CTCS course accredited by Gujarat University and conducted by ICanCaRe Academy is an 8 weeks course. The May-June batch started its journey on 10.5.2023
The enthusiastic May-June 2023 Batch of the Certified Tobacco Cessation Specialists course consists of doctors from various disciplines- Pulmonologist, Surgical oncologist, ENT and Head neck Onco-surgeon, Pedodontics, Oral medicine and Radiologist, dental surgeon, Community medicine, and Dietitian.
Each one is as much enthusiastic to learn more and adopt tobacco cessation in their practice.
We welcome each one of them into the ICanCaRe family as they join the #SAVEtheyouth campaign as Certified Tobacco Cessation Specialists.
Certified Tobacco Cessation Specialists are the most important link for the #SAVEtheyouth Campaign as they are at the pinnacle and trained extensively for intervention to successfully help quit tobacco for their patients.
CTCS course is accredited by Gujarat University and the only such course in India giving practical experience, ICanCaRe APP for digitalized protocol intervention. To know more go to http://www.icancare.in/academy/ctcs It is an 8-week course with dedicated 2.5 hours each week, with a lot of reading material, etc.
Dr. Pawan Gupta at the VISON ODISHA 2036/86 on 22nd April 2023 at the constitution club, New Delhi on the topic “Challenges in Health, Hygiene, and Sanitation.
As we develop the facilities will develop. We will have lots of hospitals coming up in private-public, with the latest equipment, etc.
But all the facilities will be overwhelmed by the increase in the number of patients, still, they will be insufficient. NCD -non-communicable diseases are going to increase exponentially. Hypertension, diabetes, obesity, nephropathy, liver cirrhosis, cancer, stroke, cardiac, etc are on the increase. But importantly they are all preventable diseases. If we vision for 2036 and 2086 we have to work towards prevention 3 important – “The way we eat, the way we live, and the way we take care of ourselves”
WE HAVE TO WORK TOWARD THE PREVENTION
1. TOBACCO and ALCOHOL – Control most diseases.
2. BAN PLASTICS – The micro-polymer is the biggest hazard to the environment, soil, and health.
3. WOMEN SANITATION – HYGIENE – universal availability of HPV Vaccine and Sanitary pads (reusable and environment friendly). Eradicate Cervical Cancer.
4. FOOD DIET
5. EXERCISE AND YOGA
Education has to start at the school level. Lifestyle has to be adopted from childhood.
“HAR GHAR TOBACCO MARSHAL” – to start with we have to work to make our teachers Tobacco MARSHALs. Odisha is one of the highest consumers of tobacco and one of the highest in oral cancer. Tobacco causes 200 varieties of diseases. Mortality due to tobacco consumption is the highest. The consumption rate has increased to 51.5% population. This is the cause for concern.
Tobacco is the highest pollutant in the environment. Once controlled it will lead to environmental change.
EACH ONE OF US HAS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY and make our ODISHA a beautiful state – free from tobacco. It is possible but we have to start now.
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?
