Dr. Sudip Shrestha

Each year, Lung Cancer Awareness Month in Nepal serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of education, early detection, and support for those affected by this devastating disease. Lung cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths worldwide, including Nepal, where its prevalence continues to rise. By shedding light on this critical issue and fostering awareness, we can unite as a community to fight against lung cancer and make a meaningful impact on prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. The tissue lining the air passages of the lungs is most often affected bylung cancer, which forms in lung tissue. These conditions are caused byuncontrollable cell growth and reproduction, usually as a result ofexposure to toxins such as tobacco smoke, radiation, and asbestos. Thetype of cell where lung cancer begins traditionally determines itsclassification. It is now possible for doctors to diagnose the disease atthe molecular level as well. An examination of the DNA and proteinsproduced by cancer cells is usually the focus of this approach. What is Lung Cancer Awareness Month? There is an official month dedicated to raising awareness of lung cancerin November. In 1995, Lung Cancer Awareness Day was held for the firsttime. During the past decade, the lung cancer community and lungcancer movement have grown and the day has evolved into Lung CancerAwareness Month. As part of the month-long campaign, people acrossthe country raise awareness about lung cancer and support the lungcancer community.One or both lungs may develop lung cancer if abnormal cells growuncontrolled. Aside from that, these abnormal cells lack the capacity todevelop into healthy lung tissue and do not function normally. It ispossible for the abnormal cells to form tumors as they grow andinterfere with the lung’s function, which supplies the body with oxygen.Smoking is the most common cause of lung cancer, but environmentalexposures, such as radon, workplace toxins, and air pollution alsocontribute to the disease. Quitting smoking, reducing exposure tosecond-hand smoke, and reducing the risk of exposure to environmentaland workplace factors can reduce lung cancer risk. When Did Lung Cancer Awareness Month Start? The month of November marks Lung Cancer Awareness Month, a monthdedicated to raising awareness about the disease and promoting moreresearch. Unfortunately, lung cancer ranks second in terms of thenumber of cases worldwide and has been shown to be the leading cause of cancer death for both men and women. Therefore, those who smokeor have quit within the past 15 years are recommended to get screenedyearly for lung cancer. During this month of Lung Cancer Awareness,pledge to educate everyone around you about the condition.As lung cancer comprised only 1% of all cancers until 1878, it wasconsidered a rare disease. In 1918, this percentage had risen to 10%, andby 1927, it had risen to over 14%. Over the years, smoking had increased,but the adverse effects it has on the human body hadn’t yet beendiscovered. As early as 1929, German physicians recognized thatsmoking contributes to lung cancer. As a result, Nazi Germany became aleader in the anti-tobacco movement, which later spread to other areasof the world experiencing lung cancer epidemics. Why is it Important to Celebrate Lung Cancer Awareness Month? The month of November is dedicated to raising awareness about lungcancer. As a result, lung cancer survivorship stories are being celebratedand awareness is being raised for much-needed research. Each year,around 400,000 more early screenings have been conducted as a resultof Lung Cancer Awareness month. A total of 400,000 more patients arebeing treated earlier each year as a result of earlier diagnosis. The purpose of it is to raise awareness? Lung cancer is discussed in detail this month, along with ways to preventit. Additionally, it explains how common it is and why everyone needs tobe cautious. Early detection is encouraged As a part of Lung Cancer Awareness Month’s theme. In this way, the disease can be caught at an early stagebefore it becomes lethal. It emphasizes the dangers of smoking Additionally, the month discusses smoking as a potential risk factor forlung cancer. Several non-smoking campaigns are also held throughoutthe month. How Can You Raise Awareness About Lung Cancer? In order to raise awareness about lung cancer, you can do various thingssuch as wearing a ribbon and discussing new lung cancer research areas. During Lung Cancer Awareness Month, wear the lung cancer ribbon: What is the color of the lung cancer ribbon? Lung cancer awarenessribbons can be pearl or white, but you can also choose something else.You can paint your nails white, wear a white shirt and pearls, or wear aribbon throughout the month of November. Make a donation to lung cancer research: Several foundations are dedicated to funding “best-in-class” lung cancerresearch that will benefit patients the most. Contribute to the funding ofthe next round of lung cancer research grants. Making a donation orstarting a fundraiser is easy: Make sure your social media channels are full of awareness facts: The month of November is Lung Cancer Awareness month, so help yourfriends and family know about the importance of screening andbiomarker testing for lung cancer. With downloadable images andimportant lung cancer awareness facts, it can be printed out, posted,tweeted or emailed. Tell your lung cancer experience: It is a very small and special group of people who survive lung cancer.Depending on their stage and age, they might have been diagnosed atdifferent times. There may be differences in the biomarkers of their lungcancers. In spite of this, all of these stories have a common theme. Discuss some exciting new lung cancer research areas: While going through the major discoveries made in the last 10 years,there have been the massive promotion in the detection and treatmentof the lung cancer. It hence has been the leading focus in many of these research areas as well. You can hence share these research materialswhich helps the lung cancer patients to bring hope. Lung Cancer Awareness Month in The Context of Nepal: Many ways exist in Nepal to commemorate lung cancer awarenessmonth. Here, we’ve listed out few of them. Let’s have a look at thesemeasures: Lung cancer screening: Lung cancer screening helps … Read more

केमो थेरा पी भनेको के हो ? यसले कसरी का म गर्छ? केमोथेरापी भनेको क्यान्सर कोशिका(cancer cells)हरू नष्ट गर्न औषधिको प्रयोगगरी उपचार गर्ने पद्धति हो। यस क्यान्सर उपचारमा, क्यान्सर विशेषज्ञहरूलेकेमोथेरापीको रूपमा एक वा बढी क्यान्सर विरोधी औषधिहरू प्रयोग गर्छन्।क्यान्सर कोशिकाहरू सामान्यतया सामान्य कोशिकाहरू भन्दा छिटो बढ्छन् रविभाजित हुन्छन् त्यसैले केमोथेरापी औषधिहरूले कोशिकाहरूलाई आक्रमण गरेरवा क्यान्सर कोशिकाहरूलाई बढ्न, छिटो विभाजन हुन, र थप कोशिकाहरूबनाउनबाट रोक्न काम गर्दछ। धेरै फरक केमोथेरापी औषधिहरू उपलब्ध छन्।केमोथेरापी औषधिहरू विभिन्न प्रकारका क्यान्सरहरूको उपचार गर्न एक्लै वासंयोजनमा प्रयोग गर्न सकिन्छ। केमो थेरा पी कस्तो अवस्था मा प्रयो ग गरि न्छ? ओन्कोलोजिस्ट(Oncologist)हरूले विभिन्न समयमा तथा विभिन्न तरिकालेकेमोथेरापी प्रयोग गर्छन् जस्तै :अन्य उपचारहरूलाई अझ प्रभावकारी बनाउनको लागि- उदाहरणकालागि, रेडियोथेरापी (केमोरेडिएशन) सँग जोडेर वा शल्यक्रिया गर्नुअघि प्रयोग गरिन्छ। यसलाई Neo-adjuvant केमोथेरापी भनिन्छ।शल्यक्रिया वा विकिरण थेरापी पछि कुनै पनि बाँकी रहेका क्यान्सरकोशिकाहरूलाई नष्ट गर्न र क्यान्सर फिर्ता आउने जोखिम कम गर्नप्रयोग गरिन्छ। यसलाई adjuvant केमोथेरापी भनिन्छ।क्यान्सरलाई पूर्ण रूपमा निको पार्न। यसलाई उपचारात्मक(curative) केमोथेरापी भनिन्छ।उपचार सम्भव नभएको अवस्थामा लक्षणहरू कम गर्न। यसलाईप्यालिएटिभ (palliative) केमोथेरापी भनिन्छ। रगत वा lymphatic प्रणालीको क्यान्सरको उपचार गर्न, जस्तैleukemia र lymphoma.शरीरका अन्य भागहरूमा फैलिएको क्यान्सरको उपचार गर्न जसलाईमेटास्टेटिक (metastatic) क्यान्सर भनिन्छ।उपचार पछि फेरि फर्केर आउने क्यान्सरको उपचार गर्न जसलाईपुनरावर्ती (recurrent) क्यान्सर भनिन्छ। केमो थेरा पी कसरी दि इन्छ? केमोथेरापी विभिन्न तरिकामा दिन सकिन्छ:injected केमोथेरापी: औषधिहरू सीधै मांसपेशीमा injection कोमाध्यमबाट दिइन्छ। धेरै फरक केमोथेरापी औषधिहरू उपलब्ध छन्।केमोथेरापी औषधिहरू नितम्ब, तिघ्रा, हात वा पेटमा विभिन्न प्रकारकाक्यान्सरहरूको उपचार गर्न एक्लै वा संयोजनमा प्रयोग गर्न सकिन्छ।इंट्रा भेनस (IV) केमोथेरापी: धेरै औषधिहरूलाई सिधै नसामा इंजेक्शनगर्नु पर्ने हुन्छ। यी औषधिहरू हातको नसामा सुई भएको ट्यूबछिराएर वा छातीको नसामा रहेको उपकरणमा छिराएर दिइन्छ।यसलाई continuous infusion किमोथेरापी पनि भनिन्छ।Intra-arterial (IA) केमोथेरापी: औषधिहरू सिधै सुई वा नरम पातलोट्यूब (catheter) मार्फत क्यान्सरलाई बढाउने धमनी (artery)मापठाइन्छ।oral केमोथेरापी: केहि केमोथेरापी औषधिहरू मुखबाट लिन सकिन्छ।तिनीहरू ट्याब्लेट, क्याप्सूल वा तरल पदार्थमा हुन सक्छन्।tropical केमोथेरापी: केही प्रकारको छालाको क्यान्सरको उपचारगर्न केमोथेरापी औषधिहरू भएका क्रिम वा जेलहरू छालामा प्रयोगगरिन्छ।कुनै केमोथेरापी औषधिहरू सिधै शरीरको एक भागमा दिन सकिन्छ।यस श्रेणीमा निम्न केमोथेरापीहरू समावेश छन्:इन्ट्रा पेरिटोनियल (intraperitoneal) केमोथेरापी: यो औषधि सीधैperitoneal cavity मा दिइन्छ जसमा कलेजो, आन्द्रा, पेट र अंडाशयजस्ता अंगहरू पर्छन्। इन्ट्रा प्लुरल (Intrapleural) केमोथेरापी: औषधि सीधै छातीकोcavityमा दिइन्छ।इन्ट्रा थेकल (Intrathecal) केमोथेरापी: मेरुदण्ड र मस्तिष्क वरपरकोक्षेत्रमा पाइने cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) मा औषधि दिइन्छ।इन्ट्रा भेसिकल (Intravesical) केमोथेरापी: यो औषधि मूत्रमार्ग(urethra) मार्फत मूत्राशय (bladder)मा दिइन्छ। केमो थेरा पी का side effect हरू कस्ता हुन्छन्? विकिरण थेरापी वा शल्यक्रियाको विपरीत, जसले विशेष क्षेत्रहरूलाई लक्षित गर्दछ,केमोथेरापीले सम्पूर्ण शरीरमा काम गर्दछ। त्यसैले यसले छाला, कपाल, आन्द्रा रहड्डीको स्वस्थ कोशिकाहरूलाई पनि असर गर्छ। यही कारणले उपचारबाट विभिन्नside effect हरू निम्त्याउँछ, जस्तै: वाकवाकी लाग्नुउल्टी हुनुपखाला लाग्नुकपाल झर्नुभोक नलाग्नेथकान हुनुज्वरो आउनुमुखमा घाउ आउनुकब्जियतकेही केमोथेरापी औषधिहरूले अरु ढिलो-विकसित साइड इफेक्टहरू निम्त्याउनसक्छ जस्तै:दोस्रो क्यान्सरको जोखिमकब्जियतPeripheral neuropathy(स्नायु क्षति)बाँझोपनमुटुको समस्यामधुमेहमृगौला समस्याफोक्सोको तन्तुको ्षत Dr.Sudip Shrestha Founder & Executive Chairman Sr. Consultant Medical Oncologist Nepal Cancer Hospital & Research Center Designation: Founder and Chairman, Senior Consultant Medical Oncologist Qualification: MBBS, MD, Post Graduate Training in Medical Oncology Department: Medical Oncology Special interest: Chemotherapy, Immunotherapy, Targeted Therapy, Precision Medicine Consult now