My father’s journey with Brain Cancer: from DGM to GBM

My father’s journey with Brain Cancer: from DGM to GBM – Ms. Krithika S. and Ms. Sharanya S., Bengaluru My father, Mr Swaminathan C K, Deputy General Manager (DGM) of BSNL, was a dedicated, humble, loving and caring person. He had built a beautiful family, well nested by his wife and his two daughters. We…

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The DSCOG Meeting advocates for the seamless amalgamation of palliative medicine into oncology

The Delhi Supportive Care Oncology Group (DSCOG) had organized a grand meeting on Friday, 27 May, 2022, to advocate for the integration of Palliative Medicine in oncology. The meeting was aptly themed ‘Integrating Palliative Medicine improves quality of life’. The evening began with a role play ‘Nukkad Naatak‘ on how the integration of palliative medicine improves the quality of life of patients.…

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Happiness and Palliative Care

Happiness and Palliative Care Ms. R. Vijayalakshmi, Chennai In my personal opinion, “Achievements, goals, fame or fortune may not provide one with true happiness. Lasting happiness is wholly and soley provided only in our mind and heart”. Let me expand on this a bit more with the below article. I met Mr. Raghupathy (name changed),…

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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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