Infection control is vital!
Since chemotherapy used in treatment of cancer, including breast and cervical cancer, involves strong drugs, it affects the woman's bone marrow. To prevent any further infection, Dr. Khurana advises all her patients to live in complete isolation during and till a few weeks after the treatment. "The patient should be protected from too many visitors and people having cough and cold. Her towel and other basic toiletries should be kept separate. However, what leaves a deeper impact on the patient's mental state is alopecia, when the patient suffers complete hair loss - one of the side effects of chemotherapy and goes through a lot of psychological trauma. Therefore, to build up their lost self-esteem, there are a lot of support groups comprising ex-patients and volunteers who provide them mental support and also help them procure new wigs and donate the used ones after the hair grows back", advised Dr. Khurana. Unless we create more awareness and improve breast and cervical cancer screening in our country, it will be an uphill task to win the battle against these cancers.
Akanksha Sethi
(Akanksha Sethi is pursuing BA (Hon.) from Christ University, Bangalore. She wrote this article during her internship with Asha Trust)
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