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Treating
Cancer with Ayurveda-(Times of India Online-11/02/2002)
The Bharatiya Sanskriti
Darshan Trust at Wagholi held it's second international conference on
'Ayurveda for Cancer' at Balgandharva Rangamandir. The motive of this
seminar was essentially to acquaint practitioners of Ayurveda and doctors
in general about the various new treatments available for cancer through
Ayurveda.
Delegates from countries
like Japan, Australia and Germany were part of this informative seminar.
So far, the Bharatiya Sanskriti Trust has been effectively functioning
as an Ayurvedic hospital and research centre, achieving a decent success
rate in the treatment of cancer patients. But essentially, the centre's
role in cancer treatment has been more of a supportive one. "Only a few
years back, the role of Ayurveda was completely negated in the treatment
of cancer. But today, more and more practitioners are realising that Ayurveda
has a definite role in treating cancer, even if it is supplementary to
allopathy," said S P Sardeshmukh, Ayurvedic practitioner at the centre.
"Ayurveda offers
no immediate cure to cancer but works as an excellent support system.
It detects the root cause and provides treatment accordingly. For example,
the side-effects of radiation therapy and chemotherapy are greatly reduced
with the use of Ayurveda. Common side-effects like nausea, hair and weight
loss and indigestion are solved effectively with Ayurveda." he added.
What is significant
is that there is no propagation that Ayurveda must be used exclusively,
with no role for allopathy.
"At our centre, the welfare of the patient is the ultimate aim. We have
never asked our patients to refrain from taking allopathy treatments.
Ayurveda can yet play only a supportive role in cancer treatment so we
must be open to accepting the various modern diagnostic techniques available,"
informed Dr Swapna Kulkarni, assistant physician for the centre's cancer
research project at Mumbai.
The conference basically
echoed the idea that cancer can be effectively tackled, if used in a complementary
manner with allopathy. "Ayurveda can offer immense relief from pain to
cancer patients. It can also prolong life. Basically it improves the person's
quality of life. So even if allopathy is still the first choice, Ayurveda
works effectively as an alternative medicine. The scope of Ayurveda in
cancer is great which is evident from the kind of response it is generating
all over the world," said medical practitioner, Dr Swati Dixit.
[Top]
Centre
for blood cancer patients on the anvil-(Times of India Online-07/02/2002)
Patients suffering
from blood cancer may soon have medicare facilities available closer at
home. The West Bengal Industrial Development Corporation is in talks with
leading doctors for setting up a haemato-oncology care and research centre
in Kolkata. WBIDC chairman Somnath Chatterjee said the proposed facility
was aimed at treating patients suffering from haemato-oncology related
disorders in a centre where an international standard of healthcare would
be available at affordable costs.
Chatterjee met Ashish
Mukerjee, Sharmila Chanda and R.N. Dutta of Haemato-Oncology Care & Research
Trust and discussed the plan. While the trust is keen to set up the hospital,
Chatterjee expressed WBIDC's willingness to join the project. The proposed
hospital will have specialised diagonistic services with modern equipment,
a bone marrow transplant unit, haemato-oncological ICCU for the critically
ill and a day-care centre for patients suffering from Thallassemia Leukemia
and other Haemato-oncological disorders. It will also house a stem cell
transplant unit with banking facility, the first of its kind in the country.
Apart from treating patients with dedicated services, the trust plans
to involve new doctors. To improve the standard of treatment, the trust
envisages collaboration with various haemato-oncological societies, both
within the country and outside, to keep pace with developments.
[Top]
Oral
cancer could pip AIDS to the post-(Times of India Online-11/02/2002)
Forty per cent of
the oral cancers in the state are due to chewing of pan masala and tobacco
smoking. The oral cancer could spread at a much faster pace than the dreaded
disease AIDS, as the symptoms of cancer appear within six months. Addressing
a press conference here, Society for Cancer in Oral Cavity and Prevention
through Education (Scope) managing trustee Dr B Chandrakanth Rao condemned
the Tobacco Board and the government for allowing foreign direct investments
in the tobacco sector despite the Supreme Court's direction to ban smoking
in public places. He said Japan, from being a smokers paradise, with 85
per cent smokers among adult population has come down to 56 per cent after
a ban on smoking in public places. To make their anti-tobacco campaigns
to be effective, the Japanese authorities have requested for volunteers
from Andhra Pradesh.
Dr Chandrakanth Rao
decried the lack of accountability and an effective authority to implement
the ban in the country despite the fact that there are several organisations
and volunteers who could take up the cause.
[Top]
Indoor
air pollution taking its toll in India-(Times of India Online-06/02/2002)
Indoor air pollution
caused by burning of traditional fuels like dung-cakes, wood and crop
residues is causing considerable damage to the health of country's rural
and semi-urban population with nearly half-a-million women and children
dying each year.
India was among the
countries which had the largest burden of disease due to the use of dirty
household fuels and accounted for 28 per cent of all deaths due to indoor
air pollution in developing countries, Dr H N Saiyed, Dr T S Patel and
Dr V N Gokani, all from the National Institute of Occupational Health,
Ahmedabad, said. In developing countries, the problem of indoor air pollution
outweighed the ambient air pollution, a write up, published in the ICMR
Bulletin, said. According to a WHO report, a pollutant released indoors
is 1,000 times more likely to reach people's lungs than that released
outdoors.
"There is evidence
associating the use of biomass fuel with acute respiratory tract infections
in children, chronic obstructive lung diseases, and penumoconiosis in
the residents of Ladakh villages,"though association of tuberculosis and
chronic lung infections with the use of biomass fuels had not been proved,
they said.
Lung cancer had been
found to be associated with the use of coal in China. However, there was
no evidence associating it with the use of biomass fuels, they said and
added that cataract and adverse pregnancy outcomes were the other conditions
linked with use of biomass fuels.
[Top]
First
Indian transgenic mouse gets US patent-(Times of India Online-04/02/2002)
Scientists here have
engineered and tested a new mouse model that develops liver cancer in
just 12 to 20 weeks much faster than any of the existing mouse models.
It is the first transgenic animal from India for medical research ever
to get a US patent (No 6274788).
The arrival of this
new transgenic mouse should speed up drug development for liver cancer
induced by the hepatitis-B virus (HBV) and hopefully help development
of gene therapy for liver cancer, its developers claim. The mouse was
engineered by a team led by Vijay Kumar of the International Center for
Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB) in association with the
National Institute of Immunology (NII) both in New Delhi. Others in the
team included Mahavir Singh, Satish Totey and Rajesh Anand.
Hepatocellular Carcinoma
(HCC) or liver cancer is one of the 10 most common human cancers. At least
50 per cent of individuals chronically infected by HBV develop HCC sometime
or other in their life and at present more than 200 million worldwide
are infected with HBV. It is known that a protein called 'X-protein' of
the hepatitis virus plays a key role in development of liver cancer but
because HBV cannot be propagated in cell cultures, studies of HCC were
limited to analysis of HBV infected patients and chimpanzees.
[Top]
`Kasargod
instances build strong case against Endosulfan'-(Times of India Online-27/01/2002)
Dr Romeo F. Quijano,
Southern Co-Chair, International Persistent Organic Pollutant (POPs) Elimination
Network (IPEN), said cases of alleged pesticide (Endosulfan) poisoning
in Kasargod, if properly built up, could be the first stepping stone for
"eliminating Endosulfan from the face of the Earth". Pointing out that
nowhere in the world such a strong case over the ill-effects of Endosulfan
was witnessed, he said nobody could ask for a better proof of pesticide
poisoning.
Delivering a talk
on "Pesticide and Health with Special Reference to Chronic Exposure",
attended by medical practitioners, farmers and others, at Perla, Kasargod
district, Dr Quijano said vested interests had created an illusion that
pesticides were necessary for food production. The industry had brainwashed
people (especially farmers) that pesticides were a cure for all ills (pests).
Studies by FAO (Food and Agriculture Organisation) had shown that non-chemical
small-scale farming was more remunerative in the long run.
Dr Quijano, also a
toxicology professor of international repute from the Philippines, said
many diseases, including cancer, psychiatric manifestations, endocrine
disruption, kidney diseases, nervous diseases etc, can be caused by pesticides.
"There is no lowest limit for the quantity of pesticide. It is the timing
and resistance of the target group that matters. Even a small amount at
right time can cause enough and permanent damage.''
He said cent per cent
cause-and-effect relationship cannot be established for a fertiliser,
but at the same time, 100 per cent establishment was not at all required
to protect public health. "In such cases, the precautionary principle,
"lack of scientific evidence", should not be the reason for postponing
the decision to safeguard public health. Those scientists who vociferously
advocate the use of pesticides are not scientists in the true sense, but
are only caretakers of corporate interests.''
He advised the industry
to evolve ecologically sustainable pesticides. He praised Padre villagers
and the Kerala government for taking note of the seriousness of the situation.
He hoped that India would show the other developing nations the way by
taking a lead in banning the organo-chlorine pesticide. He said India
had not signed the Persistent Organic Pollutants agreement of the United
Nations. Canada and the Philippines were the first to do so. Since 1994,
a lot of progress had been made in banning the carcinogenic pesticides,
he added.
Dr Ravindranath Shanbhog,
professor of pharmacology at Kasturba Medical College (KMC), Manipal,
said the tests conducted by a team of doctors under his leadership proved
that endosulfan could cause chromosomal aberration and mutation in the
case of rats. Taking up a public awareness campaign was the only way to
fight the inefficiency of the government regarding pesticide abuse, he
said.
[Top]
Bharat
Sevashram builds homes for quake victims-(Times of India Online- 17/01/2002)
The Bharat Sevashram
Sangha, a Mumbai-based charitable organisation, will hand over about 125
houses at Khavda village in Bhuj district, constructed with the help of
Times Foundation, to the victims of last year's earthquake. The project
involves the construction of 250 houses, of which 125 are ready now.
Over the years, the
Sangha has taken part in several relief and social welfare activities.
Among other things, it provides free accommodation to cancer patients
who come to Mumbai for treatment at the Tata Memorial Hospital. It also
provides them free transport to the hospital.
Established in 1917,
the organisation has branches across the country and has been serving
the needy and providing relief work during natural calamities. ``The whole
policy of the Sangha since its inception in 1917 has been to help the
needy,'' says Swami Prashantananda, who is in charge of the organisation.
[Top]
It's
a painful but brave young world of cancer survivors-(Times of India Online-14/01/2002)
This can surely shock
you out of your reverie. The knowledge that cancer is the third biggest
killer disease to strike children. And more than adults it's the school-going
kids afflicted with the disease who are in need of constant support from
their schools and families. A child patient can find it traumatic even
dealing with the hairloss following chemotherapy treatment as fellow students
end up making fun of him or her. There is nobody in the school to sensitise
the patient's classmates to the fact that the hairloss is a side effect
of the painful treatment the child has undergone. It is in this regard,
that the International Cancer Childhood Day is being observed the world
over by 43 nations that are a part of International Confederation of Childhood
Cancer Parent Organisation( ICCCPO).
The Chandigarh-based
Cancer Sahayta Sahyog, a support group working towards treatment sponsorship
and emotional healing of patients, is the only representative for ICCCPO
from India. Having the only 'parents group' in the country, Chandigarh
is the only city observing the day in India.
In four-and-a-half
years, Sahayta working with PGI's radiotherapy, hematology and pediatrics
departments, has sponsored treatment costing about Rs 40,000-Rs 50,000
on an average for about 300 patients, 50 per cent of them being children.
Yet, As Neelu Tuli, president, Sahayta, says, "Constructive support from
the schools, families and friends is needed for the emotional healing
of child cancer survivors. "The mother of a cancer survivor told me that
from the day everybody in their joint family heard about the disease the
cousins were instructed not to play with her child as his disease was
considered to be contagious."
She feels that schools
and families have to make an effort to make the other children understand
that cancer is curable just like any other disease, not contagious at
all and that the patients and survivors need compassion. Every month,
the group adopts 10-12 children, and buys chemo-drugs for them. The group
has also come up with a toy bank donated by the mother of Gagan Toor in
the memory of her son in the oncology OPD to make the little patients'
hospital visits less gloomy. A function to mark the day, featuring talks
by the doctors and volunteers, including a placard rally by St Stephens'
students, will be held in PGI's advanced pediatrics Centre auditorium.
[Top]
Satellite
cancer centres favoured by oncologists-(Times of India Online-29/11/2001)
Large countries like
India and Indonesia should have network of 'satellite cancer centres'
spread across the country to facilitate follow-up studies on patients
who undergo cancer treatment in the few available hi-tech radiotherapy
centres, several oncologists have opined. Participating in a three-day
international teaching course on 'Radiation Oncology in the Next Millennium
What have learnt from Evidence Based Medicine?', the specialists felt
that a large number of patients who come for treatment in urban centres
are not available to measure the results or any side effects of the treatment
given. "Therefore, it is necessary to have satellite centres where the
poor patients can go for a check-up regularly and also the researchers
can have their records completed as part of clinical studies," they said.
Speaking on clinical
trial methodology, Prof William Leer from the Institute of Radiotherapy,
Netherlands, said such satellite centres would also facilitate clinical
trials in a comprehensive manner. Leer pointed out that with the increasing
use of very sensitive molecular modifiers in the treatment along with
radiotherapy, it was important to have follow-ups.
Speaking on the occasion,
Tata Memorial Hospital director Dr K A Dinshaw said the hospital was making
efforts to establish satellite centres and has one already in rural Maharashtra.
"We also train local nursemaids to help in physical examination of oral
and cervical cancers so that the patients can come for treatment at an
early stage where the prognosis is 80 per cent," she said.
Dr. Dinshaw said palliative
care programmes are also urgently needed in the country for pain management,
palliative and terminal care, as they are grossly lacking. "Although with
the support of WHO, the Government of India distributes oral morphine
tablets to regional cancer centres, to be disbursed to patients in need
of pain relief, the palliative programme falls far short and has to be
augmented."
Dr. Dinshaw said the
burden of new cancer cases in the year 2000 was 10.1 million world over
with 53 per cent of them in the developing countries. "In India alone,
at any given time, there are approximately 2.5 million cases of cancer.
800,000 were diagnosed in the year 2000 and 5,50,000 deaths due to cancer
occurred in the country," the TMH director said.
She said highest priority
should be given to reliable monitoring systems to manage and control the
cancer cases in the developing countries. "The Indian National Cancer
Control programme, though not the ideal, has illustrated the feasibility
of implementing control activities in developing countries using scarce
resources to deliver the maximum benefit to the largest number of people,"
she informed the delegates from developing countries participating in
the course jointly organised by the International Atomic Energy Agency
and TMH.
[Top]
Ruby
Hall to set up India’s Largest Cord Blood Storage facility-(Express Healthcare-15/10/2001)
Ruby Hall Medical
Centre and Denmark based biotechnology company Mesibo are soon to form
a 49:51 joint venture with an aim to establish India’s largest cord blood
storage facility at Pune.
Cord blood finds its
uses in persons suffering from thalessemia and leukemia.
[Top]
NHRC
seeks reply from 3 states on Endosulfan –(Times of India Online-16/08/2001)
The National Human
Rights Commission (NHRC) has made chief secretaries of Kerala, Karnataka,
Goa and Director-General, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), parties
to the aerial spraying of Endosulfan and sought a reply within four weeks.
It was a heartening development for villagers of northern Kerala, who
have been victims of illnesses ranging from ordinary skin diseases to
cancer - due to aerial spraying of endosulfan by Plantation Corporation
of Kerala (PCK).
Dr Y.S. Mohan Kumar, who first published these cases in the `Kerala Medical
Journal' in 1997, told this newspaper that the team was moved by the plight
of affected villagers and decided to conduct an epidemiological study.
The team would study the population exposed to endosulfan (in Padre village)
and compared with `control population' - where there is no exposure to
endosulfan (the second village is yet to be identified).
The month-long study, likely to begin on September 20, will analyse data
in the two villages and make recommendations to authorities concerned.
The team will analyse data in areas where cashewnut is grown; any other
crops where endosulfan is used; brief demographic profile of population;
healthcare facilities in the area and whether the district health authorities
have maintained health records of surrounding villages.
Dr Shanbhog said the study will commence after the monsoon. He has already
contacted National Institute of Health (NIH), USA and Indian Institute
of Occupational Health (IIOH), Kolkata, to help him in conducting hormonal
studies to see whether endosulfan has affected villagers. He said the
gene mutation methodology pertaining to atomic radiation in Hiroshima
and Nagasaki is in place and the KMC has also established amethodology
to conduct gene mutation tests. Dr Shanbhog plans to carry out the tests
on 3,000 youngsters (of marriageable age) in Padre and surrounding villages.
If the gene mutation has occurred in them, he will have to give them a
painful message - not to marry or if they do, not to have children to
save agony of the future generation.
If the study proves ill-effects of endosulfan, it will help people approach
government for rehabilitation and courts for compensation.
[Top]
Hyderabad
granite has radioactive uranium-(Times of India Online-14/08/2001)
Scientists at the
National Geophysical Research Institute (NGRI) here have disturbing news
for residents of Hyderabad especially those living in rocky Banjara and
Jubilee Hills area. They have found that the granite rocks of Hyderabad
have abnormally high concentrations of radioactive uranium and thorium
compared to elsewhere in southern India.
Researchers said the rocks in the western part of Hyderabad are more radioactive
compared to those in the east. Rocks in the posh areas of Jubilee and
Banjara Hills have twice as much uranium as found in Uppal in the southeastern
part of the city.
Uranium decays into radioactive radon and, being a gas, it get lodged
in the lungs where it can induce cancer by the alpha radiation it emits.
The radon hazard could be quite real in houses with basements or closed
garage where the radioactive gas can collect and reach the living areas
through pipes and air conditioning ducts.
[Top]
Dabur
scouts partners for genome project (Times of India Online-17/08/2001)
The global Human Genome
Project may soon have an ally on the Indian turf. Dabur India is scouting
for partners amongst major international institutes associated with the
global Human Genome Project, to access the available database generated
by the project and to use it for cancer research. Research in oncology
has been an important area for Dabur and in order to give it the requisite
shot in the arm, the firm is now planning a global alliance in cancer
gene therapy. Sources indicated that tentative proposals on the usability
of the Human Genome database have already been made by the firm.
The idea: Couple the in-house developed proteomic database with the Human
Genome database. Sources also indicated that Dabur is close to finalising
a tie-up with a multinational clinical research organisation for conducting
clinical trials for all its research products.
"The specific thrust is to bring to the fore an anti-cancer vaccine, which
would entail the development of the cancer gene therapy, characterisation
and restoration of genetic alteration in cancer cells and the use of suicide
genes,'' said an analyst with a foreign institutional firm here.
Cancer and certain malignancies are prevalent in India and the Dabur Research
Foundation has identified certain cancers, specifically noticeable in
the head and neck, pancreas and the gall bladder, which afflict the Indian
population.
Dabur India is planning to commence clinical trials for two new chemical
entities (NCEs) and one new drug delivery system (NDDS) in the anti-cancer
segment over the next 16 months, as it gears up to become a major player
in the oncology business. The company will file investigational new drug
applications (INDs) for two new NCEs. Currently, these products are undergoing
pre-clinical trials. This, analysts state, is in addition to its first
anti-cancer NCE which is currently undergoing phase-I clinical trials.
Through its wholly-owned UK subsidiary, Dabur Oncology Plc, the company
is also in negotiations with two foreign patent holders of anti-cancer
molecules for carrying out joint development activities
[Top]
AIIMS
is now aimless: CAG –(Times of India Online-18/08/2001)
Conceived as the premier
national centre of excellence for medical research and education, the
All India Institute of Medical Sciences has grown only in the delivery
of general medical services not its original mandate. But even as patients
don't get quality time from doctors, the institute spends only between
Rs 7 and 12 crore of its annual budget of Rs 600 crore on research. Not
just that. Forty-nine per cent of doctors trained at the country's premier
medical institute leave for foreign jobs even as 18 lakh patients come
to AIIMS every year.
A report of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India tabled
in Parliament says even among the projects sanctioned, final reports have
not been submitted in most cases (of the 339 research projects commissioned
between 1991 and 2000, no final reports have been received for 153). None
of the findings were patented or commercialised. Most of the money is
diverted for infrastructure support, which too continues to be deficient,
it laments.
AIIMS director Dr P K Dave says the report covers the period between 1991
and 1995, though the report itself notes that it has covered the period
till 2000. "Things have improved since then," he adds. But concedes that
AIIMS faces an enormous patient load: "About 350 patients come to the
casualty every day. To function as a hospital it has to prioritise."
The report adds that AIIMS could not use a substantial part of resources
it received under the National Illness Assistance Fund for providing treatment
to the poor. "A small amount of Rs 10 lakh received in 1997 remained deposited
till October 1999 and until March 2000 only Rs 4.85 lakh could be used."
Insiders agree there has been a gradual erosion of values and the work
culture at this premier institution. Not only is there a brain drain as
pointed out by the report, but even senior faculty members take up plum
foreign assignments, while retaining their jobs and the perks that go
with it.
As a result an environment of apathy has taken over. At least three to
four terminally ill cancer patients are turned away from the cancer centre
for lack of space every day. A specialised treatment centre, which was
to have been completed in 1995, remains only partially functional, even
as the director promises its completion by this year-end.
Teaching too has suffered due to shortage of staff. 100 assistant professors
have been appointed on an ad hoc basis. As a result, it has failed to
develop even on academic excellence.
[Top]
Relief
for cancer patients-(Times of India Online-13/08/2001)
Cancer patients undergoing
chemotherapy will no longer have to depend on expensive imported drugs
to cure its harmful side-effects. Dr. Reddy's Laboratories, the Hyderabad-based
pharmaceutical company, has come out with Grastim, the first indigenous
G-CSF, which is used to prevent neutropenia occurring out of chemotherapy.
Neutropenia is the rapid loss of neutrophils, one of the two forms of
white blood cells in the body. When a patient undergoes chemotherapy,
along with the malignant cells, a number of neutrophils, which are an
intrinsic part of the human immune system, are also destroyed. "Thus the
patient's immune system gets damaged and he is unable to go for further
chemotherapy or even dies in the process," senior manager, process development
K. Uma Devi said.
G-CSF, or granulocyte colony stimulating factor, is a drug used to prevent
the destruction of white blood cells during chemotherapy. Till date, Indian
patients had to depend on Neupogen, a G-CSF manufactured by US-based company
Amgen, as a cure for this. Being a monopoly, the drug was exorbitantly
priced- each vial of Neupogen costs around Rs 5,000.
Indian patients now have a cheaper option. "Grastim is the first biotechnology
molecule to be developed in India right from the molecular biology stage,"
DRL executive vice-president Jayram Chigurupati said. Grastim is priced
at Rs 2,460, half that of the multinational product.
Clinical trials of Grastim have proved successful. "Grastim was observed
to have reduced the incidence of neutropenia by 53 to 58 per cent in patients,"
D.C Doval of the Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute said. The product was launched
in Kolkata. "This will be of immense help to needy cancer patients," renowned
oncologist A.P. Majumdar said
[Top]
Govt
for more facilities at AIIMS-(Times of India Online-09/08/2001)
The government has
decided to increase the number of beds for patients at the All India Institute
of Medical Sciences by at least another hundred. The hospital gets about
5,000 patients every day. Union health minister C P Thakur announced a
series of steps that would be taken to improve facilities at AIIMS. He
announced that a Trauma Centre with a bed strength of 140 will be set
up. Already 14.35 acres of land have been allotted for this centre which
is likely to be connected to trauma centres all over the country.
The other facilities
include:
* Centre for Dental
Education and Research at a cost of Rs 23 crore.
* A PET facility to
identify lesions in the brain, which cannot be detected in a CT scan.
* Organ Retrieval
Banking facility and Organ Bank to meet the demands of organs.
* Expansion of cardio-thoracic
and neuro-surgery departments by 80 beds and a similar number of beds
will be added in the cancer hospital.
* Expansion of emergency
block at a cost of Rs 18 crore.
* Creation of an advanced
centre for liver diseases.
* Two dharamshalas
with 268 beds for attendants of patients who come from distant places.
* Setting up of a
national apex centre for a de-addiction programme.
[Top]
'Herbal
formulation proves efficient cancer cure'-(Times of India Online-07/08/2001)
Scientists in Thrissur
have prepared a multiherbal formulation which they claim helps in preventing
tumours in rats and mice. N V Rajeshkumar and Ramadasan Kuttan from the
Amala Cancer Research Centre have reported their findings in the Indian
Journal of Experimental Biology. The formulation, by the name of 'Cancare',
uses extracts from the plants - Curcuma longa, Phyllanthus amarus,
Allium sativum, Emblica officinalis, Picrorhiza kurroa
and Spirulina platensis. It was studied for its anti-carcinogenic
potential in preventing chemically induced tumours of liver and connective
tissue in female rats and mice respectively, the paper said.
Many chemicals extracted from various plants have been shown to possess
anti-oxidant and anti-mutagenic properties. These have been reported to
inhibit carcinogenesis in animal models.
However, as carcinogenesis is a multifactorial process and, thus, individual
chemicals, might not always be effective in inhibiting cancer of various
types in humans, scientists prepared a multiherbal formulation, the report
said.
Liver tumours were
induced by administering n-nitrosodiethylamine (NDEA) in female rats and
tumours of connective tissue (sarcoma) were induced by administering 20-methylcholanthrene
(20-MC) subcutaneously in female mice. The two chemicals are known environmental
carcinogens whose carcinogenicity has already been demonstrated in several
animal species, the scientists said.
Animals were divided into groups and administered either the carcinogen
alone or in combination with Cancare. Reporting the results, the scientists
said all carcinogen treated rats developed liver tumours by the end of
30th week. However, tumour development was inhibited in rats given Cancare.
Half of the rats given 30mg per kg Cancare developed tumours while none
in the group given 150 mg per kg of Cancare showed any tumour. All the
mice administered the chemical had developed sacomas after about five
months while Cancare prevented tumour development in a dose dependent
manner. The formulation also increased the life span of mice administered
the chemical.
Rajeshkumar and Kuttan said Cancare protected the liver against cancer
induced by NDEA. The findings are significant in view of the fact that
NDEA has been detected in edible vegetable oils, alcoholic drinks, steamed
and fried fish and is also formed in the body. Poor treatment success
rate and limited treatment options have made liver cancer a leading cause
of death in developing countries. The protection offered by Cancare is
attributed to the combined effects of various plant constituents rather
than any single component, they said. Its various components have been
shown to be contributing in scavenging of oxygen free radicals, inhibition
of carcinogen activation, and regulation of cell cycle and oncogenes.
All these activities might be responsible for the protective action of
the formulation, they said.
[Top]
Govt
sends team to Kerala on drug controversy –(Times of India Online-03/08/2001)
The government has
sent a team of experts to Thiruvananthapuram to enquire into reports that
a banned drug was tried on cancer patients without their consent, Health
Minister Dr C P Thakur said. The team is likely to return in four days
and report its findings.
Enquiries conducted by the Drug Controller of India have revealed that
the Regional Cancer Centre, which is alleged to have tried the drug on
its patients in collaboration with the John Hopkins University, US, had
taken permission from the authorities as per the rules, he said.
But it seemed the research team had not taken permission from the Institute's
Ethical Committee, adding that John Hopkins University, which was said
to have prepared the drug, had stated that it did not collaborate in the
trial.
He said the drug, tetra methyl form of nor dihydro guaretic acid (NDGA),
is not banned in US as has been reported in the media. As per the rules,
for trying any drug on patients, their informed consent is to be taken
and RCC has stated that it had informed the patients about the drug. The
government team would enquire into all these aspects. If the RCC is found
guilty of neglecting the guidelines, proceedings would be initiated against
it, Thakur said.
[Top]
10
cancer patients treated at ayurveda foundation still alive-(Times of India
Online-02/08/2001)
The government told
the Lok Sabha that 11 cancer patients treated at the Ayurveda and Siddha
Research Foundation in Dehradun in 1997 were found to be leukemia free
after 90 days of medication and 10 of them were alive till date. Health
minister C P Thakur told the House during question hour that the treatment
was part of a centrally-sponsored research project to evaluate the effect
of metal-based ayurvedic formulation on acute pro-myelocytic leukemia
(APML) in October, 1997.
In a clinical study conducted on 15 patients of APML at the Chandra Prakash
Cancer Research Foundation in Dehradun, four patients died, he said. "It
has been found that out of 11 patients who completed 90 days of treatment
all were found leukemia free on the assessment of bone marrow and 10 out
of 11 patients are alive," Thakur informed Haribhau Shankar Mahale (JD-S)
and M V V S Murthi (TDP).
He said, however, the complete project report has not been received as
yet from the principal investigator and the drug is under clinical trial.
A drug development committee was constituted in May this year comprising
ayurvedic experts and modern pharmacologists to oversee the development
of the drug used in the treatment of APML cases. The committee has observed
that various requirements are yet to be fulfilled in order to standardise
the drug which uses metal and minerals as ingredients.
[Top]
Laser
therapy for diabetes treatment –(Times of India Online-29/07/2001)
Carbon dioxide laser
gas therapy which has been used to treat various types of cancers has
now been found to be effective in treatment of diabetes, particularly
to avert the necessity of amputations of limbs, according to Dr A R Undre,
professor of surgery, National Board of Examinations, New Delhi. Addressing
doctors and general practitioners of the continuing medical education
(CME) programme at the Habib Esmail Hospital here in south Mumbai, Undre
reported his preliminary finding that carbon dioxide laser gas has successfully
stopped the process of infections becoming florid leading to ulcers and
saved patients from amputations.
Elaborating the process, Undre said, carbon dioxide dries up and coagulates
infected areas and kills bacteria. So far seven patients suffering from
septic holes and similar infected wounds have been treated with remarkable
success at the city's Jaslok Hospital.
"One patient has even been discharged recently and one more will walk
away from the hospital in the next few days," he said.
Undre also told CME participants that carbon dioxide laser and related
equipment costs Rs 45 lakh and was currently available only at the Tata
Memorial Hospital and Jaslok Hospital in Mumbai. This technology has been
used for treating larynx and uterine cancer also, he added.
[Top]
Haryana
plans to install cobalt therapy units-(times of India Online-31/07/2001)
The Haryana government
plans to install cobalt therapy units and trauma centres in various parts
of the state to treat cancer patients and provide immediate medicare to
the victims of highway accidents, Haryana's minister of state for health,
M L Ranga said. He said the central government had released Rs 1.5 crore
each to install a cobalt therapy unit at general hospital Bhiwani and
set up a trauma centre at Karnal.
He said that the sub-centres
in the districts of Yamunanagar, Karnal and Ambala would now be run by
panchayati raj institutions for a period of two years as a pilot project
to implement health sector reforms under the sector investment programme.
He said that health welfare committees were being constituted in these
districts to improve the health services.
[Top]
US
varsity studies reports of illegal research in India –(Ti–(Times of India
Onlimes of India Online-31/07/2001)
Johns Hopkins University is investigating whether a faculty member conducting
a study in Kerala violated its policies on research involving human subjects.
The unidentified professor conducted a clinical trial at the Regional
Cancer Centre in Kerala in 1999 and 2000 of a experimental anticancer
drug, the university said.
The professor, from the Krieger School of Arts and Sciences, which is
separate from the university's medical school, did not receive approval
for the study from a Hopkins review board and has been directed to stop
working on the study, the university said. Hopkins spokesman Dennis O'Shea
would not identify how many people participated in the study or the experimental
anticancer drug that was used. The research was conducted in India because
"the type of tumour that was under investigation is more prevalent in
that part of the world, meaning Asia in general," O'Shea said.
"We are going to conduct
an investigation to try to fully develop the facts," O'Shea said, declining
further comment. The university said it learned of the anticancer trial
in March from media reports in India and told the faculty member that
a Hopkins board should have reviewed the study before it began. It also
ordered the faculty member to follow university procedures for a follow-up
study.
[Top]
RCC
chief denies testing banned drugs-(Times of India Online-27/07/2001)
The Regional Cancer
Centre (RCC) has denied the allegation that a banned drug, producing toxicity,
has been tested on unsuspected cancer patients. "We have not tested on
patients any banned drug as alleged. What we have used is not banned in
the United States as alleged in some media reports," RCC director Dr M
Krishnan Nair said.
He said the drug in question would not produce any toxicity either, adding
the drugs were used not as part of treatment but only on an experimental
basis. The RCC, a premier cancer treatment and research institution run
on state and central funds, has been the focus of a controversy following
reports that a banned drug developed by Johns Hopkins University had been
tested on cancer patients raising serious medico-legal and ethical questions.
The issue came in the open after a radiobiologist in the hospital filed
a petition before the state human rights commission alleging that patients
were subjected to tests that exposed them to toxicity.
[Top]
Killer
pesticide claims two more lives –(Times of India Online-22/07/2001)
Suspected endosulfan
poisoning has claimed two more lives in Padre village last week. Laxmi
(70), wife of Koragappa Rai, and Vasantha (18), son of Kunjappa Naika,
both residents of Vaninagar in Padre village, are the latest victims of
the dreaded organochlorine compound, endosulfan.
These are said to be the ill-effects of organochlorine chemical endosulfan
sprayed for eliminating tea mosquitoes in cashewnut plantations by using
helicopters since the past 25 years. As the awareness spread, writ petitions
were filed in the courts of Kerala and finally the PCK stopped spraying
endosulfan. But the effects like CNS-related disorders -- ranging from
epilepsy to more serious mental retardation, cancer, skin disease, physical
abnormality among children are surfacing.
Scientists and doctors say that long-term exposure to organochlorines
like endosulfan lead to genetic mutations, cancer due to deformity of
cells (usually breast cancer, prostrate cancer), cerebral palsy, vision
impairment, stunted growth, impotency among other serious abnormalities.
According to Dr Y.S. Mohana Kumar, who first published these abnormal
cases in the `Kerala Medical Journal' in 1997, says that since the past
one decade, more than 51 persons have died of cancer, 38 have been the
victims of cerebral palsy, 49 due to CNS symptoms, 33 epileptic, 16 have
visual disorders. He points out that such abnormal diseases, confined
to a place are very rare. The reason could only be attributed to endosulfan,
he asserts. The doctor in Muliyaru, Bovikkana and Periya found these cases
during a house-to-house visit. Moreover, villagers say that their previous
generation had never been afflicted by these diseases.
Doctors point out that a thorough study was needed to establish to link
the deaths to endosulfan. They also add that organochlorines are slow
poisons, the effects of which would not be evident immediately but are
gradual. But with the Kerala government not ready to ditch its cash crop
agenda (cashew plantations) on the Karnataka border, relief may be a mirage
for these beleaguered villagers.
[Top]
John
Hopkins using Kerala patients as guineapigs: RCC-(Times of India Online-14/07/2001)
A major controversy
seems to be brewing over the alleged trial of a drug on unsuspecting cancer
patients at a hospital here by the world-famous Johns Hopkins University
of the US. The drug, tetramethyl nordihydroguiaretic acid or NDGA (M4N),
was allegedly tested on 24 patients over the last two years at the Regional
Cancer Centre (RCC) here, soon after it was tested on 36 mice in the US.
Reports in the local media said the drug was tried on patients suffering
from head and neck tumors during 1999-2000. Several complaints have already
reached Chief Minister A.K. Antony's office. Also, some of the RCC doctors
are planning to take matters to court.
The trial of another
drug, Foscan, at the RCC has raised hackles as the Food and Drug Administration
(FDA) of the US and the European committee empowered to give approval
for drugs have more than once blocked clearance.
A senior RCC doctor
said the issue came to light "when one of the doctors in RCC found out
that his patients were being used as guinea pigs for this new derivative,
without his consent. "When he protested he was sidelined and he has now
approached the State Human Rights Commission and the Kerala High Court
for justice."
"The team led by the
RCC director Dr M. Krishnan Nair instead of removing the tumors on the
24 patients as soon as they were detected, delayed the surgical intervention
for varying periods to find out the efficacy of the chemical on cancer
cells," he said.
In fact, Nair, in
a press statement on February 28, took a joint credit with John Hopkins
University in announcing that the drug had been effective in treating
certain cancers caused by viruses, the media reports have said. Sources
said the RCC had no role in the development of the drug except in its
trial on patients. Nair added: "We got the consent of all the patients
and moreover the ethical committee has also cleared this."
But a senior doctor
at the RCC alleged that Nair allowed phase III trials of an untested chemical
on unsuspecting patients by making them believe they were being treated
with the latest drug from the US. Phase I and II trials in all countries
pertain to human trials.
Earlier, in 1996, the university was the target of a huge public outcry
after the state government gave it the go-ahead for its Asian School of
Public Health at Munnar. People feared the local population would be used
as guinea pigs for medical research.
[Top]
Injectable
contraceptive not a shot in the arm: Activists-(Times of India Online-19/07/2001)
Several women's and
health organisations have condemned the Centre's decision to promote a
hazardous bi-monthly contraceptive injection Net En on a trial basis in
12 medical colleges around the country, including Maharashtra.
According to the state committee of the All-India Democratic Women's Association,
one of the 12 organisations involved in the protest, the hormonal preparation
is known to have several side effects such as disturbances in the menstrual
cycle, abnormal blood clotting and depression. The long-term adverse effects
include the risk of cancer and loss of bone density. Moreover, return
of fertility is not assured.
[Top]
Eli
Lilly to make India global bulk drug outsourcing hub-(Times of India Online-14/07/2001)
US-based pharmaceutical
company Eli Lilly and company is close to inking a deal with two companies
to globally source gastrointestinal and tuberculosis bulk drugs from India,
a top company official said. "We are taking two companies to outsource
gastrointestinal and tuberculosis bulk drugs to begin with for our global
operations," Rajiv Gulati, managing director, Eli Lilly Ranbaxy Ltd, its
Indian arm, told reporters here. Gulati, however, declined to divulge
more details on the deal, but said that the company was likely to make
India a global bulk drug outsourcing hub.
Stating that the company
would focus on clinical trials in the country, Gulati said for chemical
research the company was planning to enter into contract research agreements
with local companies. "We (the global parent) are in an advanced stage
of discussion with some local companies here for conducting chemical research,"
he said.
He said that the company
was eyeing clinical research, specially in the area of cancer and cancer
relating to neck and head as it was typical in India.
[Top]
Debating
over euthanasia-(Times of India Online-22/07/2001)
Seventy-eight-year-old
A N Mukherjee does not want to carry on living anymore and wants to 'die
with dignity'. A former merchant navy captain, Mukherjee "has not really
recovered" from two successive cerebral attacks and says wishes to end
his life rather than carry on a painful existence.
Chetna Duggal was just 10 when she saw her grandfather, a cancer patient,
dying a painful death. A decade later Chetna, now in college, is reliving
the nightmare. Her mother is suffering from the incurable Alzheimer's
disease and she knows once again that there is nothing medical science
can do to cure her.
Both of them have therefore joined Kolkata's first association that supports
euthanasia - the dictionary meaning of which says it all - "the practise
of killing someone painlessly in order to stop their suffering when they
are dying or have an incurable illness."
"I have seen my grandfather die before my eyes and I couldn't do anything
to end his suffering. Now I see the same thing happening to my mother.
Why do they have to suffer so long and wait for death to come? If death
is inevitable why can’t we choose the time? I surely don't want to suffer
this way," Chetna said. "I don't call this living, the way I am now. I
would rather die," Mukherjee echoed.
The Association - The Kolkata Society for the Right to Die with Dignity
- is just two months old (they were registered only in April), but already
they have over 50 members including a few people like Mukherjee who are
sufferers themselves and want Euthanasia to be legalised in India. Till
date only Netherlands has legalised Euthanasia. Similar bills are pending
before the US Congress and the British Parliament. The association has
even roped in the support of medical experts like Oncologist Jaydip Mukherjee
and legal eagles like Deepankar Chatterjee..
"My husband says we should not play God. But I feel we should exercise
our own judgement when it comes to dealing with our own lives," said association
secretary Uma Bhatia.
However, legalising Euthanasia in India may take a long time, even decades.
"The main fear is that of misuse, if Euthanasia is legalised. In a large
and poor country like India what stops a son from doing away with his
critically ill father to grab property, once the older man has signed
a will supporting euthanasia? If there is a law there are loopholes and
these might be deadly," said lawyer Anup Sengupta.
"Corruption is so institutionalised here that even doctors can be bribed
and if euthanasia is legalised that may happen in a lot of cases," warned
senior medical practitioners S K Chatterjee.
Admitting that KSRDD was "still in its infancy" Bhatia said: "the real
need of the hour is to spread awareness among people and build up a huge
membership to create public pressure. Money is also urgently needed".
The association plans to take part in seminars, hold workshops with doctors,
lawyers and students and build up public awareness on mass scale in the
future.
[Top]
When
homeopathy brings hope-(Times of India Online-16/07/2001)
Bangalore is dotted
with homeopathic hospitals housed in compact buildings, bustling with
people who come there hoping for cure after losing faith in other branches
of medicine. And to their surprise, many times, they get cured and that
too at a nominal fee. Dr BP Manjunath's Vijaya Clinic in Hanumanthnagar
is one such place. But before you wonder about the magical healing potential
of homeopathy, Dr Manjunath tells you, "There is no miracle involved in
it."
He explains further:
"It's just a good understanding of the system of medicine and the problem,
and applying one's knowledge and experience. My father was one of the
first few trained homeopaths - for me it's also a tradition that I'm proud
to carry on." This comes from a doctor who has solved some of the cases
that had been considered incurable. He was recently awarded the Kempe
Gowda award by the state government.
"I never dissuade
my patients from going for allopathy. There are many cases where it's
needed, and I continue my medicine." He is a consulting physician at Bangalore
Institute of Oncology, Sevakshetra, Srikrishna Sevashrama, Indian Institute
of Management.
Sixteen-year-old Rahul
Kunagal was cured of asthma. Sandeep, a cerebral palsy patient, who used
to go to a special school, is now able to go to a normal school after
a one-and-a-half year treatment with Dr Manjunath. The doctor has also
cured several patients with blood and breast cancer.
"Homeopathy also helps
in improving sperm count there by giving hope to childless couple. I have
helped around 15 such couples. Many of these cases were referred to me
by allopathy practitioners, the improvement in the sperm count before
and after the treatment in many cases is amazing," says the doctor.
Helping the alcoholics
and drug addicts is a work close to his heart. "In homeopathy we have
medicines that develop aversion to drinks, and also the effects of smoking
like tremors, dimness of vision, sexual problems, etc."
The doctor however
ridicules claims that homeopathy can cure diatetes. Educating people about
health and all-round development is another of his passions. He has conducted
over 1,000 free medical camps in rural Karnataka.
The doctor, who hails
from Baguru in Channarayapatna, has a systematic rural development project
going on at Amaravathi, in Kolar district, for the past 20 years.
[Top]
Is
the cancer bomb ticking? –(Times of India Online-04/07/2001)
The hazards of industrialisation
are beginning to show. First it was the oxides of nitrogen and sulphur
posing a major health risk. Now it is benzene in the air that is giving
sleepless nights to health experts for its known carcinogenic effects.
Over 10,000 people
are already dying in Delhi from pollution related causes every year and
now doctors have noted a rise in incidence of cancer - the most prominent
being leukemia or blood cancer, cancer of gall bladder and the urinary
tract.
The culprit, they
say, this time is benzene, a known carcinogen and other aromatic hydrocarbons
emanating from petrol, diesel and some chemicals and dyes industries.
"After much hue and
cry was raised, the government brought down the benzene content in petrol,
but the total aromatic content of unleaded petrol still remains as high
as 48 per cent as against 25 per cent in the United States," says Prof
H B Mathur, Emeritus Professor, Delhi College of Engineering and an air
pollution expert.
During combustion
most of the aromatic compounds get converted to benzene. If the vehicle
has a catalytic converter, it can take care of benzene, but most of the
vehicles on Indian roads have no converters which means more and more
benzene is being spewed out into the air, says Prof Mathur.
"Breathing polluted
air is one of the factors responsible for cancer. Exposure to Polycyclic
Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) and Suspended Particulate Matter (SPM) causes
cell mutations, which may ultimately lead to cancer," researchers at Centre
for Science and Environment (CSE) say. "Diesel exhaust which has
a high fraction of both (PAHs and SPMs) causes 10 times more mutation
than leaded petrol, which in turn is 10 times more mutagenic than unleaded
petrol. In cities like Delhi, diesel exhaust is becoming the main source
of PAH and particle emissions."
"In India, relatively
high levels of aromatic compounds such as benzene, toulene and xylene
are added to unleaded fuel to increase its octane content so as to minimise
the antiknocking properties of fuel, which wears the engine of the vehicle.
The combustion of these aromatics leads to production of PAH - known carcinogens.
Dilip Biswas, chairman,
Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) however, says benzene levels in
petrol have been contained at source and brought down to the international
standard of one per cent.
"The rise in cancer
cases are in no way to be attributed to the benzene in unleaded petrol,"
says Biswas.
Though no concrete
studies have been done to show the exact increase in cancer cases, doctors
say they are witnessing a perceptible increase in the number of cancer
patients reporting everyday.
And neither is unleaded
fuel the only culprit nor lowering benzene in petrol the only answer,
they insist.
"Most of the patients
coming to us are industrial workers especially in the dye trade and from
petrol pumps who are showing cancer of blood, urinary bladder, skin and
gastrointestinal tract," says Dr Samir Kaul, cancer specialist at Apollo
hospital here.
"And these cases are
not just from Delhi... Industrial workers from Jamshedpur are reporting
in large number, even those from Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Mauritus are
coming," says Dr Kaul, noting this should be a cause for concern.
"The increase is definitely
there, more so in urban areas," says Dr Jyotsna Fuloria, an oncologist,
adding a large number of petrol pump workers are also coming with blood
cancer.
In fact more cases
are being reported in the Gangetic belt right from Pakistan to Calcutta
whereas the incidence is very low in south India, she says.
However, Dr Vinod
Kochupillai, head, Institute's Rotary Cancer Hospital at the All India
Institute of Medical Sciences, (AIIMS) says that leukemia incidence is
known to increase in areas with high radioactivity, but whether unleaded
fuel is increasing it cannot be said for sure.
Most of the cancers
are multifactoral and cannot be attributed to one single factor. "Increased
life expectancy, high alcohol, tobacco intake, changed food habits and
industrialisation all are known to cause cancers... But we cannot point
the finger to one single factor, says Dr Kochupillai.
Indian Council for
Medical Research (ICMR), the nodal agency for collecting data on cancer
has not released any such data after 1989.
"Even the data then
showed that Delhi had the highest incidence of cancer (5 per 100,000)
followed by Mumbai (4 per 100,00) and Bangalore," she says.
Generally cancer cases
are on rise, she says but points to the fact that since no official data
is available it cannot be definitely said which cases are increasing.
"It has been proved
that 35-40 per cent of all cancers in India are tobacco related, not much
work has been done on leukemia or other cancers," she says.
Meanwhile, tests at
the Institute of Oncology in Bologna, Italy found that fuel additives
benzene, toluene and xylene produced cancerous tumours when ingested or
inhaled. Benzene is particularly harmful and is linked with childhood
leukemia.
Researches in Sweden
in 1993-94 also showed that service station workers had unexpectedly high
rates of leukemia. Unleaded fuel when pumped into a tank releases aromatic
compounds. A person at the service station is thus at a higher risk from
benzene and other volatile organic compounds at the petrol pump.
"We really need a
good epidemiological study to point towards the rise and the relationship
between various factors in causing cancers as most of them are multifactorial,"
notes Dr Fuloria.
[Top]
Has
the magic cancer bullet arrived?-(Times of India Online-29/05/2001)
Indian cancer researchers
have taken a giant step on the road to discovering the ultimate cancer
cure by developing a drug that selectively targets the cancer cells without
harming the healthy ones.
Researchers in Kolkata
claim that patients in very advanced stages of cancer for whom all other
treatments had failed have been brought back to excellent health with
the help of a drug formulation they have developed after research spanning
more than a decade.
"We have what we think
magic bullet against cancer," says Manju Ray, a biochemist at the Indian
Association of the Cultivation of Science (IACS) where the drug was developed
under a project funded by the department of science and technology and
the council of scientific and industrial research.
Most currently available
anti-cancer drugs are toxic because they also damage the normal cells.
Ray says the IACS formulation, containing methylglyoxal as the lead ingredient,
combats only the diseased cells, the cherished goal of cancer researchers
worldwide. Methylglyoxal is a metabolite in the human body produced during
glucose breakdown.
Others involved in
the project are Swapna Ghosh of IACS, Manoj Kar and Subhankar Ray of the
university college of science, and Santajit Datta, a medical practitioner.
Results of human trial conducted by them with the new drug have recently
appeared in the Indian Journal of Physics.
[Top]
Precautionary
steps must to prevent lung cancer-(Times of India Online-12/05/2001)
Lung cancer may emerge
as the major cancer epidemic among men in India in the next five to ten
years if preventive steps were not taken immediately, according to the
executive chairperson of the Cancer Institute in Chennai, Dr V. Shantha.
She was delivering the keynote address at the South Zone Workshop on `Development
of an Atlas of Cancer in India' organised by the Indian Council for Medical
Research and World Health Organisation. Dr Shantha said 45 per cent of
all male cancers could be lung cancer.
At present lung cancer
occupied the third position and if no measures were taken up it could
emerge the number one. The growth of lung cancer had increased to 1,57,000
per year from 1,00,000 in 1983, she added.
There was strong need
for taking some definitive anti tobacco measures to check the rise. Dr
Shantha said that the incidence of oral cancer among men however was on
the decline. She stressed the need to network cancer registries in the
country and starting of new registries in rural areas.
ICMR director general
N.K. Ganguly who inaugurated the workshop said the lack of epidemological
data was hampering research against cancer in the country. He said by
the year 2020 cancer could emerge a major burden in the country.
[Top]
Aggressive
screening programme for breast cancer urged-(Times of India Online-07/05/2001)
Renowned cancer specialist
Dr Suresh H Advani has called for introduction of aggressive breast screening
programmes in the country, as early diagnosis and treatment were vital
in decreasing mortality rate in breast cancer. Addressing the three-day
conference on "Recent Advances and Controversies in the Practice of Medicine
in the New Millennium" Dr Advani said the identification and modification
of risk factors, early diagnosis and treatment and improved treatment
strategies have checked the mortality rate in recent years despite an
increase in incidence. Advani, head of medical oncology at Tata Memorial
Hospital here also stated that introduction of adjuvant therapy involving
chemotherapy in breast cancer management shows significantly better results
over the years.
Vice Admiral Vinod
Pasricha, who inaugurated the conference, said modernisation of INHS involving
introduction of ultra modern facilities and equipment would be completed
by December 2002. INHS Asvini, which organised the seminar, has been in
service for the betterment of health in the stressful environment of defence
forces since 1951.
Dr A K D'Cruz, professor
and surgeon, Tata Memorial Centre pointed out that the emphasis in the
treatment of cancer is shifting from survival to quality of life.
[Top]
Sea
water at Alang shows high level of toxic contamination-(Times of India-04/05/2001)
Chemical analysis
of sea water and sediment sites at Alang in Gujarat have shown extensive
contamination by toxic compounds at all sampling sites. Alang is the largest
ship-breaking yard in Asia where ships are sent from several countries
for scrapping.
While 95% of these
ships are composed of steel which is recovered, the remaining 5% comprises
toxic wastes which are dangerous to workers’ health.
High levels of polycyclic
hydrocarbons (PAHs) were found in soil and sea water samples. PAHs are
residues found after burning of petroleum and other similar products.
These residues are known carcinogens and can cause havoc to the worker’s
health. Many other toxic poisons from scrap metal such as organotins,
heavy metals, dioxins and furans are also widely distributed throughout
the area.
[Top]
Pune
firm will enter cancer drug research soon-(Times of India Online_18/04/2001)
Research on monoclonal
antibodies for evolving new mechanisms of treatment for various types
of cancer has been a prerogative of the Western multinationals till now.
However, for the first
time, an Indian start-up company, Exogen Biosystems, focussing on biomedical
research, is set to bring the research to India, adding a new dimension
to cancer research. The Pune-based company will soon enter into an agreement
with a US-based pharma giant for the contract research programme. The
research will be first of a kind in this part of the world.
The research on monoclonal
antibodies is still in a nascent stage in the West and the company is
trying to bring it to India and gain the first-mover advantage. It is
looking for venture capital funding to part-finance its plant near Pune.
During phase-II, which will take about two years' time, Exogen will take
the entire research module and molecular material from its outsourcing
company in the US.
During phase-III,
which is crucial since it will go through tests relating to effects on
humans, the company might collect samples from across the country to study
the effects of the treatment mechanism under Indian and Asian geographic
conditions. The company might also go for a patent claim subject to its
contribution to the programme. The type of cancer on which to lay the
focus will be decided only during phase III. It could be for throat, lung,
breast or blood cancer. The effort is to develop a therapeutic model.
Once this is available, it would add a whole new dimension to cancer treatment.
The drug is expected
to be made available in the US only by the end of 2005. The findings of
the research would be of importance to India since it is one of the nations
with high incidence of cancer-related cases.
According to a World
Health Organisation estimate, there were more than eight lakh cancer cases
in the country. Another study recently suggested that out of every 1,000
persons, around 140 males and 135 females were found to have a form of
cancer. About 35 to 40 per cent of the total cancer cases were related
to leukemia.
[Top]
Hyderabad
firm to launch cheap leukemia drug-(Times of India Online-18/04/2001)
For the first time
in the country, an Indian firm is coming out with an indigenously manufactured
drug for leukemia. Shanta Biotech, a Hyderabad-based biotechnology company,
will introduce Shaneferon (Alpha Interferon 2a) by September this year.
The drug, which is
in the third phase of clinical trials at its Hyderabad office, will be
ready in a few months and will be introduced into the market after necessary
permissions from the government.
Shanferon will essentially
treat chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) patients. At least 4,000 cases
of CML are reported every year in the country. Out of every 10 patients,
only one can afford to get treatment. The drug being used now, Interferon,
manufactured by Western pharma giants, costs anywhere between Rs 1 lakh
and Rs 1.25 lakh per individual. Shanferon would not cost even one-third
of that amount.
Fulford, Rosche Piramal
and US Vitamins market interferon in the country.
[Top]
Efforts
on for self-reliance in cancer treatment-(Times of India Online-05/04/2001)
The government is
making concerted efforts to make the country self-reliant in cancer treatment
and develop a tele-therapy system, according to Vinay Kohli, secreatry,
information and technology (IT) ministry. Several IT departments along
with their affiliated institutes were working on this and soon there would
be introduction of online consultancy and treatment for cancer patients,
he said at the inaugural session of the seminar on 'Role of IT in Healthcare'
organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).
[Top]
25
m diabetic, 24 lakh cancer cases in India-(Times of India Online)
About 24 lakh cases
of cancer were estimated to be prevalent in the country in 2000 while
the number of diabetic patients stood at 25 million, the Rajya Sabha was
informed. Based on the application of incidence rate of cancer from the
population-based cancer registries of ICMR, to the entire country, the
projected number of new cases in 2000 was 7.9 lakh, minister of state
for health and family welfare A Raja said.
The Centre is providing
financial assistance for development of oncology wings to government medical
colleges and hospitals that include cobalt units and installation of cobalt
therapy units in government institutions and NGOs under National Cancer
Control programme.
[Top]
India’s
first U-cord blood bank will be set up in Pune shortly-(Times of India-12/01/2001)
Danish biotech major,
Mesibo, the world leaders in stem cell research are planning to establish
a prominent umbilical cord blood bank facility in Pune in association
with a leading hospital in the city. The centre will ensure the cryogenic
preservation and life-long storage and preservation of umbilical cord
blood of children soon after birth.
Blood from umbilical
cord contains certain cells that are never produced again. These cells
might be of incredible value to the child later in life.
[Top]
Parsis
more prone to cancer:Study (Bombay Times-26/12/2000)
Parsis
suffer more from cancer of the breast, endometrium, lymphomas and leukemia
than non-Parsi communities, says a study done by Mumbai Cancer Registry,
based on data collected for the last five years.
Experts
say the reasons for the variation in the patterns are different habits,
customs, and economic status. Late marriagee, infrequent breast feeding
and low fertility are responsible for the higher rate. Inbreeding also
adds to the problem. The lower use of tobacco is responsible for the low
rate of oral cancer. The importance of hygiene in the community reduces
the cases of cervix cancer.
[Top]
Cancer
treatment:Kerala’s RCC makes rapid strides through Ayurveda-(Observer-13/01/00)
A unique centre for providing Ayurveda treatment
to cancer patients has come up at the Regional Cancer Centre in Tiruvananthapuram.
The unit inaugurated by state Governor Sukhdev Singh Kang was set up on
the basis of an agreement between the Dehradun based Vaidya Chandra Prakash
Cancer Research Foundation and the RCC for testing the efficacy of Ayurvedic
treatment for cancer.
[Top]
Ayurvedic
drug to help in chemotherapy-(Financial Express-19/9/99)
A new All India Institute of Medical Sciences
(AIIMS), Delhi study tests a herbal remedy that reduces the side-effects
of chemotherapy. Dr. Anurag Shrivastava of the AIIMS and his team have
come out with a study that suggests that Maharishi Amrit Kalash, a herbal
formulation significantly reduces the side-effects of chemotherapy in
cancer patients.
[Top]
We
care for cancer patients, do you?-(Bombay Times-25/01/00)
The Marathon of Hope
was started by Terry Fox, a young Canadian who was diagnosed with bone
cancer in 1977. Fox first started the run in Canada and helped raise $23
million. Today this run is being held in 125 different countries as a
tribute to him, and also to make cancer patients realize that if this
young man could do it, they can too. A run was organised in Mumbai by
Canada Life on January 23. About Rs. 20 lakhs were expected to be raised
and will be donated to Tata Memorial Hospital for cancer research.
[Top]
Cervical
cancer is preventable (TOI-30/11/99)
At a gathering organised
by the Indian Society of Oncology, after inaugurating the chemotherapy
wing of the Mahavir Cancer Treatment Centre, one of India's leading oncologists
and chemotherapy expert, Dr. S. H. Advani, said that cancer is no longer
a dreadful disease since it can be prevented and treated. Cancers of the
mouth, cervix and breast, which account for 70% of cancer cases in India,
can be detected at an early stage and are curable if community education
programmes increase the awareness level about the disease. Dr. Advani
has said that cancer of cervix is completely preventable if women can
keep their genitalia clean and in a hygienic condition and their partners
agree to circumcision.
Dr. Advani pointed
out that incidence of cervical cancer was negligible amongst Muslims and
Jews worldwide and among Muslim women in India, where men undergo circumcision
in childhood. Since the unhygienic condition of the male genitalia could
be a factor responsible for cancer of the cervix in Hindu women, Hindu
men should also undergo circumcision. Women should undergo Pap smear tests
at regular intervals for early detection.
Unmarried, issueless
or women who couldn't breast feed their children run a higher risk of
contracting breast cancer. Mammography at regular intervals for women
above the age of 35 years will help detect the disease at an early curable
stage.
Men in India mostly
suffer from head, neck, mouth and lung cancer because of the frequent
use of tobacco and smoking. The incidence could be prevented if the use
of gutka and tobacco was stopped.
Regarding leukemia,
Dr. Advani said that prolonged weakness and lack of hemoglobin were major
symptoms of the disease.
Dr. Advani said that
the next millennium would see advancement in cancer treatment. Due to
development in biotechnology, gene therapy would revolutionise treatments
procedures.
For details on CPAA's
cancer prevention initiative, | 
