The School of Medicine at St. George’s University highlights the scale of thyroid conditions in India and the importance of routine screening during Thyroid Awareness Month
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Early detection remains a challenge as thyroid disorders continue to go undiagnosed in India
Thyroid disorders continue to remain widely undiagnosed in India, despite affecting a significant portion of the population. During Thyroid Awareness Month, the St. George’s University School of Medicine has drawn attention to the scale of the issue and the need for routine screening to enable earlier diagnosis and timely care.
Healthcare experts note that the absence of early detection can lead to long term complications. Untreated thyroid disorders are associated with increased risks of infertility, cardiovascular disease, metabolic imbalance, and reduced quality of life. Early identification through simple blood tests allows for timely intervention, which can significantly improve health outcomes and reduce the likelihood of secondary complications.
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A complex tongue cancer case deemed inoperable elsewhere is treated successfully at MGM Cancer Institute
Dr. M. A. Raja and Dr. Sivaram Ganesamoni explain how chemotherapy, extensive surgery, and reconstruction enabled disease control in a 41 year old patient
A 41 year old man with advanced tongue cancer, previously assessed as inoperable at multiple centres, has been treated successfully following a multi stage clinical approach at MGM Cancer Institute in Chennai. The case involved an aggressive squamous cell carcinoma with extensive spread across the anterior tongue, floor of the mouth, and extension up to the hyoid bone.
The patient, a known smoker, presented with a persistent ulcer and abnormal growth on the tongue. Clinical examination and biopsy confirmed squamous cell carcinoma, a common but potentially aggressive form of oral cancer. Further assessment using whole body PET imaging revealed deep vertical tumour extension, measuring approximately 5 × 3 centimetres, involving critical anatomical structures, leading to earlier assessments of inoperability.Given the advanced stage of the disease and the patient’s relatively young age, the multidisciplinary tumour board at MGM Cancer Institute recommended neoadjuvant chemotherapy as the first step. According to Dr. M. A. Raja, Director and Senior Consultant in Medical Oncology, the aim of administering chemotherapy before surgery was to reduce tumour volume and improve the feasibility of definitive surgical management. After two cycles of chemotherapy, follow up PET scans demonstrated a good partial response, allowing the team to reconsider surgical intervention.
The patient subsequently underwent a complex composite resection procedure. This included complete removal of the anterior portion of the tongue, resection of the entire floor of the mouth, removal of the affected segment of the mandible, and excision of the hyoid bone. The objective was to achieve complete removal of all cancer involved tissue in a single, comprehensive operation.Following tumour removal, reconstructive surgery was performed to restore structure and function. Using a free anterolateral thigh flap, healthy tissue was harvested from the patient’s left thigh and transplanted to reconstruct the tongue and oral cavity. This technique enabled restoration of form while supporting swallowing and speech functions post recovery.
According to Dr. Sivaram Ganesamoni, Head of Department and Senior Consultant in Surgical Oncology, the case demonstrated the importance of coordinated, multimodality care. He noted that close collaboration between medical oncology, surgical oncology, and reconstructive surgery was essential in managing a case of this complexity.Postoperatively, the patient underwent radiation therapy to address any residual microscopic disease and reduce the risk of recurrence. At follow up, the patient was reported to be disease free and has returned to routine daily activities.
The case underscores how advances in chemotherapy, surgical techniques, and reconstruction, when combined through a multidisciplinary approach, can expand treatment options even in advanced oral cancer cases previously considered beyond surgical management.At Prittle PrattleNews, featuring you virtuously, we celebrate the commitment and innovation. Led by Editor-in-Chief Smruti Bhalerao, our platform is dedicated to sharing impactful stories that inspire change and create awareness. Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube for more stories that matter.
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When Standard Chemotherapy Is No Longer Enough in B-Cell Lymphoma, Says Dr. Priyatesh Dwivedi
The haemato-oncologist from HCG Cancer Centre, Nashik, discusses how newer therapies are reshaping treatment decisions in aggressive lymphomas.
The management of B-cell lymphoma has entered a phase where standard chemotherapy alone is no longer sufficient for a growing subset of patients. In routine oncology practice, clinicians are increasingly confronted with cases that either fail to respond adequately to first-line regimens or relapse after an initial response, prompting a reassessment of long-established treatment pathways.
According to Dr. Priyatesh Dwivedi, Haemato-Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplant specialist at HCG Cancer Centre, Nashik, this shift is most visible in aggressive B-cell lymphomas such as Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma. While chemotherapy-based combinations have remained the foundation of care for decades, real-world outcomes indicate that a proportion of patients either do not achieve durable remission or present with disease biology that is less responsive to conventional approaches.B-cell lymphoma originates from abnormal proliferation of B lymphocytes, a critical component of the immune system. In India, Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma represents the most frequently diagnosed subtype among non-Hodgkin lymphomas. Data from Indian tertiary care centres and academic institutions consistently show that B-cell lymphomas account for the majority of lymphoma diagnoses, with DLBCL forming the largest share. These cases are characterised by rapid progression and require timely intervention, yet their clinical behaviour can vary significantly between patients.
Dr. Dwivedi explains that treatment decisions today are increasingly influenced by how the disease responds at defined checkpoints rather than by diagnosis alone. Patients who do not achieve adequate response after standard chemotherapy cycles are now evaluated earlier for alternative strategies, including immunotherapy-based approaches. This has altered both the sequencing of treatment and the conversations clinicians have with patients and families at the outset of care.One of the most significant developments in this context has been the clinical introduction of CAR-T cell therapy in India. This form of treatment involves modifying a patient’s own immune cells to recognise and attack malignant B cells. Indigenous CAR-T therapies, including options developed within the country, have made this modality accessible to a broader segment of eligible patients who previously had limited options after chemotherapy failure. In clinical practice, CAR-T therapy is now considered for relapsed or refractory B-cell lymphomas under carefully selected conditions.
In parallel, newer antibody-drug conjugates and targeted agents are being integrated into treatment protocols. Drugs such as Polatuzumab, when combined with chemotherapy, have expanded therapeutic options in both relapsed disease and selected frontline settings. These combinations represent the first major additions to standard regimens after long periods of limited change, offering clinicians greater flexibility in managing patients with high-risk features.Dr. Dwivedi notes that the role of bone marrow transplantation also continues to evolve alongside these therapies. While autologous transplant remains an important option for eligible patients, the availability of advanced immunotherapies has refined patient selection and timing. Decisions are now guided by disease response patterns, molecular risk factors, and overall treatment tolerance rather than by rigid algorithms.
From a patient-care perspective, this shift has placed greater emphasis on early assessment, detailed risk stratification, and multidisciplinary planning. Diagnostic precision through biopsies, imaging, and laboratory evaluation has become central to determining which patients may benefit from newer interventions beyond chemotherapy. At the same time, clinicians must balance efficacy with safety, given the complexity and resource intensity of advanced treatments.Dr. Dwivedi emphasises that while these therapies represent meaningful progress, they are not universal solutions. Access, eligibility criteria, and long-term outcomes continue to be areas of active evaluation. However, the presence of multiple therapeutic pathways has fundamentally changed how clinicians approach cases where chemotherapy alone is insufficient.
In Indian oncology practice, the conversation around B-cell lymphoma has therefore shifted from whether additional options exist to how and when they should be used. This evolution reflects a broader change in cancer care, where treatment decisions are increasingly individualised and guided by disease behaviour rather than by historical convention.At Prittle PrattleNews, featuring you virtuously, we celebrate the commitment and innovation. Led by Editor-in-Chief Smruti Bhalerao, our platform is dedicated to sharing impactful stories that inspire change and create awareness. Follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube for more stories that matter.
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As Burnout Rises Across India, AiR Calls for a Return to Stillness Through Pause for Happpiness
Backed by national stress and anxiety data, the initiative runs through January 2026 and promotes short, intentional pauses as a response to India’s widening mental health gap.
India enters the new year carrying a growing burden of stress, anxiety, and emotional fatigue that cuts across age groups and professions. Against this backdrop, AiR, also known as Atman in Ravi, has introduced “Pause for Happpiness”, a nationwide initiative that asks a simple but increasingly rare question: what happens when people intentionally stop, even for a few seconds, in the middle of their day.
The campaign emerges at a time when multiple indicators point to a widening mental health gap in the country. India’s ranking in the World Happiness Report remains low, while surveys continue to highlight high levels of chronic stress, workplace burnout, and anxiety among students and urban professionals. Despite this, access to care remains uneven, and conversations around everyday emotional well-being are often overshadowed by productivity-driven narratives.Rather than positioning happiness as an end goal tied to success or external achievement, “Pause for Happpiness” reframes it as a behavioural practice rooted in daily awareness. Central to the initiative is AiR’s concept of happpiness, intentionally spelled with three Ps to reflect pleasure, peace, and purpose. In this framing, pleasure relates to achievement, peace to fulfilment, and purpose to inner clarity, with balance across all three seen as essential to sustained well-being.
The initiative draws on research suggesting that short mindful pauses, including conscious breathing and moments of stillness, can reduce stress responses and improve emotional regulation. By focusing on brief, repeatable actions rather than extended retreats or specialised practices, the campaign positions mental calm as something accessible within ordinary routines, whether in traffic, at work, or between daily responsibilities.At the heart of the movement is the idea of what AiR describes as creating an inner atmosphere. This involves stepping out of habitual reactivity and tuning into internal cues that often go unnoticed. The approach does not advocate withdrawal from daily life but encourages individuals to engage with it more deliberately, allowing decisions and responses to emerge from steadiness rather than pressure.
“Pause for Happpiness” will run through January 2026 and is designed to reach people through digital platforms, educational institutions, podcasts, and community networks. A central launch film narrated by AiR illustrates everyday scenarios where a moment of pause alters the emotional tone of an experience. These moments, portrayed not as dramatic transformations but as subtle shifts, underline the campaign’s emphasis on realism over idealism.Speaking about the philosophy behind the initiative, AiR has emphasised that happiness is not something to be chased but experienced when the mind and heart are aligned. According to him, even a brief pause can disrupt cycles of stress, creating space for gratitude, clarity, and emotional resilience. The campaign’s messaging consistently returns to this idea, positioning stillness as a skill rather than an escape.
The urgency of such interventions is underscored by data showing rising anxiety levels among urban youth and professionals, alongside persistent stigma surrounding mental health support. By encouraging self-regulation through simple practices, the initiative seeks to complement, rather than replace, clinical approaches, offering a starting point for individuals who may otherwise remain disengaged from conversations around mental health.Over the coming weeks, AiR plans to expand the initiative through workshops, digital challenges, and collaborations with wellness advocates. The broader aim is to normalise the act of pausing as part of daily life, shifting the perception of well-being from an occasional pursuit to a continuous practice.
As India grapples with the social and emotional consequences of constant acceleration, “Pause for Happpiness” introduces a counter-narrative. It suggests that amidst noise, pressure, and expectation, the most meaningful change may begin not with doing more, but with learning when and how to stop.At Prittle Prattle News, we honor your dedication and inventiveness led by showcasing you in a positive light. Under the direction of Editor-in-Chief Smruti Bhalerao, our platform is committed to disseminating powerful narratives that raise awareness and motivate change. For more important stories, follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTub