Panelists: L-R Dr Sandra Albert( Director, IIPH Shillong), Dr Preet Dhillon( Epidemiologist, PHFI, New Delhi), Dr Caleb Harris( Surgical Oncologist at NEIGRIHMS- Shillong), Ms Patricia Mukhim( editor of Shillong Times), Dr Judita Syiemlieh( Oncologist at Civil Hospital Shillong), Prof( Dr) P Bhattacharya( Head, Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care at NEIGRIHMS, Shillong)
therapies. He informed the audience that at NEIGRIHMS, they have created a multidisciplinary team of cancer surgeons, radiologist, palliative care professionals, pathologist who discuss and decide the best possible treatment for different cancer cases that come to the hospital.
Dr Bhattacharya, who was instrumental in starting the first palliative care centre in Meghalaya NEIGRIHMS, stressed on the importance of emotional support for cancer patients. He was of the opinion that failure to cure cancer does not equal complete failure of the treatment and cancer treatment should always be accompanied by palliative care for the patient.
Editor of the Shillong Times, Ms Patricia Mukhim, encouraged the audience, especially the younger health professionals and scientists, to write more about health for popular media. She called for more comprehensible science writing related to cancer and other diseases to be made available to the media.
The event was attended by primarily young audience comprising of doctors, academics, patients, students of social work, nursing, counselling and psychology and allied health, members of NGOs and the general public. The questions asked by the audience were on topics such as, information on cancer risk factors, cancer data collection methodologies, cancer screening and treatment, reasons behind high cancer rates in Khasi Hills and lack of seriousness about cancer prevention, effectiveness of cancer awareness programmes, family support for cancer patients, exposure to toxic radioactive substances and many others. Some serious issues were raised through this discussion concerning cancer awareness in the North East India, and tangible and useful solutions were offered by the panelists. IIPH Director, Dr Sandra Albert also announced that many such public programmes will be held in Shillong in the coming future.
In addition to the discussion, informational material on cancer was available for the attendees. Members of the Palliative Care centre at NEIGRIHMS had set up a stall through which they shared information on the services provided by them. This event is being expected hopefully to act as a springboard for other public awareness programmes on cancer and other health issues in the North East.
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