Tag: oral cancer

Transforming Oral Cancer Management in India with Photodynamic Therapy

Transforming Oral Cancer Management in India with Photodynamic Therapy

Author: Prof. Dr. Pawan Gupta, M.Ch.
Founder, ICanCaRe
Sr. Director, Surgical Oncology, MAX Hospital, Vaishali

pawan@icancare.com

9811290152

Oral cancer remains one of India’s most pressing healthcare challenges, with the country witnessing the highest incidence globally. With over 450,000 cases reported annually, driven largely by tobacco consumption, it is imperative to adopt innovative solutions to combat this epidemic. My recently published article in Photodiagnosis and Photodynamic Therapy highlights one such breakthrough—Photodynamic Therapy (PDT)—as a transformative treatment for early and recurrent oral cancers and pre-malignant lesions.

🌐 Read the full article here: Photodynamic Therapy for Early and Recurrent Oral Cancers and Pre-Malignant Lesions: Need of the Hour for India.

Why PDT is the Need of the Hour

Photodynamic Therapy offers a cutting-edge, minimally invasive treatment approach. PDT selectively targets malignant tissues without affecting the surrounding healthy cells by using a photosensitizing agent and a specific wavelength of light.

  • Tissue-Sparing Treatment: This is especially crucial for preserving speech, swallowing, and aesthetics in oral cancers.
  • Minimally Invasive: PDT eliminates the need for disfiguring surgeries and extensive treatments, improving the patient’s quality of life.
  • Repeatable & Safe: Unlike radiotherapy, PDT can be repeated without causing cumulative damage, making it ideal for recurrent cancers.

The article underscores two real-life case studies showcasing PDT’s success in sparing patients from extensive surgeries, preserving their functionality, and ensuring a higher quality of life.

ICanCaRe: Driving Innovation for Oral Cancer Control

At ICanCaRe, we are committed to advancing the fight against oral cancers through innovation and outreach:

  1. Adopting New Technologies: As seen with PDT, ICanCaRe is at the forefront of introducing technologies that transform cancer care, from diagnostics to treatment.
  2. Tobacco Cessation Programs: Addressing the root cause of most oral cancers, our programs have reached millions across India, empowering them to quit tobacco through our quitline number 9773856664
  3. Community Outreach: Through awareness campaigns, screenings, and educational initiatives, we strive to bring preventive healthcare to underserved communities.

Our efforts align with the need to make cutting-edge treatments like PDT accessible and affordable for all, ensuring no patient is left behind.

A Call to Action

The fight against oral cancer demands a unified effort—embracing innovative technologies, prioritizing prevention, and spreading awareness. PDT is not just a treatment; it’s a beacon of hope for countless patients battling oral cancer in India.

To delve deeper into the potential of PDT and its role in India’s healthcare landscape, read the complete article here:
👉 Photodynamic Therapy for Early and Recurrent Oral Cancers and Pre-Malignant Lesions.

Let’s work together to redefine oral cancer care and ensure a healthier future for all.

 

#OralCancer #PhotodynamicTherapy #ICanCaRe #HealthcareInnovation #India #TobaccoCessation #pawangupta

Prof. (D.) Pawan Gupta Manoj Tayal Dr. Shovan K. Majumder Divya Nagpal Dr REENA KUMAR Alok Narang Dr Anshul jain Praveen Arany rajkumari sachdeva Dr Goura Kishor Rath Vinitaa Jha Harit Chaturvedi Max Healthcare Office of Research Rajesh Saxena Sandeep Budhiraja Dr Anil D’Cruz Somesh Chandra Jonathan Celli, PhD Hui Liu PDT, Inc. Pravesh Singh Vivek Gupta Shruti Agrawal Rishabh Agrawal Vinali Gupta Ravi Kumar Arun Monika Kumari Dr Gaurav Aggarwal

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/transforming-oral-cancer-management-india-photodynamic-therapy-ajh3c

 

USISTEF 2024 Award for ICanCaRe and Photodynamic Solutions Inc.

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!

#USISTEF #AwardWinner #CancerCare #AIForHealth #ICanCaRe #MaxOncology #InnovationInHealthcare #photodynamicsolutions #photobiomodulations #pawangupta #jonathancelli

Tobacco A Curable Disease – Oral Cancer Can Be Controlled

** “TOBACCO A CURABLE DISEASE – ORAL CANCER CAN BE CONTROLLED”

–       Dr Pawan Gupta at the 26th NZIAPSM CON at MMIMSR, Mullana, AMBALA

In a groundbreaking session at the 26th North Zone Annual Conference at MMIMSR, Mullana, Ambala, Dr. Pawan Gupta, a distinguished surgical oncologist and pioneer in Tobacco Cessation Intervention, delivered a resounding message – tobacco is a curable disease and oral cancer can be controlled with the right interventions. The talk was chaired by Dr. Sonu Goel and Dr. Jai Kishan

Dr. Gupta, the Founder Director of ICanCaRe and Senior Director of Surgical Oncology at MAX Institute of Cancer Care, Vaishali, Delhi NCR emphasized the critical need to treat tobacco as a disease for a 100% success rate in curing it. His #advisequittobacco campaign urges healthcare professionals to adopt the “ASK, ADVISE, and REFER” approach, recognizing the moral responsibility and ethical practice of incorporating Tobacco Cessation into healthcare.

During his talk on “Newer Strategies for Tobacco Cessation and Oral Care,” Dr. Gupta unveiled innovative approaches, including the highly successful #ABCDtobaccocessation method and the Chota daana campaign. This approach, coupled with the ICanCaRe Tobacco Cessation protocol, has achieved a remarkable 100% quit rate. Dr. Gupta also showcased TrisCaRe, an ingenious mouth-opening device designed to assist betel nut users in quitting tobacco and mouth-opening due to submucous fibrosis.

The ICanCaRe Academy, under the #SAVEtheyouth initiative, collaborates with the Indian Association of Public and Social Medicine (IAPSM) to build capacity for effective tobacco control. This comprehensive program involves sensitization, digital interventions, and the creation of a network comprising Tobacco Marshals, Ambassadors, and Cessation Specialists. Over 1,000 doctors have been trained through the ICanCaRe Academy, contributing to a promising future for a tobacco-free society.

Dr. Gupta’s call for an “Advice Quit Tobacco” campaign underscores the pivotal role healthcare professionals play in addressing the root cause of various diseases associated with tobacco consumption. He stresses that no disease can be fully cured if patients continue to use tobacco.

Recognizing the complexity of tobacco as a disease and its role as a root cause of numerous health issues, ICanCaRe’s capacity-building program aims to reach across India through the #SAVEtheyouth campaign. This initiative involves sensitizing against tobacco, assisting users to quit through a digital protocol intervention, volunteer training for capacity building, and enforcing a tobacco-free society. ICanCaRe looks forward to collaborating with Institutes to set a center of Excellence for Capacity building for Tobacco Cessation.

Dr. Gupta’s extensive research has led to the establishment of a simplified digital Tobacco Cessation protocol on the ICanCaRe Tobacco Cessation APP, and he is the author of several books on this subject. His commitment to educating the medical community and the public is evident through the success of ICanCaRe Academy’s training programs.

As a gesture of gratitude, ICanCaRe extends thanks to the 26th NZIAPSM Annual Conference organizing team, especially Dr. Anshu Mittal and Dr. Saras Sanchaya, for their invitation to this enlightening event.

The future looks promising for the #ICanCaRe initiative, as young doctors at the conference express eagerness to implement the ICanCaRe protocol in their future practices. Dr. Pawan Gupta’s mission for a tobacco-free society gains momentum, providing hope and inspiration for a healthier tomorrow.

#ICanCaRe #ICanCaReAcademy #PawanGupta #SAVEtheyouth #TobaccoFree #TobaccoMarshal #CTCS #OCTC #NZIAPSMCON #anshumittal #IAPSM #TobaccoCessation #anshumittal #sonugoel #sarassanchaya #TobaccoCessationIntervention #CapacityBuildingForTobaccoCessation