Month: March 2023

Dilemma of a Doctor – Advise to Quit or Not?

Dilemma of a doctor – A 44 year old tobacco chewer with advance stage of cancer – should he be asked to quit tobacco???

Author – Dr. Monalee Prasad, BDS(2007), PGD in Aesthetic Dentistry (2009),TII -IDA(2020) ,OCTC (2021), CTCS (2021).

This is a case of a 44 year-old male patient suffering from Stage IV recurrent oral cancer with extensive neck and systemic metastasis. He was being treated somewhere in Uttarakhand. He attended OPD for treatment. He has been a chronic chewer and smoker for years and he continues to do so even after being diagnosed with advanced cancer with a short life expectancy. Besides the palliative treatment, the big question is about his tobacco – Should we ask him to quit? Or should we not ask him to quit?

How should we plan his treatment with regards to tobacco cessation?

The case was put for discussion during the tutorial for Certified Tobacco Cessation Specialists were – different difficult cases that we come across in Tobacco Cessation practice and their treatment are planned. It was a mixed opinion with more suggesting  that the patient should be told to quit tobacco.

The same question was put in the group who are actively working for tobacco control and the majority said that the above patient needs to quit so that the treatment will be helpful and the organs will respond better to treatment.

Now opinion from group of oncologists was seeked, unanimously they said there is no need for him to quit tobacco.

The argument put forth by was that with Stage IV cancer there is no hope of his long survival and it will not be of much help at this juncture to force him to quit. Also the handling of withdrawal symptoms is more difficult in this case along with the Palliative care that has to be provided. It will not improve the quality of life of this already dying patient.

Hence, it wouldn’t matter whether we advise him to quit or not. It would be his wish.

Also, in case we are able to convince him to quit; there are two case scenarios which were discussed and how we can use it as a positive messaging for the next generation.

One scenario is where he is able to quit completely and then the message that can be conveyed through him that even though he suffered from taking tobacco and has reached the last stage of his life, he could quit his habit with the help of our esteemed doctors. And if he can do it, anyone at any stage can do it and the sooner one quits, the better it is for health.

Second case scenario is when he is unable to quit despite all the efforts by the doctors and himself and he continues to smoke till his last breath. The message that we can pass on in this situation is that Tobacco is a deadly disease and really addictive one. Message is clear for the youngsters and family members – never to start such a habit and quit as early as possible. BE SMART DO NOT START and if you have then please QUIT.

So, an important learning was shared via this case by Dr. Pawan as to how to choose the messaging we need to convey to the society at large and always choose the treatment keeping the patient’s overall benefit in mind.

Medical treatment is available to quit tobacco and treatment from the cessation specialists should be seeked.

Do share your thoughts on this in the comments below? What would be your choice of treatment?

Tobacco Cessation Promotion Scholarship 2023 – Batch March 2023

OCTC batch March 2023

GUJARAT UNIVERSITY – ORIENTATION COURSE IN TOBACCO CESSATION CERTIFICATE COURSE Scholarship BATCH OF MARCH 2023 Conducted by ICanCaRe Academy

We welcome the Fourth Scholarship batch of 2022-23 for the Gujarat University Accredited ORIENTATION COURSE IN TOBACCO CESSATION certificate course (www.icancare.in/academy/octc).

The Scholarship (www.icancare.in/academy/scholarship) to promote Capacity Building for Tobacco Cessation and Oral Care is funded by Bajaj Electricals Foundation through the I CAN WIN Foundation a part of the capacity building for tobacco cessation and oral cancer control #SAVEtheyouth campaign.

The Orientation Course in Tobacco Cessation (OCTC) is a step towards learning the intricacies of the complex tobacco cessation intervention. It is an intensive 4 weeks course with 8 hours of exclusive live sessions online 2 hours once a week.

The participants of the course are exposed to practical clinically validated digitalized protocol to set up or scale up tobacco cessation practice and have the opportunity to:

  • Certificate from Gujarat University
  • Digitally transform cessation practices.
  • Get access to ICanCaRe E-Cessation APP. www.app.icancare.in
  • Be part of the ICanCaRe Virtual Clinic.
  • Exclusive Tobacco E-Pharmacy & Quit Coach support.
  • Opportunities to initiate research with Gujarat University.
  • Join the growing network of India’s 500+ topmost Cessation experts.

The 4th BAJAJ OCTC batch is of selected doctors from various disciplines – dental, radiotherapy, Head and neck oncologist, Psychiatry, ENT, Psychology, Radiotherapy etc.

TOBACCO CESSATION PROMOTION SCHOLARSHIP 2022-23. To apply for the Scholarship http://www.icancare.in/academy/scholarship  or WA 6309437912.  Only limited seats are available for eligible candidates.

#OCTC #icancareacademy #icancare #bajajelectricalsfoundation #tobaccocessation #tobaccocourses #pawangupta #reenarkumar #shruti

 

TOBACCO CESSATION PROMOTION SCHOLARSHIP 2022-23

Inner Wheel District 304 join hands with ICanCaRe to launch #SAVEtheyouth from Tobacco.

Inner Wheel District 304, motivated by Mrs. Sonal Bhatia, Tobacco MARSHAL leader, join hands with ICanCaRe to promote Tobacco Control – SAVE the youth from Tobacco and build manpower to work towards tobacco endgame.

The initiation was when District Chairman Mrs Shashi Shukla had an online meeting with her district Presidents and Members on “WOMEN AS TOBACCO MARSHALS TO SAVE THE YOUTH” and introduction of the concept of Tobacco MARSHALs on 25th February 2023.

More than 120 including presidents and members of district 304 attended the meet with the outcome of enthusiasm to work for a better and healthier society as TOBACCO MARSHALs. Mrs Shashi stressed that tobacco is omnipresent, and it is important that inner wheel members come forward to tame the tambaku-asur.

Mrs. Sonal Bhatia, leader Tobacco MARSHAL a great motivator and who achieved a target of 1000 tobacco MARSHAL in 5 months during her tenure as DC of 310  was great appreciated for her pioneering work as a Tobacco Marshal along with her members . Her unique endeavour to reach out to the rural areas and create sensitization followed by training of 550 tobacco MINI-MARSHALs of NCC girls from the rural background was applauded and sought to be used as an example to follow by all to increase our reach and penetration in the most needed areas in our country .It is  Important for  capacity building, to get more and more girls and  women involved as Tobacco MARSHALs or MINI- MARSHALs to widen the campaign. (https://www.facebook.com/groups/icancare/permalink/1015483439099535/)

Dr. Pawan Gupta, Dr. Reena R Kumar,  Dr. Pravesh Singh and Mr. Rishabh Agrawal from ICanCaRe delivered a talk at a webinar on ( 25/02/2023  1500- 1700 hrs ) emphasizing  on the damages thrust on  women by tobacco and how women can become the shakti against Tobacco by commitment and empowerment by training.

Dr. Pravesh Singh, the first Teacher TOBACCO MARSHAL of India, said how as a TOBACCO MARSHAL was empowered to  create transformation  in her Institute. Teachers have a major role to play in the life of students and can instill right thoughts in the mind of a child from the very beginning.

Rishabh showcased the ICanCaRe APP (www.app.icancare.in) which is a handy tool to self educate for the addicts and learn about the harms of tobacco .

Members expressed their enthusiasm to become TOBACCO MARSHAL and SAVE the youth from the menace of tobacco. Mrs. Beena Shah, Vice-Chairman of Inner Wheel District also expressed her full support and to carry on this as a project during her tenure

Interest from the audience evoked numerous questions at the webinar.  It was agreed that it is important that we start tobacco control from our home and go on to increase our area of influence in society. Every woman should be empowered to save the present and future generation from the  TAMBAKUASUR

Mrs. Sonal Bhatia expressed her gratitude as her wish to achieve 10000 tobacco MARSHALS gains momentum with the inner wheel district joining  her in her mission to SAVE the youth- NO ONE SHOULD DIE BECAUSE OF TOBACCO.

It is really heartening to note that district 304 of Inner Wheel involved with District Chairman, Mrs. Shashi Shukla, is all set in taking the lead. She assured that more and more members will get involved.

  1. To become a tobacco MARSHAL one has to register on www.icancare.in/academy/marshal and pay a fee of Rs.1450/-. The course would be conducted by experts as per guidelines that will be followed for a standardized and timely upgraded course by ICanCaRe.
  2. Knowledge – 4 hours of live interaction in 2 hours sessions. 8 modules. By experts.
  3. The Topic will contain the following encompassing the following requirements: RELEVANCE, RISK, REWARDS, ROADBLOCKS, RECOGNITION, RESPOND, REFER, and RESPONSIBILITY

The journey has become for the NARI SHAKTI to end the menace of tambaku-ashur,

#innerwheel #innerwheel304 #innerwheel310 #sonalbhatia #shashishukla #praveshsingh #pawagupta #reenarkumar #tobaccomarshal #icancare #womenhealthinitiative #womenhealth