Author: Dr. Pawan Gupta

Dr. Pawan Gupta is a trusted Senior Surgical Oncologist, social activist, and author, engaged in creating awareness and changing the way cancer is perceived in society. He is a renowned transformational speaker on cancer chronic diseases and lifestyle specifically tobacco. Thousands have benefitted from his workshops, seminars, camps, and training programs. He has been featured in Buzz Creator and on many channels on TV. He is the Founder of ICanCaRe, an Innovative enterprise for Cancer Care and Rehabilitation. Working extensively in Tobacco Cessation data-driven protocol-based intervention through a network of Specialists and experts on ICanCaRe APP, Virtual Clinics, and ICanCaRe National Quitline. National Convenor for Tobacco Cessation courses for the first time in India introduced under Gujarat University His populist campaigns “WIN OVER CANCER”, “SAVE the Youth – Win over tobacco”, “Chota Daana”, “Catch them Early”, and “My Hygiene My Responsibility” has gained him wide accolades. In his mission to win over cancer, he has a unique methodological approach to quitting tobacco. The book WIN OVER TOBACCO – MADE EASY is a step-by-step guide for tobacco addicts to overcome their cravings. The Book had more than 10000 Downloads within 30 Days of being made available. He received the prestigious ICD International Award in 2007, Vivekananda Sister Margarette Award 2017 and Delhi NGO leadership Award 2017, AIECS award 2018, Asia Africa Leadership in Social Innovation 2019, MICC Innovation Award 2019, Rashtriya Prabasi Odia Paribar Award 2019. Professionally he has conducted more than 11000 cancer surgeries and was a pioneer in establishing and modernizing surgical oncology in some of the major hospitals in Delhi NCR. He did his graduation and post-graduation from SCB Medical College, Cuttack. He enhanced his surgical skills M.Ch and Fellowship in Surgical Oncology from Gujarat Cancer Research Institute (GCRI), Ahmedabad. He has held several positions during his career in various hospitals. Dr. Pawan has published 30 papers in National and International journals and is actively involved in several research projects. He is an active member of the Telemedicine Society of India, India Association of Surgical Oncology, Association of Surgeons of India, and Foundation for Head and Neck Oncology. He is seen as a mentor of strayed souls, and a soothing balm to those tormented by cancer.

The Navsari Experience

On 6th and 7th of April, 2019 I had the opportunity to meet some amazing people. I was invited to Navsari a town just 35 kms from Surat. The place where JRD Tata was born. It is also 18 kms from Dandi Beach the famous salt satyagraha was done by Gandhiji.

First, I would like to introduce my host Dr Rajan Shethji and Mrs Kavita Shethji, wonderful and jovial couple.  Together they have been able to change lives of many people. They are the most sort after couples of Navsari not just because they  are Doctors but because they have the power to influence and do things.

Accompanying Mr Rajan were another couple Mr Pranav Shethji and Mrs Dhwani Shethji. Mr Pranav a business man and a cancer winner, twice operated and very enthusiastic to intervene and influence the lives of the cancer patients, they started the ADDlife foundation at Navsari.

Dhwani a teacher and a story teller, very sober and supportive lady.

Around 11 oclock I was introduced to a group of 7 Parsis led by Mr Yezdi Contractor and some journalists. Mr Yezdi and his group formed Muskurahat 4 years ago. Mr Yezdi a banker, lost both his parents to cancer. Since than he has been working to make people tobacco free. The Muskurahat group who had never sung learnt singing. They would go to some village and first start singing hindi old songs and once people gather around them would talk about tobacco and would take the list of people taking tobacco and follow them and help them quit tobacco. Till date they have been able to completely free 120 people from tobacco addiction. A commendable work they are doing. The interaction with them was extremely cordial. I wish to value add their efforts in a more defined way.

In the evening I had a visit to Dr Arpan Desai’s dental Clinic. Came to know that tobacco is rampantly used in Navsari, and oral cancer rate is very high. Had interaction with some patients and guided two to quit tobacco.

In the evening, I had a meet at the IMA Navsari, gave a presentation on “Kill the arjun within you -Change the World”. Not surprised at the lukewarm response of the senior doctors. Although most set through my presentation I was able to impress upon them that treating patient as a whole is important and addressing the root cause, tobacco, of most of the disease they deal with is their moral responsibility. I did have some interaction.

Later in the night I was an invited guest at ‘Muskurahat’ by Yezdi and his group which include Monaz, Rohintan,Gaver,Aspi,Khushali at  Tatahall. What amazing performance by the group. They sang some old Bollywood numbers as good as any professionals. The drama was too good and was on tobacco.  I had a wonderful interaction with the audience and tell you yet to see such motivators. Tatahall with a capacity of around 800 was full till the end at 1 am. I met lot of people off stage who wished to do more on tobacco and join hands for the purpose.

Next day I was an invited guest speaker for the NMA talk. A well organised talk by the Navsari Management Group for its member. The audience was business owners, corporates and senior executives. My talk “The ripple effect” for the management how they can bring a change in their business houses and into the lives of workers and their family. The participants enthusiastically participated in the talk. It was a full house and not a single person walked out during the session on the Ripple effect talk of 90 minutes. The senior executives and owners went back with the message to adopt the SAVE the Youth campaign – win over tobacco in their premises. The Ripple effect was evident immediately! Who does not want to save money of the organisation!

The best part was visit to Gurukul Ashram sankul, Bhadarpada.village in Dang district. adopted by Dr Rajan shethji. He had been working in that area for the last 10 years. Uplifting and upgrading the school to provide education to the village children. It was amazing to know how a school in shambles once is now a multi-storeyed building, The children are provided with education food , books etc. with increase in education overall development of the village has improved rapidly. Further the village is alcohol free, thanks to the women empowerment. Now Dr Rajan and Kavita have got Mr Pranav and Dhwani to depend upon.

Considering the tobacco control in this town it is a unique situation. We have a group, muskurahat, led by mr Yezdi, working tirelessly for the cause. In addition they are well supported by Drs Rajan, Arpan, Dr Jamil etc. The support of large groups like Navsari Management Association is possible, who are ready to implement Tobacco free units. To make the efforts effective what is needed is simplification and amplification. Simplification and skill development with evidence based practice on tobacco cessation is required, setting up of tobacco cessation centres, so that the patients can be properly guided and results can be amplified.

ICanCaRe would be happy to help.

Relapse is just not Will Power, but Environment As well

LEWINS EQUATION TO MAKE YOU A TOBACCO WINNER!

Kurt Lewin in 1936 gave a very simple formula an equation which said behaviour is a function of the person in the environment. What it means is – the habit or behaviour of a person is just not dependent on a person’s character but it also depends on the environment one is exposed to.

This is very much true with tobacco also whether it is smoking or chewing.

Both your personality and environment determines the good habits you would build, bad habits you would break and the way you would progress in life.

A person who is into the action phase of quit cycle, relapses not just because he is born with low will power but mostly because of the environment.

Tobacco addiction has three important components – PHYSICAL, PSYCHOLOGICAL, SOCIAL.

Determining the level of Physical addiction and controlling it with medication when necessary is the first step. But a major component is also the Psychological and Social environment. Psychological or mental strength is a must but at the same time you need to be surrounded with a healthy environment and motivational materials to keep you strong and constantly remind you and strengthen your will power.

Your social environment is one major determinant of your long journey of tobacco cessation – your friend circle, the party time, office colleagues, the pan shop etc. may trigger you to try once again. One slip will take you back to the bottom of the stairs you have climbed so far in your quit cycle. Keep track of your triggers, it is important. I will talk about triggers in subsequent blogs.

Anyone who is into a wrong habit we should help before the early signs of tobacco harm sets in. The advance harms are really dangerous.

The book WIN OVER TOBACCO MADE EASY would be of help.

A word of caution – the teachers, school counsellors, parents should be aware how to deal with such situation. I will talk about it in my subsequent blogs.

Your Environment Influences Your Tobacco Habit

Kurt Lewin in 1936 gave a very simple formula an equation which said behaviour is a function of the person in the environment. What it means is the habit or behaviour of a person is just not dependent on a person’s character but it also depends on the environment one is exposed to.

This is very much true with tobacco also whether it is smoking or chewing.

Let us see an example – the beginning of tobacco depends very much on the person but also the environment he or she is exposed to at home or at the school or college. If someone at home takes tobacco whether chewing or smoking (a very common at home in north India is hukkah), one is likely to start tobacco.

During my medical study, the hostel was divided into multiple wings. I would talk about two wings the one in which I stayed. Another wing left to our wing. In the other wing stayed a boy, Sidhu (name changed) who was addicted to tobacco from school itself. Sidhu was a very social person and from a well to do family. He would often organise parties and go for movies and each time he would take someone along with him. By the end of 3 months, almost 50% of his friends were chewing tobacco. By the end of our MBBS almost everyone in the wing where into smoking and chewing tobacco.

But in the hostel wing I stayed, our seniors never promoted and were strict about tobacco consumption. No one in this wing ever took to this habit thankfully.

All of us have come through the entrance examination, studied hard have become doctors and into various speciality, but due to the environment, took to various habits. We cannot say that all of them had a weak will power. Environment affected them too!

It is for us as parents, seniors, teachers to guide our next generation in the right direction, we should be aware of the environment – the friend circle. I specifically tell children not to be associated with anyone who takes tobacco. However strong the child would be, their will power would get overwhelmed at some point in time only because of the environment with which they are associated with. Young minds are very easy to entice and lured to what is not good for them.

The other thing that I want to convey is that if anyone of your friends or colleagues is into tobacco, let us be good influencers on them. Help them get rid of the disease. We should not fall prey to this habit but let them adopt our good habit. If we hide or lie we cannot help them. They are into a wrong habit and we should help before the early signs of tobacco harm sets in. The advance harms are really dangerous and fatal.

The book WIN OVER TOBACCO MADE EASY would be of help. Visit the tobacco wellness centres.

A word of caution – the teachers, school counsellors, parents should be aware how to deal with such situation. I will talk about it in my subsequent blogs.