Shahid Akhter, Editor, ETHealthworld spoke to Dr. Mayur V Kaku, consultant neurosurgeon at HCG Hospital, Bangalore and NIMHANS, to know more about the latest developments in treating the Neuro-oncology patients.
Neuro-Oncology: Latest Advancements When neuro-oncology started in the 19th century, it was based only on the neurological symptoms of the patient.
At that time, there were no investigations available. The patients were operated, based on the deficits or the paralysis or any neurological symptom. They were getting evaluated based on it, the skulls were opened and the spine was opened for the treatment but now after around 120 years, we are at a stage where we can gauge the extent of the spread of the disease within the brain or the spine with the help of various investigatory techniques like MRI of the brain.
We have excellent MRI machines, pet CTs which can gauge the extent of the disease not only in the brain or the spine, but all across the body. We have further, many investigations like electronic neuro myography and EEG. All these things help us to analyze the depth before opening the skull or the spine.
Neuro-Oncology : HCG InitiativesAt HCG, we have an integrated approach where we take care of not only the patient's tumor as well as take care of the patient's fear of the tumor. We use various aspects like psycho-oncology, yoga, and various other preventative oncology techniques.
Through this, we help the patients to cross the bridge of the treatment as well as the fear of the treatment. At HCG, I have been practicing yoga with my patients, and with the help of it, I have been able to reduce the stay-off of patients inside the hospital. This practice results in maintaining the neurological deficits, the fear about the disease being reduced, and most importantly, which everyone wants happiness. I have been able to provide happiness in many of my patients.
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Tackling patients' fear of the tumor is a great challenge : Dr. Mayur V Kaku - ETHealthworld.com