The PINK ANGEL camp, held at ACE City, Greater Noida West, on October 26, 2024, was a tremendous success. With the theme CATCH THEM EARLY, the camp was a collaborative initiative between KAL Foundation, Avishka Council, I CAN WIN FOUNDATION, and organized by MAX Vaishali and ICanCaRe. With a focus on early detection and preventive care, the event empowered women and raised awareness around breast cancer risk factors and screening options.
Dr. Pawan Gupta, Sr. Director at MAX Vaishali and Founder of ICanCaRe, served as the Chief Guest. Dr. Nishant Srivastava (Avishka Foundation), Dr. Rajeev Verma (KAL Foundation), and Ms. Akansha Sethi (MAX) managed the event arrangements.
ACE City Apartments Owners association President, Ms. Namrata and Secretary Mr. Saurabh Kumar provided the logistics and inspired the residents to take benefit of the camp.
The event emphasized practical and accessible strategies for breast cancer prevention:
Dr. Pawan Gupta shared actionable guidance on maintaining a healthy lifestyle to reduce cancer risk. His key message, “A proactive lifestyle can be a powerful line of defense,” encouraged women to adopt regular self-examinations, noting that “Three minutes, three fingers, once every 30 days can save lives.”
Dr. Noopur Patel presented on essential practices for early diagnosis, focusing on the importance of routine screenings and risk management.
Screening Outcomes
The camp focused on essential health screenings, with 20 women receiving mammography services and 88 individuals undergoing general screenings, including bone densitometry, oral examinations, and routine blood tests. The workshop provided extensive health services to attendees, reinforcing the importance of regular check-ups:
Event Impact and Community Engagement
The workshop successfully reached a large audience, creating awareness and emphasizing the importance of early intervention. Participants left with practical knowledge on preventive care, recognizing that lifestyle changes, self-examinations, and regular screenings are essential to reducing breast cancer risks.
The event concluded with a vote of thanks by Ace City AWA President, Mrs Namrata to all attendees and volunteers for their dedication and contributions, marking another impactful step in community health outreach and breast cancer awareness.
Dr. Pawan Gupta and Dr. Jonathan Celli were honored with the USISTEF 2024 Award for AI-Enabled Oral Cancer Screening and Treatment Project
We are thrilled to announce that Dr. Pawan Gupta, representing ICanCaRe (Indian partner), and Dr. Jonathan Celli from Photodynamic Solutions Inc., Boston (U.S. partner), have been honored with the prestigious USISTEF 2024 Award. This recognition was awarded under the joint call for proposals on ‘Critical and Emerging Technologies and Artificial Intelligence for Transforming Lives’ by the United States-India Science and Technology Endowment Fund. The project focuses on AI-enabled technology for oral cancer screening and treatment, addressing a significant healthcare challenge in India.
The award ceremony took place on October 10, 2024, at the Leela Palace, New Delhi. The Hon. Eric Garcetti, U.S. Ambassador to India, and the Hon. Dr. Jitendra Singh, Union Minister of State for Earth Sciences and Science & Technology, presented the award. Dr. Pawan Gupta graciously accepted the award certificate on behalf of both organizations, marking a significant milestone in the collaborative fight against oral cancer.
Oral cancer poses a severe public health challenge in India, largely fueled by high rates of tobacco use, betel nut consumption, and low awareness. Compounding these issues is the lack of adequate healthcare access, particularly in rural areas, which makes early detection and treatment difficult. These obstacles make it critical to develop new solutions to overcome the barriers to effective oral cancer screening and management.
This project aims to revolutionize oral cancer detection and treatment by developing a comprehensive, portable, and low-cost solution targeting high-risk populations. The innovative technology will incorporate AI-assisted autofluorescence and white light imaging for optical pathology diagnosis, ensuring early and accurate identification of pre-malignant and malignant lesions. Treatment will be initiated with tobacco cessation and facilitated through photo-biomodulation (PBM) and photodynamic therapy (PDT) for on-the-spot care of potentially pre-malignant lesions.
With this technology, ICanCaRe and Photodynamic Solutions Inc., Boston, are committed to transforming the way oral cancer is diagnosed and treated, particularly in underserved areas. We extend our heartfelt thanks to the entire team working on this groundbreaking initiative. Together, we strive to create a future where early detection of oral cancer is accessible to all, improving patient outcomes and saving lives.
Stay tuned for more updates on this revolutionary project!
Preserved Ratio Impaired Spirometry (PRISm) is a critical indicator characterized by an FEV1 of <80% predicted and a FEV1/FVC ratio of >0.70. Identified as a precursor to Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), PRISm demands careful monitoring, particularly in individuals with respiratory symptoms. The studies by Mariko Kogo et al. and Daniel H Higbee et al. shed light on the significant correlation between PRISm, respiratory symptoms, and the heightened risk of developing COPD, emphasizing the urgency for effective tobacco cessation interventions. In this context, the ICanCaRe tobacco cessation intervention program emerges as a beacon of hope, advocating for smoking cessation on an individual basis. (www.icancare.in). This blog is in series with the previous blog on Increased risk of Asthma in Children exposed to secondhand smoke.( ICanCaRe Blog) (ICanCaRe LinkedIn)
Understanding the PRISm Challenge:
PRISm, when associated with respiratory symptoms such as cough, sputum, and dyspnea, poses an independent risk factor for COPD development, especially in individuals with a history of smoking. Even without symptoms at baseline, PRISm can progress within five years, leading to airflow limitations. In addition, individuals with PRISm could exhibit increased respiratory symptoms, poor health-related quality of life, multiple comorbidities, and increased mortality compared with those with normal spirometry. The quantitative assessment capability of PRISm becomes a crucial tool for identifying and addressing the risks faced by smokers, reinforcing the need for smoking cessation.
The ICanCaRe Tobacco Cessation Intervention program quantifies the need for individuals and the digital protocol puts the urgency for smoking cessation on an individual basis.
ICanCaRe: A Holistic Approach to Tobacco Cessation:
ICanCaRe tobacco cessation wellness program stands out as a comprehensive, evidence-based tobacco cessation program aligned with the latest research findings. Grounded in the insights from studies by Kogo et al. and Higbee et al., ICanCaRe adopts a holistic approach to empower individuals to overcome addiction, ensuring long-term abstinence, and reducing the risk of respiratory complications.
Key Components of ICanCaRe – ABCD of Tobacco Cessation:
1. ACTIVE MOTIVATION: ICanCaRe actively motivates tobacco users through quantitative and qualitative assessments, estimating the progressive risk associated with continued smoking.
2. BEHAVIOR INTERVENTION: Tailored behavioral counseling strategies address unique triggers contributing to tobacco addiction, crucial for addressing psychological aspects and enhancing successful cessation.
3. COMORBIDITY MANAGEMENT: Clinical assessments for associated morbidities are conducted, with specialists providing personalized care.
4. DRUGS and MEDICATIONS – Pharmacotherapy: The program integrates evidence-based pharmacotherapies to manage withdrawal symptoms and cravings, enhancing the effectiveness of the intervention and ensuring complete cessation.
Conclusion – Empowering Individuals for a Tobacco-Free Future:
As we confront the challenges posed by PRISm and its link to respiratory symptoms, the ICanCaRe Tobacco Cessation Intervention program stands as a beacon of hope. By integrating the latest research findings into its framework, ICanCaRe not only recognizes the severity of the issue but actively addresses it through a personalized and holistic approach. It serves as a call to action for individuals to take charge of their respiratory health, break free from tobacco addiction, and embrace a future free from the shackles of compromised lung function.
ICanCaRe stands at the forefront of the battle against tobacco addiction, offering a lifeline to those grappling with the consequences of PRISm. Through its holistic approach, the program not only supports individuals in their journey to quit smoking but also contributes to a healthier, tobacco-free future for communities worldwide.
It is time we #savetheyouth. SAVE our next generation!! #knowtobacco to #notobacco
Reference:
1. Mariko Kogo et al. Longitudinal changes and association of respiratory symptoms with preserved ratio impaired spirometry (PRISm): The Nagahama Study. Ann Am Thorac Soc. 2023 Nov;20(11):1578-1586. doi: 10.1513/AnnalsATS.202301-050OC.
2. Daniel H Higbee et al. Prevalence, risk factors, and clinical implications of preserved ratio impaired spirometry: a UK Biobank cohort analysis. Lancet Respir Med. 2022 Feb;10(2):149-157. doi: 10.1016/S2213-2600(21)00369-6.
