Dr Reddy's Laboratories has entered two tie-ups with Shvaas, the lung cancer editorial board, and Indian Breast Cancer Resource (IBCR), first of its kind country specific online repository on breast cancer in the world, to facilitate and ensure its treating physicians get the best information on the latest developments in the treatment of cancer which could lead to early detection. Early diagnosis directly leads to increased chances of survival. These tie-ups will go a long way in helping patients and care givers in India in their fight against cancer.

Shvaas-The Lung Cancer Editorial Board, is supported by leading oncologists and pulmonologists across India to create nationwide awareness on the ill effects of tobacco usage. Every year, tobacco usage leads to about 5.5 million deaths worldwide with close to one million deaths occurring in India alone. Majority of the cardiovascular diseases, cancers and chronic lung diseases are directly attributable to tobacco consumption. Dr Kumar Prabhash, Tata Memorial Hospitals, Mumbai and Dr Senthil Rajappa, Indo-American Cancer Hospitals, Hyderabad play a key role in the editorial board.

Statistics paint an alarming picture of the extent of tobacco menace in the Country. In view of the high prevalence of tobacco usage in India, the need was felt to create awareness and prevent any further increase in the prevalence of tobacco use, especially among the vulnerable groups such as females, youth and children.

Shvaas is an online repository (http://www.lungcancerconsortiumasia.com) of various published and unpublished Lung cancer studies related to India. Lung Cancer Editorial Board will share their views and case studies on guidelines for treatment of Lung cancer in the Indian context on this platform. It will also contain comments from leading oncologists on published studies and will be a comprehensive information source on lung cancer for the people of India.

The Shvaas team has also released a ‘Lung cancer update booklet’ where eminent oncologists and pulmonologists of the country have highlighted about lung cancer, its risk factors and prevention measures.

IBCR will be the first of its kind country specific online repository on breast cancer in the world. It will host information collected from various sources on incidences, prevalence, diagnosis, treatment and outcomes in the area of breast cancer, specific to India. This initiative is led by Dr Sudeep Gupta from Tata Memorial Hospitals (TMH), Mumbai and Dr D C Doval, senior consultant medical oncologist, Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute, New Delhi with support from Dr R A Badwe, director, TMH and Dr G K Rath, head of Oncology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi and contributions from over 60 oncologists from across the country.

Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer affecting Indian women today. The real challenge lies in the fact that Indian women tend to get this disease quite early compared to their counterparts in the western world. Adding to this, there is very little organized data available in the Indian context to evaluate the accurate treatment parameters. Keeping this in mind, Dr Reddy’s is supporting a team of eminent oncologists in developing the ‘Indian Breast Cancer Resource'.