“Cancer is no more a nightmare, no more a situation out of hand, no more a threat to life when you are positive, surely well informed and under expert medical care “ says Dr. Praveen Bansal while answering some of the cancer-related queries.
I am 6 months pregnant and recently detected with cancer, I am worried about my baby. Is cancer contagious?
A healthy person cannot contract cancer from someone who has it. There is no evidence that close contact or things like sex, kissing, touching, sharing meals or breathing the same air can transmit cancer from one person to another. Even if a woman has cancer rarely affects the fetus directly. In your case, wait till delivery and then immediately start your treatment.
I have found a lump in my chest, but it has pain. I have discusses this with my friends, does cancer causes pain?
Having cancer does not mean that you will have pain. People are surprised; some cancers cause no physical pain at all. Even people with advanced cancers do not always have pain but most cancer pains are caused by the tumor pressing on bones, nerves or other organs in the body. Sometimes the pain is related to your cancer treatment. But, please do not ignore any lump even if you have no pain. Always consult the doctor.
Do we always die of cancer, how much success is the cancer treatment in India?
No, you will not eventually die of the relapse/remitting cancer, you can stay cancer free forever. We have living proof. A lady detected in stage 3 Breast Cancer 15 years ago, is healthier now. It really depends upon the type of cancer and how early you detected it. As far as cancer treatment is concerned, in India, the technology is very much advanced.
Dr. Praveen Bansal
Director-Medical Oncology
Asian Institute of Medical Sciences
Badkal Flyover Road, Sector 21 A Faridabad,
Haryana, India. 121001
Phone: +91 129 4253000 | www.aimsindia.com