- Cancer Warriors to open OCC’s 3rd unit at 7th Floor, HR Elanza on Vikas Gruh Road, Paldi, Ahmedabad on Sunday
- Plans to cover other cities of Gujarat gradually
GOWRI MANICKAVASAGAM
AHMEDABAD, AUG 19
Hair loss can be a very emotional experience to patients who are already dealing with a new cancer diagnosis and scalp cooling, a technique that prevents hair loss during Chemotherapy for patients suffering with and undergoing cancer treatment, is an ideal option, said the team of Oncowin Cancer Center here on Saturday.
Cancer Warriors will open OCC’s third unit at 7th Floor, HR Elanza Vikas Gruh Road, Paldi, Ahmedabad, on Sunday.
“10-15% of all cancers are hereditary, one out of every 10 people in the country is afflicted with cancer. And out of 15 people one becomes the victim of cancer. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) ranking, India has the third highest number of new cases worldwide every year. At such a time, it is very important that every cancer patient has access to new technology and advanced treatment in the fight against cancer,” said Dr Gaurang Modi (DM, Hemato Oncologist).
When asked about the causes attributing to cancer, Dr Palak Bhatt (MD, Fellow Medical Oncology), said, “It is wrong to blame only tobacco consumption for the occurrence of cancer. Various factors like pollution, sedentary life, fast foods, genetics etc are contributing to the spread of cancer. Genetic testing aids in identifying the change in DNA that can help preventing the occurrence of cancer. One should consult their family physician in the early stage itself to avoid complications.”
Dr Itesh Khatwani, (DM Medical Oncologist ECMO- Europe), said, “Team Oncowin has been serving the cancer patients of Gujarat for the last 15 years. In keeping with the advancements taking place in healthcare sector, we are adopting the newer technologies in treating our patients. We are launching our third unit at Paldi on Sunday. With an aim to prevent hair loss and increase the confidence level of our patients, at Oncowin, we are deploying the scalp cooling technology which reduces hair loss during chemotherapy for cancer patients. It is worth mentioning that this type of technology is available in selected hospitals across Gujarat.”
Explaining on the cancer and blood disorders of children, Dr Geeta Khatwani (MD, DNB, FIAP) (Pediatric Haemato Oncologist), said, “A majority of childhood cancers are ‘curable’ if diagnosed early and treated appropriately but childhood cancer diagnosis is often a challenge to the general physicians as well as paediatricians as the signs and symptoms often resemble common childhood illness hence, there is often a delay of 6-8 weeks from first symptom onset to diagnosis in most children. This is largely due to lack of awareness and misattribution of symptoms by the family and general.”
In case of frequent or serious viral infections, weight loss or poor appetite, headache or unexplained fever, vision impairment, parents should consult their pediatrician or family physician and on their suggestion seek the treatment from Pediatric Haemato Oncologist, she added.
Dr Rishabh Kothari (DM, Medical Oncologist ECMO (Europe) also spoke at length on cancer.
Scalp cooling system and its efficacies
It is available for patients with solid tumors from breast cancer, prostate cancer, ovarian cancer, uterine cancer and lung cancer. The system consists of a tightly fitting silicone cap connected to a cooling and control unit, as well as an insulating outer cap. The system is more efficient and comfortable than portable options for scalp cooling that patients can bring with them to infusion visits.
The cooling system constricts blood vessels in the scalp, which reduces the amount of chemotherapy that reaches cells in the hair follicles. The cold temperature also decreases the activity of the hair follicles and slows down cell division, making them less affected by chemotherapy.
