"Cancer is curable" say doctors at conference by Kindness Practice Foundation

Oct 9, 2024 - On the occasion of breast cancer awareness month, Kindness Practice Foundation organised the 2nd 360° Cancer Summit in partnership with Sarvasva Health clinics and SL Raheja Hospital. Oncologists, integrative cancer experts and cancer warriors came together to give a strong message – you can prevent and heal from cancer. It is not a death sentence. The event was supported by Rotary Club of Bombay Bandra and Grisu Media Arts.

The hall was full at SL Raheja auditorium as Dr Prasad Kasbekar, surgical oncologist, Dr Bharat Bhosale, senior ecologist, Dr Rachna Chhachhi, integrative cancer expert and Dr Reiyal Goveas, reconstructive surgeon helped the audience understand the various stages of healing Cancer and how it is not just limited to getting surgery and chemotherapy done. “The quality of life of a cancer patient is the most important in giving them the strength to heal,” said Dr Rachna Chhachhi. Dr Reiyal supported her with examples of reconstructive surgeries in head, neck oral and breast cancers, all of which are common cancers in India, give a new lease of life to patients. Dr Bharat was very open and strong about recovery from cancer and he said that that the mind of the patient was the most important in the recovery. Dr Prasad related a case of a patient who was given six months to live but lived for 10 years because he had made up his mind that he will live till the time he gets his daughter married. All the doctors present emphasised two things – 90% cancers are preventable, and as soon as the patient is diagnosed, both treatments are important in achieving cancer cures – oncological, surgical, medical, along with nutrition and mental health therapy. The medical treatments are prescribed as per each case but nutrition and mental health therapy need to begin as soon as the patient discovers that they have cancer. “Family counselling and therapy are equally important as cancer impacts families,” said Dr Bharat.

The summit had two breast cancer warriors as speakers, both of them have had successful outcomes. Roma Kulkarni was just 29 years old when she was struck with breast cancer. She had been married just one year. In an extremely calm and soothing manner, she explained, “I internalised it, it took me a few days and then I decided that I will go with the flow and do whatever it takes to heal. I will not resist anything.” Dr Milu Acharya, a mathematics professor who joined online from Bhubaneswar, was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 53. From the moment she received the diagnosis, she began with both treatments together – conventional medical treatment as well as nutrition and mental health therapy. Within a few months she was feeling very few side-effects of chemotherapy and even her doctors noticed her higher energy in comparison to other patients. “It kept me strong, when other patients on chemotherapy came in on wheelchairs, I walked in confidently,” she said.

The summit was attended by cancer patients, cancer associations, people who wanted to know how to prevent and heal from cancer. Many people joined from across the country via zoom to listen to the experts and patients. In totality, over 200 people attended in person and via zoom and the event was broadcast to 600,000 people across the country to create awareness about cancer.

Additional info:

The projected cancer burden in India is expected to rise from 26.7 million in 2021 to 29.8 million in 2025, with the highest burden in the north and northeast regions, as per ICMR. Rise of childhood cancers is becoming significant, and 8-year data from 96 Hospital Based Cancer Registries report a considerable proportion of patients with lung, gall bladder and prostate cancers already metastasized at the time of diagnosis. Hospitals are overburdened due to rising cases, and there is an inability to treat children and women with cancer on large scale.

Profile of speakers:

Dr. Prasad Kasbekar is a well-known Mumbai-based Surgical Oncologist who specialises in Head and neck, Breast and Gynaecological cancers. He is accredited by the American College of Surgeons and the European Board of Surgery as an expert in Cancer Surgery. He has been faculty in multiple international conferences and has many publications to his name. An expert in AI planned, robotic and 3D model based surgeries, Dr Kasbekar aims to introduce these surgeries in Mumbai in a large scale for better results. He has also been nominated as one of the top cancer surgeons in Mumbai for the last 4 years running.

Dr Rachna Chhachhi is a cancer and cancer metastasis expert from Johns Hopkins University and a mental health therapist. Her work in holistic care for cancer patients whether they’re early stage or late stage is well known for the last 15 years across 27 countries. She is also the author of the bestselling book You Can Beat Cancer. She treats cancer patients who are getting conventional treatments from Tata Memorial, Jaslok, Kokilaben, PGI Chandigarh, Sloan-Kettering New York, and many international hospitals.

Dr. Bharat Bhosale, Senior Medical Oncologist, Bombay Hospital & SL Raheja Hospital, Mumbai.

Dr Reiyal R Goveas, an Implantologist and Maxillofacial Prosthodontist is a clinical instructor and mentor for the Maxillofacial prosthetics programme, Smile USA. He has lectured extensively on prosthetic rehabilitation and has been an invited speaker at The prestigious Mayo Clinic Residents programme, USA. Dr. Reiyal is the author of multiple international publications and is dedicated to making advanced dentistry and facial rehabilitation accessible to all.

Prachi Wasnikar is a 300 hour RYT and is a specialist in Cancer Rehabilitation Yoga, who helps warriors reduce their fatigue and improve their sleep, which is crucial for their recovery.

Roma Kulkarni holds a degree in Management from the University of Leeds and is currently working as a HR in Mumbai. Roma was just 29 years old when she was diagnosed with breast cancer a year ago, and today she share her journey of recovery at such a young age.

Dr Milu Acharya, mathematics professor has a unique journey – within the same year, she was diagnosed with an incurable autoimmune condition followed by breast cancer. And she lives to tell a tale.

Vijay Bhat had colon-cancer diagnosis in 2001, and healed himself. He has stayed cancer free for 23 years.