The advances in oncology research and treatment options are increasingly focusing on need for organ preservation with early detection.

As a move to drive early detection, GE Healthcare and IndiGo have now teamed up for a breast cancer awareness campaign with an aim to ensure women are made aware of the disease and undertake preventive screening, through its nationwide awareness ‘BEPROACTIVE’ campaign which began on began on October 20, 2017.

Under this initiative, IndiGo colleagues across 39 domestic airports are ensuring to share leaflets and luggage tags with women flyers which has a message ‘Breast cancer awareness and early detection is critical for survival’.

The initiative has drawn support from over 70 partner hospitals across the country which have come forward to provide free counselling, consultation and discounted screening. A microsite - www.beproactive.co.in has been created where people can get details of partner hospitals and can take benefit of the campaign in four easy steps: visiting the website, choosing the preferred city, calling a listed hospital in that city for an appointment and avail the free consultation and discounted screening valid till December 31, 2017 only.

While increased awareness, early detection and timely treatment have improved the survival rates, a common quality of life issue that comes up post cancer treatment is the ability to procreate, said Dr. Manish Banker, Director, Nova IVI Fertility’.

According to Indian Council of Medical Research last year, around 14.5 lakh new cases of breast cancer were diagnosed and is projected to reach nearly 17 lakh by 2020. Breast cancer accounts for about 10% of all types of cancer cases in India. With ever-changing lifestyle, breast cancer is now seen affecting at least 1 in 400 women.

“ Fertility preservation gives hope to have a family after surviving cancer. The patients have the option to freeze their eggs, sperms or embryos prior to cancer treatment, so that if infertility unfortunately occurs, they can still conceive through fertility treatment when they are cured. Since oncologists are the first to be consulted, it is important for them to spread awareness on the consequences of cancer treatment on fertility and also discuss the options of fertility preservation before starting cancer treatment,” stated Dr. Banker.

In the case of organ preservation, several hospitals in India have been evaluating the feasibility of organ-preservation. There are several oncologists too who have been practicing organ preservation but see the need for adequate infrastructure to support organ-preservation protocols, stated a report by Indian cancer specialist titled Feasibility of organ-preservation strategies in head and neck cancer in developing countries.

One of the most innovative and advanced cancer treatments, immunotherapy with dendritic cells infuses a new ray of hope for the cancer patients. It is here that LDG India a cancer treatment laboratory in New Delhi established by a globally leading oncologist Dr. Frank Gansuage along with Tapesh Singhal as its director, provides the treatment through only one dendritic cell rich dose which takes a total of one week to process.

“With this medical advancements with immunotherapy, cancer patients are surely going to benefit as this treatment has largely proven its effectiveness worldwide,” said Singhal.