Pancreatic cancer website

Dr Ketayun A. Dinshaw, director of the super-specialty Tata Memorial Hospital (TMH), inaugurated a new India-specific website on pancreatic cancer at the TMH on July 30, 2008. Speaking on the occasion, Dr K. M. Mohandas, dean and chief of Digestive Diseases and Clinical Nutrition at TMH, elaborated: "There are several excellent websites about pancreatic cancer so… why do we need another? This is because our needs are different from the West,” as reported in Mid Day on July 31, 2008.

"Though the cancer is less common here than in the West, we have noticed that the incidence has been steadily increasing with urbanization,” Dr Shailesh Shrikhande, gastro-intestinal and hepto-bilary-pancreatic surgeon at TMH, informed readers in The Times of India dated July 31, 2008. Unfortunately most patients seek help too late, and the doctors hope the website will spread much-needed awareness.

Dr Ketayun Din­shaw: helping spread knowledge

The website, www.pancreaticcancer india.com, is the result of collaboration between Shrikhande and four other senior oncologists, Drs Sudeep Gupta and Umesh Mahanshetty from TMH, as well as Drs Shyam Aggarwal and Adarsh Chaudhary who are attached to the Sir Gangaram Hospital in New Delhi. In their editorial on the website the doctors write: "The website is beginning its journey as an information and interaction resource.” Its primary purpose is to share knowledge and create awareness about a disease whose incidence is alarming in the country.

The website lists everything a person would like to know on the subject, beginning with the structure and location of the pancreas, its role in the body, how it can become afflicted with cancer, the risk factors, signs and symptoms, diagnosis, stages and treatment (surgical, medical or palliative). There are sections on diet, nutrition and exercise as well and a very helpful one on frequently asked questions in which specialists enlighten and advise as well as allay people’s fears.

The website is partly an e-journal and the editors invite both professionals and patients to participate in spreading knowledge. The initiative has been made possible with the help of an unrestricted education grant from pharmaceutical giant Roche India Limited, the website acknowledges.