MEDICAL SCIENCES
CHRONIC DISEASE MANAGEMENT Challenges and opportunities In this article Dr Prasad shares his views on chronic disease management based on four key principles organ focus, standardised global care guidelines, multidisciplinary approach and tumour board and patient centric cancer care. Prasad Narayanan, Senior Consultant & Director – Medical Oncology Cytecare Cancer Hospitals
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hen a disease persists for a long time, it presents different challenges. Whether it is diabetes, asthma or hypertension, chronic disease management is the key. This essentially entails helping the patient live a ‘normal’ life, despite there being no cure for the ailment. As an oncologist, I see cancer patients today live longer than ever before. We have newer and smarter treatment modalities for cancer getting approved on a regular basis. According to National Cancer Institute, USA, 67 per cent of people diagnosed with cancer have survival rates of at least five years. That’s a remarkable increase of over 20 per cent in the last four decades. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) registry also reports a similar trend in cancer survival, despite almost 60 per cent of cancer cases in India being diagnosed at an advanced stage. In other words, even when there’s no cure per se available, medical science can help patients lead a good quality of life.
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A SI A N H O S P I T A L & H EA LT HCA R E M A N AGE M E N T
IS S UE - 55, 2022
