Medical professionals join hands to fight tobacco

Medical professionals join hands to fight tobacco

Leading oncologists from Tata Memorial Hospital (TMH) and various doctors from hospitals of Maharashtra met in Pune recently under the banner of Voice of Tobacco Victims (a campaign by Healis - Sekhsaria Institute for Public Health).

They were also joined by some of the leading dentists representing Indian Dental Association. These doctors discussed effective strategies for tobacco control in Maharashtra.

In India, every year, around one million new cancer cases are diagnosed and around 600,000 to 700,000 people die from cancer. In a recent report of April 2014, around two-fifths (40%) of all cancers in India are attributable to tobacco use and the economic costs of illness and premature death due to tobacco consumption exceed combined government and state expenditure and state expenditure on medical and public health, water supply and sanitation.

As per the GATS Report released by the MoHFW (2010), nearly 2.5 crore people in Maharashtra are consuming tobacco in some or the other form. One-third of them will suffer from serious illnesses such as cancer, heart diseases, lung cancers etc and will die prematurely. Hazards of tobacco are wide ranging. There's no body part which is not affected by it.

Pankaj Chaturvedi, Professor - Surgical Oncology, TMH stated that doctors do the treatment after the disease has occurred but this time doctors have come forward to work at policy level and prevent our children from initiating tobacco. As the first step, the doctors have resolved to make all educational institutions in Maharashtra tobacco free.

Welcoming this, PC Gupta, director - Healis Sekhsaria Institute for Public Health, said, "VoTV (Voice of Tobacco Victims) Maharashtra state chapter has been launched today. Doctors in this campaign, who are already saving lives affected by cancer caused due to tobacco, are now volunteering and contributing to prevent tobacco use among children. VoTV has around 200 doctors from all over India associated with this campaign."

Vandana Joshi, ENT Consultant, from ENT Hospital, said, "The doctors have resolved to work with the Education Department and the Government of Maharashtra to make all educational institutions tobacco free."

Our priority is to access more patients — we need to adjust prices accordingly: Joaquin Duato

Our priority is to access more patients — we need to adjust prices accordingly: Joaquin Duato

Joaquin Duato is global chairman of Janssen, the pharmaceutical arm of healthcare major Johnson & Johnson (J&J). The fastest growing top 10 company in the world and India’s fastest growing MNC, Janssen’s recent revenues hit $24.3 billion, the company lining up several medicine launches in India. Speaking exclusively with Rupali Mukherjee , Duato discussed strategies for growth in India, navigating local needs and pricing structures — and his view of India’s intellectual property rights scenario:

J&J set up here in 1957. Are you satisfied with the company’s growth? What are your strategies to increase activity in the Indian market?

We believe that the stream of new products we are planning to launch may address unmet medical needs. Some medicines we have are particularly relevant to the Indian situation — the one for tuberculosis is the first medication for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis approved in the last 40 years. We’re in the process of registration and discussions with the Indian government to accelerate its approval.

Our plan is to focus on communicable diseases, like tuberculosis or hepatitis C, and to be able to get these new medicines approved here. Right now, medicines for severe rheumatoid arthritis, Hepatitis C and diabetes are in the pipeline to be rolled out.

You’ve shown promising growth recently but other MNCs, like Glaxo-SmithKline and Pfizer, are growing even faster — will you be able to come out on top in terms of future sales?

In June, Janssen became the fastest growing MNC in India, growing at 12.3% — globally, we are the fastest growing top 10 company in the world. Our growth in the second quarter in the pharmaceutical sector was very strong at 20%. That’s the result of this particularly rich set of new products, 11 new drugs, we’ve launched in the last five years.

Our future is going to be very dependent on being able to develop new medicines in areas where there is a real medical need. We are focussing on oncology, infectious diseases like tuberculosis, mental health problems like schizophrenia or global epidemics like diabetes.

Gaining access into healthcare, particularly medicines, is a challenge in India, pricing being a block — would you, like other MNCs, adopt a tiered-pricing structure here?

Our prices vary across the world, in particular, when we’re talking about communicable diseases endemic in certain countries which have limited resources in healthcare — we need to adjust our prices to that situation because the priority is to access more patients. So that would be the general principle for India too.

We’ve already done that in India with an oncology drug launched last year.

What is your view of India’s intellectual property rights situation?

For an innovation-based industry, intellectual property is at the cornerstone of our ability to be able to invest in innovation. It’s important to have companies that invest in new therapies that bring new medicines to the market — valid IP protection is central to innovation.

There have been developments that have been a concern for companies regarding IP protection in India in the past — but we also see that the situation has normalised and it’s improving.

Smoking ups risk of developing second cancer

Smoking ups risk of developing second cancer

A large study has found that cigarette smoking prior to the first diagnosis of lung (stage I), bladder, kidney or head and neck cancer increases the risk of developing a second smoking-associated cancer.

"As survival improves for a number of smoking-related cancers, patients are living longer; however, smoking may increase the risk of developing a second smoking-related cancer among these survivors," said Meredith S. Shiels, lead study author and research fellow with the National Cancer Institute's Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics.

Researchers examined data from five cohorts which included 2,552 patients with stage I lung, 6,386 with bladder, 3,179 with kidney and 2,967 with head and neck cancer.

They found that the association between smoking and developing a second primary smoking-associated cancer was similar to the association between smoking and developing a first primary smoking-associated cancer.

Patients who smoked more than 20 cigarettes per day had a 5.41-fold higher risk of developing cancer than individuals who have never smoked.

Notably, current smoking at any level increased the risk of overall mortality across all cancer disease sites.

"Our study demonstrates that health care providers should emphasise the importance of smoking cessation to all their patients, including cancer survivors," Shiels concluded.

Aurobindo to replace Actavis' drugs with its own to lower cost

Aurobindo to replace Actavis' drugs with its own to lower cost

Hyderabad-based generic drug maker Aurobindo Pharma has said that over the next 24 months, it will replace half of Actavis products with Aurobindo's own low-cost high-margin products to bring down its overall costs.

In January, Aurobindo had inked a long-term commercial and supply agreement with Actavis to acquire its personnel, commercial infrastructure, products, marketing authorisations and dossier licence rights in seven European countries for 30 million euro. In April, the company had announced the completion of the acquisition of certain commercial operations in Western Europe from Actavis Plc.

During the recently-held second quarter earnings call, N Govindarajan, managing director, Aurobindo Pharma, said, “We will be switching the Actavis product with the Aurobindo product wherever we have better cost of goods and which is being done currently. We are on our way in terms of replacing our product with Actavis products.”

Govindarajan also said that the number is not large, just around 450 products of which 200 may get replaced on an ongoing basis over next 24 months. The company is likely to move the supply of some of the products from the Actavis facility to its own facility. “The next phase, which will take another 12 to 15 months more, will be moving some of the products to our own side, so as to reduce the cost of goods,” he added.

Aurobindo's product portfolio is spread over 6 major therapeutic/product areas encompassing antibiotics, anti-retrovirals, CVS, CNS, gastroenterologicals, and anti-allergics. On the other hand, Actavis products range is in therapeutic categories, including antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, oncology medications, cardiovascular treatments, respiratory products, dermatology products and treatments for central nervous system and metabolic disorders among others. Its biosimiliars program is developing treatment options within the oncology and women’s health therapeutic categories.

Clarifying more on this, he said, “In Phase I, we have integrated both Aurobindo and Actavis business together. So there is benefit coming out of that in all the countries where we had operations both for Actavis and Aurobindo.”

“Phase II is wherever Aurobindo products have a lower cost at higher margin, we are bringing them into Actavis portfolio. These two are ongoing. And the third will be when we will bring about 500 molecules that we have, which is of equivalent portfolio in the odd product form will be brought in-house into India, thereby reducing the costs and enhancing the margins,” he added.

For the quarter ended September, 2014, Aurobindo Pharma has clocked a consolidated total operating income of Rs 2,881 crore, an increase of 50.5%. Profit after tax during the period under review grew 58.4% to Rs 372 crore. While the US business grew 60% on year-on-year basis, the European business grew more than fourfold recording a sale of Rs 766 crore as against Rs 171 crore in the corresponding period last fiscal.

According to Nimish Mehta, founder director, Research Delta Advisor, the company wants to bring down the cost. “It is difficult to say which category of products would get replaced. They both have a large basket of products, so there might be certain overlapping of products that Aurobindo may be targeting. What they also meant is if they are supplying from Actavis plant, they will stop that and will be supplying from Aurobindo plant. They want to bring down the cost, so they feel Indian sourcing will help them to bring down the material cost.”

Govt. To Encourage More Cancer Treatment Facility In Private Sector

Govt. To Encourage More Cancer Treatment Facility In Private Sector

The Odisha government on Saturday said it would welcome more facilities for cancer treatment to come up in the private sector even as the administration was trying to improve matters in the state-run hospitals.

"Cancer is now a treatable and curable disease and we need more investment for creating facilities for cancer treatment. We will welcome more such facilities to come up in the private sector," the chief secretary, Mr. Gokul Chandra Pati said while inaugurating the 1st Sum Cancer Conclave at the Institute of Medical Sciences and Sum Hospital here.

The government was pursuing a two-pronged strategy of training the doctors and faculties on the latest technology and creating new facilities while trying to further improve and extend the insurance mechanism, he said.

"People are getting benefit from the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana as also the Biju Krushak Yojana of the state government under which the state foots the treatment bill. Patients are able to avail the benefit under these schemes also in privately-run hospitals," Mr. Pati said adding "this should encourage the private sector to invest more in creating state-of-the-art infrastructure."

The chief secretary, who earlier went round several major departments of the IMS and Sum Hospital, expressed satisfaction over the facilities available in the hospital saying "the IMS and Sum Hospital has become a fine example."

Pointing out that the concentration of medical professionals was more on the diagnosis and treatment of the disease at present, he said equal emphasis was also needed to be given to the preventive aspects.

The cancer conclave, organized by the SOA University under the aegis of the chapter of Association of Surgeons of India (ASI) and Odisha Society of Oncology, is being attended by doctors from different parts of Odisha.

Eminent onco-surgeon Dr. Krupasindhu Panda and President of the Odisha chapter of ASI, Dr. Sreejoy Patnaik also spoke on the occasion while Prof. D.K.Ray, Vice-Chancellor of SOA University presided.

Dr. Panda said the facilities available in the state today was awfully inadequate as hardly 500 beds were available for around 70,000 cancer patients. He said that 80 per cent of the patients were not able to get covered by the complete cancer therapy which was required.

Referring to the lifestyle of present generation which greatly contributed to cancer in the young, he said he had recently operated upon a 28-year-old youngman who was suffering from oral cancer caused by consumption of gutka. Surgery, he said, continued to be the cheapest and best method to treat cancer.

Dr. Sunil Agrawal, surgical oncologist at the IMS and Sum Hospital and organizing secretary of the conclave, said the conference aimed at bridging the gap between latest technologies and the doctors at the peripheral level who needed to be equipped as they were required to treat cancer patients as well.

The conclave was being attended by several eminent cancer experts from outside the state including Dr. R.A.Kerkar from Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai, Dr. Sanjay Sharma from Bombay Hospital, Mumbai, Dr. Ravi Kannan and Dr. Ritesh Tapkire from Cachar Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, Silchar, Dr. Sumit Goyal from Jaypee Hospital and Dr. G.V.Rao from Asian Institute of Gastroenterology.

Prof. Ray said that the IMS and Sum Hospital was developing into a full-fledged cancer treatment centre as all the necessary facilities were being created in the hospital.

Stating that cancer treatment continued to be a costly affair, he said that Kerala government had recently decided to provide free treatment to all cancer patients.

Prof. Neeta Mohanty, Dean of Institute of Dental Sciences, the faculty of dental science of SOA University, proposed the vote of thanks.

The chief secretary was felicitated on the occasion on behalf of the University by the Vice-Chancellor and the Managing Member Mr. Gopabandhu Kar.

Cancer Genetics Announces Strong Third Quarter With Growth Across All Categories

Cancer Genetics Announces Strong Third Quarter With Growth Across All Categories

Cancer Genetics, Inc. CGIX, +11.33% an emerging leader in DNA-based cancer diagnostics, announced today financial and operating results for the third quarter ended September 30, 2014.

Third quarter revenue of $3.22 million – overall revenue growth of ~90% over the same quarter of 2013, including 159% revenue growth in Biopharma Services and 44% revenue growth in Clinical Services.

Revenue grew 110% sequentially over the second quarter of 2014.

Signed contracts with biopharma customers increased 33% to over $24 million with significant increases from additional trials in hematological cancers.

Closed acquisitions of BioServe Biotechnologies in Hyderabad, India and Gentris in Raleigh, North Carolina during the third quarter; demonstrating rapid progress on integration and capturing sales synergies.

The company closed the quarter with cash and cash equivalents of $37.0 million with $30.7 million in unrestricted cash.

Achieved major commercial milestones for the DNA-based cervical cancer test FHACT® including: patent issuance by the US Patent Office, obtaining the CE mark to sell FHACT® as an In-Vitro-Diagnostic for HPV-associated cervical cancer in the European Union.

Advanced the validation and clinical utility of the proprietary genomic panel for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) through collaborations with Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Keck School of Medicine at USC on over 280 patients.

Multiple presentations and papers were accepted for the 56th Annual American Society of Hematology (ASH) Meeting in December on genomic panels for DLBCL and Multiple Myeloma.

Conference call today, Monday, November 10th at 8:30am Eastern / 5:30am Pacific.

"The company has significantly advanced its footprint in providing state-of-the-art genomic testing for cancer by continuing to execute growth in the clinical market and expanding our capabilities through the acquisitions of Gentris and BioServe Biotechnologies India. We have been focused on integrating our new sites in North Carolina and Hyderabad, India this past quarter so that we can immediately capture customer synergies and expand our service offering," said Panna Sharma, President and CEO of Cancer Genetics. "As our business impacts more patients, informs the outcomes of more trials, and aids in new discoveries in oncology, we are quickly becoming the partner to help personalize the treatment of cancer from bench to bedside."

Cancer Genetics reported total revenue of $3.22 million in the third quarter of 2014, compared to $1.71 million in the same quarter last year, and $1.51 million in the second quarter of 2014. Revenue growth was driven by strong growth in clinical testing volumes and the close of two acquisitions during the third quarter.

Year over year revenue from Biopharma Services, which provide testing for biotech and pharmaceutical customers, grew 159%. Growth in this area was due in part to new business garnered from the company's acquisitions and from the commencement of clinical trials which had previously been delayed. The acquisitions broaden the company's access to additional global pharmaceutical and biotech companies.

Revenue from the company's Clinical Services, which provide oncology testing for clinicians, cancer centers, and hospitals, grew 44%. The growth in Clinical Services was driven by a 44% increase in the test count, including the number of proprietary panels for B-cell cancers being ordered. Average reimbursement per test also improved by 4% to $484 year over year, and 8% over the prior quarter of 2014.

"This past quarter places our company in an ideal position to continue our growth from the revenue synergies derived from the acquisitions, the launch of additional tests and services, and the investments we have made in sales and marketing," added Sharma. "We are seeing extraordinary interest among community oncologists and pathologists for targeted genomic information that has been validated with leading research institutions to improve diagnosis, as well as guide and monitor patient treatment. The pace at which new combination protocols and new molecular therapeutics are being adopted is driving improved and more informed cancer care. CGI is uniquely positioned as a partner in this era of precision medicine."

"Our work with biotech and pharmaceutical partners continues to grow significantly as evidenced by the growth in our new contracts, bringing our signed contracts to over $24 million. This demand is largely driven by our offering in hematological cancers and our ability to serve clients across multiple geographies," continued Mr. Sharma. "This unique ability to deliver clinically relevant genomic content and biomarker data in the US, India, and China is something that no other oncology-focused genomic company can match. As the need for improved genomic profiling, patient stratification, and therapeutic response monitoring during oncology-focused clinical trials continues to grow, our value proposition grows for biotech and pharmaceutical companies."

Financial Highlights

Third Quarter Ended September 30, 2014 – Year to Year Comparison

Revenues increased ~90% to $3.2 million

Clinical services revenue increased 44%

BioPharma revenue grew 159%

Operating expenses were $5.6 million compared to $2.2 million in 2013

Operating expenses during this period include $1 million in non-cash, stock based compensation and one-time expenses related to our M&A activity

Net loss in the third quarter was $4.8 million, or ($0.51) per diluted share

Adjusted net loss was $3.8 million, or ($0.41) per diluted share

Adjusted net loss, which is a non-GAAP measure, excludes the effect of non-cash employee stock based compensation and one-time expenses related to our M&A activity

Nine Month Period Ended September 30, 2014 vs. 2013 – Year to Year Comparison

Revenues increased 30% to $6.2 million

BioPharma revenue grew $900 thousand

Clinical services test volume increased 30% to 6,740

Operating expenses were $14.1 million, compared with $6.9 million in 2013

Operating expenses during this period include $2.3 million in non-cash, stock based compensation and one-time expenses related to our M&A activity

Net loss for the nine-month period ending September 30, 2014 was $11.5 million or ($1.25) per diluted share

Adjusted net loss was $9.1 million, or ($1.01) per diluted share

Adjusted net loss, which is a non-GAAP measure, excludes the effect of non-cash employee stock based compensation and one-time expenses related to our M&A activity

Cash and cash equivalents totaled $37 million with $30.7 million unrestricted at September 30, 2014

Conference Call & Webcast Details

Reconciliation of Non-GAAP financial measures to GAAP

Cancer Genetics reports net loss without stock based compensation and expenses related to M&A activity, which is a non-GAAP measure. The reconciliation to GAAP is as follows:

Non-GAAP net loss for the third quarter of 2014 excludes the effect of stock based compensation and expenses related to our M&A activity of $1 million in 2014 and $117,000 in 2013. This results in a Non-GAAP loss of $3.8 million, or ($0.41) per diluted share in the third quarter of 2014, compared with a non-GAAP net loss of $2.9 million, or ($0.58) per diluted share, for the third quarter of 2013. The comparable GAAP numbers are a net loss in the third quarter of $4.8 million, or ($.51) per diluted share compared to a loss of $3.1 million or ($0.61) per diluted share in the third quarter of 2013.

Non-GAAP net loss for the nine-month period excludes the effect of employee stock based compensation and expenses related to our M&A activity of $2.3 million in 2014 and $407,000 in 2013. This results in a Non-GAAP loss of $9.1 million, or ($1.01) per diluted share, compared with a non-GAAP net loss of $9.4 million, or ($3.90) per diluted share, for the nine-month period ending September 30, 2013. The comparable GAAP numbers are a net loss for the nine-month period ending September 30, 2014 of $11.5 million or ($1.25) per diluted share, compared with a loss of $9.9 million or ($4.02) per diluted share in the comparable period in 2013.

Intas Pharma sells ChrysCapital's stake to Singapore's Temasek

Intas Pharma sells ChrysCapital's stake to Singapore's Temasek

Ahmedabad-based privately held pharmaceutical company Intas Pharmaceuticals Limited, on Monday announced that Singapore investment company Temasek has acquired a 10.16 per cent equity stake in the company by way of secondary purchase of shares from private equity investor ChrysCapital for an undisclosed sum.

Intas manufatures formulations along with backward integration of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs).

ChrysCapital is a leading private equity firm with over $2.5 billion under management across six funds. ChrysCapital has deployed over $2.5 billion across more than 65 investments and has successfully exited over 40 investments. ChrysCapital has made investments in several Indian pharmaceutical firms including Mankind Pharma, Zydus Cadila, Eris Lifesciences, Ipca Labs and Torrent Pharmaceuticals. ChrysCapital is currently investing out of its sixth fund which was raised in 2012.

Incorporated in 1974, Temasek is an investment company based in Singapore, with a $223 billion portfolio as on March 31, 2014. Temasek’s portfolio covers a broad spectrum of sectors: financial services; transportation, logistics and industrials; telecommunications, media & technology; life sciences, consumer & real estate; energy & resources.

Binish Chudgar, vice chairman and managing director of Intas Pharmaceuticals said, “In the domestic market, Intas is the twelfth largest player in the Indian pharmaceuticals market with a strong chronic oriented portfolio. It is ranked fourth largest in chronic therapy areas with a strong presence in cardiac-diabeto and neuropsychiatry therapeutic segments. Over the past few years, Intas has successfully transitioned into a global generics player with over 50 per cent of its revenues now coming from international markets.”

Intas has global presence in over 70 countries. Presently, US  and Europe account for almost 75 per cent of total international revenues.

He added, “ChrysCapital has been a valuable partner for Intas over the years. We are delighted to have lived up to the expectation of ChrysCapital and now look forward to welcoming a globally reputed investor like Temasek to enable Intas to reach greater heights in the years to come.”

Sanjiv Kaul, managing director, ChrysCapital said, “Intas has been an excellent investment for ChrysCapital with the company having grown revenues at 27 per cent CAGR since its investment in CY06. Thanks to the promoters and its management team, the shareholders’ value has rapidly grown over the last decade, boosted by its strong growth across India and export markets. ChrysCapital reaffirmed its faith in the company with a fresh Rs 300 crore investment from a separate fund in CY12 and will continue to remain invested for the next few years.”

A company statement here said, “Temasek’s investment deepens its exposure to India’s pharmaceuticals industry through a company with deepening comparative advantages. The sector is a good proxy for the needs of transforming economies, which is part of Temasek’s investment themes.

Chudgar added, “The company is investing significant resources to build a pipeline of novel drug delivery technology based products. Intas has become the first company in the world to launch a Nanosomal Docetaxel Lipid Suspension (NDLS), DoceAqualip, designed to significantly reduce the hypersensitivity of the drug among the patients. Intas is a pioneer in field of Biosimilars with a basket of commercialised products with a focus on oncology, nephrology and auto immune disorders. In 2014, Intas became the first company from India to manufacture and supply a Biosimilar (filgrastim) into the EU.”

Eli Lilly gets FDA approval for gastric cancer combination drug

Eli Lilly gets FDA approval for gastric cancer combination drug

Eli Lilly and Company has received the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for Cyramza (ramucirumab) in combination with paclitaxel (a type of chemotherapy) to treat advanced or metastatic gastric (stomach) or gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) adenocarcinoma.

The approval of this combination regimen is for patients whose cancer has progressed on or after prior fluoropyrimidine- or platinum-containing chemotherapy.

The FDA approval is based on data from a multinational, randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled Phase III RAINBOW trial, which compared Cyramza plus paclitaxel to placebo plus paclitaxel.

The trial's efficacy endpoints included the major efficacy outcome measure of overall survival and the supportive efficacy outcome measures of progression-free survival and objective response rate.

Lilly Oncology senior vice-president, product development and medical affairs Richard Gaynor said: "This FDA approval of CYRAMZA represents another milestone for people battling this devastating and difficult-to-treat disease.

"Lilly is pleased to continue delivering on its commitment to provide new treatment options to people living with cancer and those who care for them."

The company said that labeling for Cyramza contains a Boxed Warning regarding increased risk of hemorrhage, including severe and sometimes fatal hemorrhagic events.

Cancer is NOT DEATH!

Cancer is NOT DEATH!

RATNADEEP BANERJI says that  Cancer is certainly fatal if not treated or even if treated improperly. With proper treatment survival span considerably increases.

Cancer is certainly fatal if not treated or even if treated improperly. With proper treatment survival span considerably increases. Sometimes even after complete cure there is a relapse. There is unanimous medical opinion that early detection and proper treatment means survival and not death.

In India, cancer is taking the shape of an epidemic. In next 15 years cancer if tackled with the present concern shall emerge as a cataclysmic malady. Surprisingly some of the cancers in India are more aggressive than the west affecting at a younger age and the spread of cancer is highly susceptible. Why is hepatobilliary cancer (involving liver, gall bladder and pancreas) more common in India than the west? ‘Cancer in India has to be studied with Indian milieu. Indian specific guidelines are lacking’, says Subhojit Dey, an oncologist with Public Health Foundation of India.

2nd lead 3Verily the cancer landscape of India is slipshod. Pyscho-oncology is almost non-existent in India. Distress management and care-giving is rather ineptly done. While most of the developed countries include cancer under the Disability Act and provide for appropriate rehabilitation facilities and human resources; we in India are yet to even initiate a debate on such issues. Stigma and discrimination remains very much associated with cancer and how human rights of cancer patients are violated even at workplace, a blot on our culture.

The President of Cancer Care India, Dr Jitendra Kumar Singh puts it, ‘I know, as an oncologist that one-third of all the cancer is preventable, another one-third can be cured if detected early and the remaining one-third cancer patients can lead a pain free life till death. Cancer survivors should share their life experience in various platforms to dispel the myths about cancer among people.’

The treacherous tentacles of cancer spare none. Dr Arpita Roy was diagnosed with Stage IV B cervical cancer in 2005 while working as resident house officer in medicine and cardiology at the Countess of Chester Hospital, UK. Doctors gave her six months, but after her treatment at AIIMS Delhi, she recovered fully and went back to the UK. The cancer came back. After fighting bravely for another two and half years and cancer won the battle.

Vision Paradise has instituted an award in memory of Dr Arpita Roy for cancer doctors working in Bihar and Jharkhand. Dr Sunita Roy looking back says, ‘The plight of cancer patients in metro cities made us realize that there is a real need to understand the main reasons for patients coming to metro. We believe that our humble initiative would recognize and motivate doctor working  in this field who would produce a study suggesting ways to change the present scenario of cancer screening, detection and treatment in their day to day practice and promote affordable and timely medical care for cancer patients in their home state’.

2nd lead 1About her attacks with cancer Anagha Ghosh says, ‘Cancer has enriched my life in more than many ways. I had utilized the recuperating time in penning down my experiences of cancer in the form of a book, ‘Face to face with cancer’. In 2008, she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Within two years she was back to work but soon again in 2012, on the way back home after book release function, she had bouts of repeated coughing. She now had lung metastasis. She received treatment and continued her desk work. Within a year, in 2013 she had very blurred vision and weakness in right hand. She had 4 lesions in the right brain. In a rare case, ovarian cancer had reached brain. She maintains, ‘I am keen to find out about status of certain human rights of cancer survivors in India.’ National Cancer Survivor Day falls on June 2.

S.P. Goel passed away this year living up to 92 years. Way back in 1979, he had throat cancer and underwent surgical operation.  His vocal cord had to be removed. He regained his speech some time after being fitted with electronic device obtained from the US. During his treatment, he was pained by seeing the plight of rural people coming from remote areas, who after surgical removal of their vocal cords had no way to communicate, because the expensive electronic device was only procured from the USA and he decided to help these patients. In January 1980, he formed a registered charitable society, Laryngectomee Club of India to rehabilitate surgically operated throat cancer patients in India and restore their ability to communicate and speak by using electronic speech aid called electro larynx instrument. The implant has to be inserted in the wind pipe and the patient needs to be rendered training by speech therapists.

S. P. Goel took up cudgels for laryngectomee to be included in the list of disabled persons and artificial electronic larynx be provided to them under the scheme for ‘assistance to disabled persons for purchase / fitting of aids / appliances. In 1983, the government conceded to his demand. Cancer Care India along with National Cadet Corps have been conducting cancer awareness programs about the harmful effects of tobacco consumption by youth.

Anagha Ghosh – ‘Cancer has enriched my life in more than many ways….I had utilized the recuperating time in penning down my experiences of cancer in the form of a book, ‘Face to face with cancer’. In 2008, she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer. Within two years she was back to work but soon again in 2012, on the way back home after book release function, She had bouts of repeated coughing. She now had lung metastasis. She received treatment and continued her desk work. Within a year, in 2013 she had very blurred vision and

weakness in right hand. She had 4 lesions in the right brain. In a rare case, ovarian cancer had reached brain. ‘I am keen to find out about status of certain human rights of cancer survivors in India.’

The story of SCN Chaudhuri is worth relating. He retired in 1998. He spent the better part of his working life with the Indian tobacco Company. He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer at the age of 49. He took to cancer counseling to guide people who were going through the same phase in life as they had. Unfortunately his wife abruptly got diagnosed with cancer and passed away within two weeks.  In 2012, Mr Chaudhuri was diagnosed with gallbladder cancer. He fought with it for a year. He survived cancer for 25 years.

The scourge of cancer is such that it spares none. Jyotsna Govil, the honorary secretary of Indian cancer says, ‘I know so many young doctors of breast cancer who have successfully battled cancer.’ Jyotsna Govil laments over the discrimination meted out to cancer patients in their workplace. She squarely points out at the defunct yardstick – ‘Why this penalizing over cancer?’

This circle brings together patients, their families, local residents, oncologists, medical professionals, care givers, support organisations with the cause of cancer in Delhi/NCR. This circle is presented to the residents of Delhi/NCR by Local Circles in partnership with Indian Cancer Society, an NGO dedicated to eliminating cancer. ICS has several initiatives like Cancer Sahyog that provides support to patients and Prashanti is the healing center offering complimentary therapies and others related to body restoration post cancer.