care: A Care that is misunderstood!

Palliative Care: A Care that is misunderstood! – Ms. Vandana Mahajan, Mumbai A 72-year-old lady diagnosed with lung carcinoma, has ‘palliative care’ written in her treatment plan. The patient’s daughter is in tears and says “My mother is active and healthy. Why palliative care? Is she dying?” I gently respond, “Palliative care does not mean…

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IAPC’s Special Feature on Geriatric Palliative Care

IAPC’s Special Feature on Geriatric Palliative Care 1. A current update on Geriatric Palliative Care in India      Dr. Prince John, Pune, Maharashtra 2. Geriatrics and Palliative Care Bonhomie: A Geriatrician’s perspective      Dr. Dominic Benjamin, Bengaluru, Karnataka 3. Palliative Care needs of older persons at home (including End-of-Life Care)      Dr. Stanley C Macaden, Bengaluru, Karnataka 4.…

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Lung Cancer and Palliative Care

Lung Cancer and Palliative Care – Dr. Prabhat S. Malik, New Delhi Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. It is considered as the ‘disease of smokers’; however lung cancer in non-smokers is being recognized as an increasingly prominent public health issue in recent times. Though screening with low dose CT…

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IAPC’s Special Feature on Paediatric Palliative Care

IAPC’s Special Feature on Paediatric Palliative Care 1. A current update on Children’s Palliative Care in India      Dr. Mary Ann Muckaden, Mumbai 2. We cannot change the outcome, but we can affect the journey!      Dr. Krithika S. Rao (Shinde), Manipal 3. Improving access to children living with life limiting conditions;    Hyderabad experience      Dr. Gayatri Palat, Dr.…

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A Goodbye that eventually wipes the tears

A Goodbye that eventually wipes the tears – Mr. K. V. Ganpathy, Mumbai A diagnosis of cancer uproots normalcy in a child’s or an adolescents’ life; and during this time, parents can work with the health care team, the strongest allies. This act will not only foster the trust between the child and the health…

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