Renowned neurosurgeon Dr. Gurneet Singh Sawhney offers Spinal Cord Stimulation Treatment and renews hope to millions suffering from chronic pain associated with spinal cord disorders and injuries. Spinal cord stimulation is a therapeutic technique that helps to reduce the intensity of chronic pain and restore motor functioning in patients suffering from spinal cord injuries.

Spinal cord stimulation prevents pain signals from reaching the brain and relieves the patient from chronic back pain. The treating neurosurgeon performs a minor procedure to implant a tiny device akin to a pacemaker which sends electrical pulses to the spinal cord.

Spinal cord stimulation treatment is recommended to patients suffering from arm, leg, or back pain, complex regional pain syndrome, neuropathy, malfunctioning of nerves, post-laminectomy syndrome, perineal pain and visceral abdominal discomfort, peripheral vascular disease, arachnoiditis, post-surgical pain, injury to the spinal cord.

Dr Gurneet Singh Sawhney, founder of Neurolife Clinic, Mumbai and Senior Consultant – of Brain and Spine at Fortis Hospital, Mumbai, shares his views on Spinal cord stimulation treatment says, ‘One of the best advantages of this treatment is that it reduces the intensity of chronic pain and also the dependency on opioid medication.’

Surgeon explains that a spinal cord stimulator (SCS) administers a moderate electric current to the spinal cord. Thin cables of the pulse generator deliver the current to the nerve fibres of the spinal cord. When the stimulator is switched on, it stimulates the nerves in the painful area. The electrical pulses change the pain signal, not allowing it to reach the brain.

The spinal cord stimulation procedure is performed in two steps. The first procedure involves a trial followed by surgery to implant the pulse generator/battery. The trial procedure is performed as an outpatient procedure. After five to seven days, the patient revisits the neurosurgeon to decide whether to proceed with the implantation of the stimulator or remove it.

If the patient experiences 50% relief from pain, they can proceed with the implantation of the spinal cord stimulation device. The implantation surgery for spinal cord stimulation lasts for one to two hours. The neurosurgeon implants the electrode using fluoroscopy and ensures that the leads do not contact the spinal cord directly. The surgeon can seek responses from the patient if they are responsive for better placement of the device.

Once the lead electrodes are in place, the neurosurgery procedure involves implanting the generator in the buttock, with a wire connecting it to the spine under the skin. The neurosurgeon makes a tiny skin incision below the waistline to place the generator, then joins the pulse generator to the lead wire and checks whether the generator is correctly set.

Upon recovery, the neurosurgeon will perform a follow-up and program the pulse generator and your medication, depending on your spinal health.

Dr. Gurneet Singh Sawhney cautions patients as he states, ‘The SCS does not treat the pain, but it helps the patient to manage the pain, especially to nearly 50%, which we consider successful. Research reveals that almost 50 to 80% of the patients have experienced nearly 50% reduction in pain. At the same time, some of them have resumed active lifestyles such as housework or employment, with or without consuming oral painkillers.

Patients with SCS can experience considerable relief from pain, improve functionally and lead more satisfactorily. Also, it is possible to reverse SCS therapy by undergoing another procedure to remove the electrode wires and generators.

About Dr. Gurneet Singh Sawhney:

Dr. Gurneet Singh Sawhney is a highly respected neurosurgeon with expertise in minimally invasive neurosurgical procedures. He is an accomplished surgeon with many successful surgeries to treat complicated brain and spinal cord conditions to his credit. His passion for neurosciences has made him an expert in Stereotactic Radiosurgery, Epilepsy Neurosurgery, Functional Neurosurgery, and Neuroendoscopy.

With nearly two decades of experience in the medical field, including neurosurgery, he has been recognized as a leading neurosurgeon in Mumbai, courtesy of his dedication, untiring effort and endurance. He is committed to a patient-centric and evidence-based approach in the best interest of his patients.

Contact Dr Gurneet Singh Sawhney

Phone: +91 8104310753

Email: gurneetsawhney@gmail.com

Address

Neurolife Brain & Spine Clinic,

C-118, 1st floor, Hall Mark Commercial Complex,

Vasant Oscar, LBS Marg, Mulund West,

Mumbai, Maharashtra – 400082.

Children have their share of oral health issues, such as cavities, impacted teeth, oral infections, and improper dental hygiene. A pediatric dentist can best resolve these issues as they have been trained to treat these conditions and guide and train children in the best oral hygiene methods.

A practicing pediatric dentist at Casa Dentique, Navi Mumbai, clarifies the role of a pediatric dentist stating, ‘As pediatric dentists, we ensure our little patients follow the proper oral hygiene and dental care practice and develop healthy teeth and gums. We recommend parents get their children’s dental check-up regularly to preserve their oral health right from infancy to adolescence.

Most of the child patients visit Casa Dentique seeking treatment for decaying teeth, cavities, damaged or fracture teeth, improper bite, misaligned teeth, gum and periodontal diseases, thumb sucking and use of pacifiers. The team of pediatric dentists at the clinic guides the parents and the patients on how to prevent and manage them while treating them for the same.

According to a study by top dentists in India, dental cavities affect approximately 60% of children between the ages of 6 and 19, underlining the need for preventive dental care. Tooth Decay or cavities are a significant issue in children. It occurs when children brush and floss without parental guidance and with a sugar-laden diet. Tooth decay or cavity is the result of the building up of sticky plaque which contains acid. The acid erodes the enamel, the protective layer of the tooth leading to its decay. Pediatric dentists treat tooth decay by removing the decay using a drill and filling the hole with hard composite material.

Dental fractures or damaged teeth are considered dental emergencies, as they can occur anytime, while playing or due to a fall. In such cases, the teeth may chip, break, crack or even come out entirely. Such conditions require immediate dental attention. A wholly knocked-out tooth can be restored, while in other conditions, the pediatric dentists may suggest the most suitable restorative treatment depending on the extent of damage and injury. Hence, it is advisable for older children to use a mouth guard when playing field sports.

Orthodontic problems such as misaligned teeth or an overbite, underbite or open bite conditions required customized treatment. However, it is advisable to seek orthodontic advice when the children turn seven or eight to understand the likelihood of such issues. Ignoring or delay in orthodontic treatment can lead to overcrowding or misaligned teeth, problems in oral hygiene and the children can develop low self-esteem.

Thumb-sucking is definitely an issue. Prolonged use of the pacifier or the thumb-sucking habit in children, even after they have passed the toddler stage, affects teeth development and can lead to open bites. In an available bite condition, the upper and the lower front teeth do not meet; the child finds it difficult to bite, and chew, affecting their speech too.

Hence, pediatric dentists counsel and suggest effective habit-breaking techniques to guide parents and children to overcome thumb-sucking and similar habits. They recommend thumb guards, palatial cribs, and other specialized gadget which help to break these habits. Additionally, family support through positive reinforcement and gradually weaning off the habit is essential.

Dr. Parth Shah, founder of Casa Dentique states, ‘All patients, young and old fear visiting the dentist. But with local anesthesia, it is possible to numb the area requiring treatment. Similarly, sedation dentistry makes it possible to proceed with treatment. We at Casa Dentique, strive to develop a friendly relationship with the children and also ensure that they are treated in a comfortable and relaxed environment.

Contact
Casa Dentique
Plot no. 24, Anurag Nursing Home,
Shreeji Plaza, Sector 25, Seawoods East,
Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra – 400706
Call us: +91 98670 29592
Email: casadentique@gmail.com

In a recent conversation with Dr. Harikiran Chekuri of Redefine Hair Transplant and Plastic Surgery Centre, a leading hair transplant and plastic surgeon in Hyderabad states, ‘Advanced hair transplant procedures have revolutionized the outcomes in favour of the patients and the treating surgeons. These procedures are not only minimally invasive but very safe and reliable too.’

He speaks at length of his expertise and experience in hair transplant and plastic surgeries, shares exceptional patient stories, and his current views.

Q: What is your preferred hair transplant procedure?

Dr. Chekuri: The Follicular Unit Extraction (FUE) technique is my preferred hair transplant procedure. It is a highly reliable and safe method to extract individual hair follicles from the donor area and implant them in the recipient area. Moreover, the FUE procedure leaves minimal scars, promises speedy recovery, and delivers natural-looking hair too.

Q: Why do you choose the FUE technique as your preferred method?

Dr. Chekuri: I prefer the FUE technique, which is very precise and effective. Also, it is possible to harvest individual hair follicles and create a more natural hairline. Thus, we can do away with the linear scar created when we perform hair transplants using the traditional strip method. Also, FUE can be conveniently performed on various areas of the body, including the scalp and restoration of facial hair.

Q: Redefine also offers advanced hair transplant procedures. Please elaborate on the same.

Dr. Chekuri: Definitely, our hair transplant surgeons, at Redefine prefers the BIO-FUE hair transplant procedure, which is an advanced FUE hair transplant procedure. The BIO-FUE hair transplant procedure includes the process of using human cells to regrow the hair. Hence, it leads to excellent results post-hair transplant procedures.

Q: Can you share some exceptional patient stories related to your successful hair transplant procedures?

Dr. Chekuri: Certainly! We can share many success stories of hair transplant procedures. I can share the success story of 35 YO male struggling with severe hair loss for a couple of years. We recommended FUE for their transplant procedure, to which he agreed. We successfully restored his hairline and growth, following which he looked younger and more confident.

Similarly, we successfully restored the hair growth of a 25 YO female cancer patient who had experienced significant hair loss due to chemotherapy. She was highly depressed and wished for healthy hair. Her case was challenging, but with proper planning of her hair transplant procedure, we restored her hair growth in a few months. She was delighted with her newly grown hair and image. She was very grateful and profusely thanked the entire team at Redefine.

Q: What advice would you like to give readers about hair transplant procedures?

Dr. Chekuri: First of all. I want to bust apprehension regarding hair transplants. It is a very safe and reliable procedure that needs to be done by a qualified and experienced hair transplant specialist before undergoing any procedure. I request people to do thorough research on hair transplant procedures and the doctors offering the same. They can also refer to client reviews and testimonials before proceeding with their selected doctor.

At Redefine Hair Transplant and Plastic Surgery Centre, we give prime importance to patient safety and satisfaction and strive hard to deliver exceptional results. We do our best to stay up-to-date with the latest advancements in hair transplant procedures to ensure the best patient outcomes.

About Redefine Hair Transplant and Plastic Surgery Centre:

Redefine Hair Transplant and Plastic Surgery Centre is a leading clinic for hair transplant and plastic surgery procedures. Under the guidance of Dr. Harikiran Chekuri, an expert in the field, the centre provides advanced aesthetic treatments and personalized care.

Redefine Hair Transplant and Plastic Surgery Centre is led by the eminent hair transplant surgeon of Hyderabad, Dr. Harikiran Chekuri, and offers many hair transplant treatments, skin treatments, and body-enhancing cosmetic procedures using state-of-the-art technology and equipment.

The clinic has a viable presence at Kothapet, Gachibowli, and Kukatpally in Hyderabad.

For client/media inquiries or to schedule an interview with Dr. Harikiran Chekuri, please contact:

Phone: +91 9237 123456

After India expelled the High Commissioner of Canada, the members (Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the UK, and the USA) of the Five Eye Intelligence Alliance expressed their deep concerns over the issue. While Australia and the USA said they are deeply concerned about the ongoing situation between India and Canada, the UK on the other side is continuously in touch with Ottawa, and New Zealand is still away from any remark on the issue. All five countries have significant diaspora and have good relations with India. However, all the members declined the sanction imposed by Canada over India, because the US and Australia both have a partnership with India in QUAD member countries.  

On Monday, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told the House of Commons that there are serious allegations linking Indian government agents to the June killing of pro-Khalistan militant Hardeep Singh Nijjar. A senior Indian diplomat who was said to be the Chief of India’s Foreign Intelligence Agency in Canada was also expelled. India described the claims that Indian government agents murdered Nijjar in British Columbia in June as “absurd and motivated.” However, both India and Canada’s close allies seem to be taking it seriously.

Top stories: Trudeau’s actions are expressing his rage at India

Canada asked the members of the Five Eyes alliance to jointly report the results of the investigation. However, some members, including the United States, refused to “underline the lengths the Biden administration went to avoid pitting India against Asia’s powerhouse as a strategic counterweight to China.” The Post quoted an anonymous Western diplomat as saying that Canada pressured members of the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing network to elevate Nijjar’s killing with India “to the highest level of administration and issue a joint statement condemning the act as contrary to international norms.” 

While the world is still processing the development and giving initial reactions, the situation of the large Indian diaspora living in Canada, especially Indian students, is worrying. Every year, thousands of Indian students come to Canada for higher education and also become an active part of its workforce. So far, no significant impact is expected on students or other Canadian Indian citizens. Authorities and immigration officials have not released any information that should be of concern to Indian students or the larger Indian diaspora in Canada. Notably, this influx of Indian students has also significantly affected the ability of Canadian universities and colleges to offer subsidised education to domestic students.

The Cricket World is nothing less than a festival for cricket fans all around the globe. Teams participate, players play for pride, and give their best to attain the “World Champion” title. The 2023 edition of the tournament is just 15 days away from inauguration. The Championship, which is played every four years, is organized by the International Cricket Council (ICC). 

In continuation to the ‘Countdown to World Cup’ series today we will talk about the Second Cricket World Cup, the second edition of the Cricket World Cup (known as the Prudential Cup’79) was played in the year 1979 and hosted by the same nation as the previous one, England. The Event hosted by the ICC commenced on 9 June 1979, while the final was played on 23 June 1979.   The tournament was funded by the Prudential Assurance Company, while eight nations took part in the event namely England, Australia, New Zealand, West Indies, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Canada. 

Format

The tournament was to be played in a group format, in which eight teams played in two groups of four. The two group toppers in each group advanced to the Semi-finals of the tournament. The winners of the Semis met in the Finals. The format of the cup was the same as in 1975, a 120-over game, each team batting for 60 overs. As the name suggests ‘One Day International’, every match was done and dusted in daylight. 

England and Pakistan qualified from the first group, and the defending champions, West Indies along with New Zealand advanced to the Semi-finals from the second group.

Semi-Finals

In a very close encounter, New Zealand was fielding after winning the toss. Mike Brearley and Graham Gooch saved England’s innings after they had collapsed to 38/2 after a poor start (53 from 115 balls, 3 fours; 71 from 84 balls, 1 four; 3 sixes). As England came back from 98/4 to score 221 (8 wickets, 60 overs) in the second half of the innings, Derek Randall (42 from 50 balls, 1 four, 1 six) performed superbly. In response, John Wright (69 from 137 balls) initially attacked effectively. New Zealand was weighed down by the loss of wickets, and despite a few late flourishes in the batting order, New Zealand started to fall behind. When New Zealand failed to score the final 14 runs needed in the game’s final over, England went into the final.

In a game where batting predominated, Gordon Greenidge (73 from 107 balls, 5 fours, 1 six) and Desmond Haynes (65 from 115 balls, 4 fours) had a first-wicket partnership of 132 runs. In addition to Vivian Richards and Clive Lloyd, West Indies amassed 293 runs (6 wickets, 60 overs) against Pakistan. In response, Majid Khan and Zaheer Abbas shared a second-wicket partnership of 166 runs in 36 overs (81 from 124 balls, 7 fours). Pakistan lost 9/74 after losing Abbas, none of the other Pakistani batsmen performed well, and Javed Miandad was bowled for a duck on the first delivery. In the high-scoring quarterfinal, Pakistan was bowled out for 250 (all out, 56.2 overs), and West Indies marched to the finals.

Final

The Final was played on 23 June 1979 at the Home of Cricket, Lord’s. The West Indies batting lineup featuring Clive Lloyd and Viv Richards, was already the favorites to win the Final. The Hosts won the toss and elected to field. After a shaky start, Lloyd played a captain’s knock to set England a target of 287. Phil Edmonds was the pick of the bowlers from England.

English batsmen had a good test-match start, scoring 129 runs in 38 overs. After the opening partnership broke, Graham Gooch started to attack the West Indies bowlers. He was soon countered by Joel Garner. The English Team soon suffered one of the worst batting collapses losing eight wickets for 11 runs, all thanks to Garner’s fiery five-wicket haul. England got bowled out for 194. This was the story of West Indies defending the World Cup title. 

Statistics

Top Runs Scorer

Top Wicket Taker

Canadian Punjabi singer Shubhneet Singh aka Shubh’s three-month tour in India has been cancelled due to the rapper’s support for Khalistan. The 26-year-old popular singer, whose stage name is Shubh, was scheduled to perform in Mumbai on 23-25 September as part of the Cruise Control 4.0 event on the Cordelia cruise ship. He then had to start a three-month project covering 12 cities, including Delhi, Kolkata and Bengaluru. The popular ticket booking aggregator BookMyShow informed the netizens on social media platform X about the cancellation and initiated a full refund of the ticket amount to all consumers who purchased a ticket for the show. The refund appears within 7-10 business days to the source account of the customer’s original transaction. 

Trouble started when the singer shared a distorted map of India on his Instagram story, omitting the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, the states of Punjab and Himachal Pradesh, with the North Eastern states a few months ago. He wrote “Pray for Punjab” along with the picture, which drew immediate criticism. Singh later removed the card and replaced it with a message that simply read “Pray for Punjab” without the image. 

The development comes amid ongoing protests led by the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) – the youth wing of the BJP – against Shubh in Mumbai. One of BJYM’s leaders demands the cancellation of the singer’s tour and concert. They requested the Mumbai police to file an FIR against Shubh for “waging war against the Government of India and posting anti-government posts.”

Difficulties of Shubh have not shown any sign of decreasing in the past few days, yesterday electronic brand boAt also announced that they are pulling out from all kinds of sponsorships provided to Shubh. Amid this outrage some famous Indian celebs also unfollowed him on Instagram, the biggest name on the list is Virat Kohli, Hardik Pandya, and Kl Rahul. 

Shubh, who shot to fame in the music industry with hits like ‘Elevated’, ‘OG’ and ‘Cheques’, enjoys a global fan base. After the death of Siddhu Moosewala, Shubh is the only singer in the Punjabi industry who is admired by everyone. His songs are the first choice for every influencer.

Also read: https://www.theindiasaga.com/saga-corner/boAt-sponsorships-shubh-india-tour

Aditya L1 departs from the Earth’s orbit via the slingshot technique. It is the brain of the ISRO scientists that India has turned out to become a Space giant. Despite fuel constraints, the Indian Space Research Organisation has accomplished the past four missions and is on its way to accomplishing the fifth with the help of ‘the Slingshot technique.’ After 17 days of orbiting around the Earth, the aircraft has been pitched out of orbit, 1.5 MIllion Kilometers away from the Earth. The ISRO scientists have ordered to fire the onboard engines of the Aditya-L1 craft in the early hours of Tuesday. This command enabled the Aircraft to gain the trajectory to reach the destination point Lagrangian Point 1.

“The spacecraft is currently traveling toward the Sun-Earth L1 point. After roughly 110 days, it will be maneuvered into an orbit around L1,” the ISRO stated. Considering this, it is noticeable that the Aditya L-1 will become the fifth spacecraft that was slingshotted from the Earth’s orbit to its destination in space. India uses what is referred to as the “slingshot technique” since its rockets lack the lifting capacity to directly supply spacecraft with an appropriate departure velocity and launch them to distant locations. In missions like Chandrayaan-1 (2008), Mangalyaan (2013), Chandrayaan-2 (2019), Chandrayaan-3 (2023), and Aditya-L1, this approach has been effectively used. Technically speaking, such a technique relies on the “Oberth Effect,” which holds that a spacecraft may alter velocity most effectively when it is at the lowest point of its orbit. 

The spacecraft Aditya-L1 was sent in an elliptical orbit around the planet. Satellites designed to remain in orbit around the Earth are often put into circular orbits. Therefore, the vessel is always equally far away from Earth. However, when a ship needs to be shifted from one orbit to another or slingshotted on a path toward another celestial body, it is placed in an elliptical or egg-shaped orbit.

The spacecraft’s altitude above the earth’s surface changes continuously in an egg-shaped orbit. Perigee and apogee are the terms used to describe the distance at which a spacecraft approaches the Earth. When a craft is at perigee or its closest approach to Earth, its velocity is highest. For rising orbits, all engine firings take place at perigee. Compared to utilizing a bigger rocket, it uses less fuel and is less expensive. ISRO has demonstrated its capability to carry out such challenging missions to the Moon and Mars, as well as the current mission to study the Sun from a distance, by mastering such difficult calculations and carrying out several orbit-raising maneuvers and injection maneuvers. 

On Wednesday during the debate in Lok Sabha Congress leader Sonia Gandhi announced her support for the women’s reservation bill that proposes a 33 per cent quota in Lok Sabha and state legislative assemblies for women. “On behalf of the Indian National Congress, I stand in favour of Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam 2023”, the Congress parliamentary party chief stated. Further, Sonia Gandhi credited her late husband and Former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi with introducing a constitutional change to determine women’s representation in local body elections. 

“It was defeated by 7 votes in Rajya Sabha.” Later, the Congress government, led by Prime Minister PV Narasimha Rao, passed it in Rajya Sabha. As a result, 15 lakh women leaders have been elected through local bodies across the country. Rajiv Gandhi’s dream is just half finished. “With the passage of this Bill, it will be completed,” she told the Lok Sabha.

“The Indian woman is as patient as the ocean. She has worked like a river for everyone’s betterment,” Gandhi remarked, requesting that the bill should be implemented immediately. “This Bill has the support of the Congress party. We are pleased that the Bill has been passed, but we are also apprehensive. I would want to ask you a question. For the past 13 years, Indian women have been waiting for their political responsibilities. They are now being requested to wait a few more years. How long has it been? Is this appropriate behaviour with Indian women?” she asked.

“The INC demands that the Bill be implemented immediately, but only after a caste census is conducted and reservations for SC, ST, and OBC women are made,” Gandhi added. “Any delay in enacting the women’s reservation bill will be a gross injustice to Indian women,” Sonia Gandhi added.

The Lok Sabha is debating the ‘Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam 2023’, which was introduced on Tuesday in the new Parliament building.

Also read: https://www.theindiasaga.com/nation/womens-reservation-bill-likely-to-be-discussed-on-wednesday 

The women’s coxless four teams and 8-mem team from India are both on track to win medals at the 2023 Asia Cup in Hangzhou, China. The lightweight men’s double sculls team of Arjun Lal Jat and Arvind Singh also displayed grit by placing second in the heats with a time of 6:27.45. With times of 6:27.01, Satnam Singh and Parminder Singh also placed second in their respective heats. By doing so, they both earn spots in the repechage round where they will contend for Final A spots. The women’s rowing squad, meanwhile, got off to a strong start.

The Indian Lightweight Women’s Double Sculls team of Kiran and Anshika Bharti finished fourth in their heat with a time of 7:27.57. They will now participate in the repechage round to advance to the final. India’s Babu Lal Yadav and Lekh Ram placed third in the men’s doubles coxless with a time of 6:42.59. P B Aswathi, Mrunmayee Salgaonkar, Priya Devi Thangjam, and Rukmani, the Indian women’s Fours team, warmed up for the final by placing sixth in the preliminary race in 7:09.07. The medal race would include all six teams.

In the men’s eight preliminary race, the team of Neeraj, Naresh Kalwaniya, Neetish Kumar, Charanjeet Singh, Jaswinder Singh, Bheem Singh, Punit Kumar, Ashish, and Dhananjay Pande (Cox) came in second with a time of 5:38.65.  The last race will feature all six teams. In the men’s pair preliminary race, Babulal Yadav and Lekh Ram came in third with a time of 6:42.59. The final race will feature all six couples.

Mumbai, India – July 13, 2023 – Dr. Garvit Chitkara, Senior Consultant in Breast surgical oncology and oncoplasty at Nanavati Max Institute of Cancer care in Nanavati Max Super Specialty Hospital, Mumbai guides breast cancer survivors on their journey towards maintaining optimal health and well-being post-treatment.  He stresses on the need to adopt a comprehensive holistic approach which will ensure physical, emotional, and mental well-being.

According to leading Breast Cancer Surgeon in Mumbai Dr. Garvit Chitkara, “As a treating surgeon, I am aware of the suffering and turmoil of breast cancer patients and survivors.  I wish to highlight the need for them to give utmost importance to their health and well-being. Apart from prioritizing self-care, regular medical check-ups are a must, if they wish to stay healthy and cancer-free’.  To put it simply, breast cancer survivors should focus on healthy diet, staying physically active, and maintain healthy weight’.

With numerous breast cancer centers offering comprehensive treatment to survivors from around the globe, there are ample options available to cater to diverse cancer care needs.

Self-care tops the checklist for breast cancer survivors. They should focus on activities that make them feel good and happy apart from relieving stress. It could be simple activities such as reading, meditating, playing a game or two, spending time with pets, gardening, and so on.

Regular exercise also reduces stress and anxiety.  It is not necessary to hit the gym or opt for a high intensity work out.  Yoga, pilates, walking etc reduce stress and help to regain an active body.  Also, it is important to relax and unwind properly after exercising for better results.

Meditation is very helpful as it helps the survivor to unwind and relax.  Breathing practices, methods and awareness help to the person to relax well, reduce fear and stress too.  There are many new age healing practices which reduce stress, and help to unwind.

He also recommends survivors should seek out emotional support by reaching out to trusted people such as friends, family members, colleagues, healthcare providers, spiritual mentors with whom them have healthy interactions and relationships.

Other options available are seeking professionals such as psychiatrist, psychologist, counselor or clinical social workers who also guide on how to relax and cope with the stress, negative emotions, apart from sharing their feelings, experiences and tense moments.

Group counseling or support groups are an ideal way to connect with other breast cancer survivors and seek emotional support. Some people are comfortable in talking and sharing their experiences in a group while some prefer one-to-one counseling.  But, it is essential to let out and share with others who understand them and can help out too.

Dr Garvit highlights the importance of healthy eating in breast cancer survivors.  He suggests that they should consume a high-fibre and less saturated food.  As per research, high-fibre foods improve gut health, help to prevent cancers and heart diseases. Moreover, they have lesser calories and people feel satiated for a longer period of time, when consumed.  Ideal high-fibre foods such as brown rice, oats, quinoa, lentils, potatoes and sweet potatoes (with skin), vegetables and fruits should be consumed in ample quantities.

It is recommended to switch over to healthy and unsaturated fats such as olive oil, rapeseed oil, nuts, seeds and avocados, oily fish etc as they do not increase the risk of recurrence or heart disease.  Skimmed milk, low fat yogurt, low fat cheese and lean meats are also recommended.  They should also try to include organic and pesticide free food, super foods such as berries, green tea and broccoli, etc in their diet.

He reiterates that breast cancer survivors need support and help in transitioning into a new phase of their life and they truly deserve all the support healthcare workers, family and friends can provide.  He shares a story of a 35 YO breast cancer survivor who bravely faced breast cancer. She had to undergo surgery, chemotherapy, radiation and a breast conservation surgery but she was determined to come out of it. Fortunately, she took it in her stride to overcome her cancer and emerged as a survivor. Today, she is an active advocate for breast cancer awareness.

Dr Garvit Chitkara, concludes by stating, ‘As a breast cancer surgeon, I’ve witnessed the incredible strength and resilience of breast cancer survivors. I wish to highlight that both emotional health and physical well-being are very important, including a healthy diet as they embark upon their recovery journey. Take each day a time, and make sure to nurture their spirit, surround themselves with love, and happiness every single day.’

About Dr. Garvit Chitkara

Dr Garvit Chitkara is associated with Nanavati Max Institute of Cancer care in Nanavati Max Super Specialty Hospital, Mumbai as a senior consultant in Breast surgical oncology and oncoplasty. He has more than 10+ years of experience as a practicing Breast Surgical oncology. 

Dr Garvit Chitkara specializes in breast cancer surgery, vacuum-assisted breast biopsy, axillary surgery, oncoplastic breast surgery and benign breast disease treatment.  He offers evidence-based diagnosis and treatment. He focuses on comprehensive treatment of breast cancer and helping patients to overcome breast cancer in the best possible way.

For more information or to schedule an interview with Dr. Garvit Chitkara, please contact:

• Jiwan Breast Clinic

           Address – 202 Center point , Above Apollo Medical shop, Oppo SBI bank, Road no 18, Near Ambedkar Garden, Chembur East 40007

           Phone: +91-91673 28325

• Nanavati Max Institute of Cancer Care,

          Address – Nanavati Max Superspeciality Hospital, Ville Parle West, Mumbai, Maharashtra 400056

          Phone: +91-91673 28325