Vertex Oncology Dr Giri

  An oncologist’s message to every woman who has fought breast cancer Dear Survivor, When breast cancer treatment ends, everyone around you may feel that the battle is over. Your surgery is completed. Your chemotherapy or radiation therapy is completed. Your reports may show no evidence of disease. People may tell you, “You are cured now. Forget everything and move on.” But sometimes, moving on is not that simple. The disease may have been removed from your body, but the fear of the disease may continue to live in your mind . Every pain can make you wonder, “Has the cancer returned?” Every follow-up scan can create anxiety. A sleepless night may make you think something is wrong. You may constantly watch your body for signs of recurrence. As your oncologist, I want to tell you something important: You are more than your cancer. Breast cancer is something that happened in your life. It does not define who you are. Your treatment may have changed your body. It may have changed your p...

 Cancer treatment can be life-saving, but the cost of surgery, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, diagnostic scans and supportive care can create a major financial burden for families. Many patients in Hubballi, Dharwad and other parts of North Karnataka are unaware that government financial assistance and health schemes may be available to eligible patients. One important option that patients can explore is financial assistance through the Karnataka Chief Minister’s Relief Fund (CMRF). Depending on the patient's eligibility and the nature of treatment, other schemes such as Ayushman Bharat–Arogya Karnataka (AB-ArK) and certain Central Government assistance programmes may also help reduce the financial burden. What is the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund? The Chief Minister’s Relief Fund is a government mechanism through which financial assistance may be provided to eligible people facing serious medical and other hardships. For patients with cancer or other major illne...

  Introduction After surgery for breast cancer, many patients are advised to receive adjuvant radiation therapy. The purpose of this treatment is simple: to destroy any microscopic cancer cells that may remain in the breast, chest wall, or nearby lymph node areas and thereby reduce the risk of the cancer coming back. Modern radiation therapy is no longer simply about directing radiation towards the breast. Today, advanced technologies help radiation oncologists shape, control, and precisely deliver radiation according to each patient's anatomy. One such advanced technique is called VMAT—Volumetric Modulated Arc Therapy. But what is VMAT, and is it better than conventional radiation therapy for breast cancer? Let's understand this in simple terms. Important: VMAT is not automatically the best technique for every breast cancer patient. The best radiation technique should be selected individually based on the patient's anatomy, the area requiring treatment, and the ability to ...

  Introduction: Understanding Radiation Therapy A diagnosis of cancer can bring many questions and concerns. One of the most commonly recommended treatments is radiation therapy , also known as radiotherapy . Many people worry when they hear the word "radiation," but modern radiation therapy is a highly planned and precise treatment designed to target cancer while protecting as much healthy tissue as possible. Radiation therapy uses carefully controlled high-energy radiation to damage the DNA of cancer cells. When cancer cells are unable to repair this damage, they stop dividing and eventually die. The body's natural processes then gradually remove the damaged cells. Radiation therapy is an important treatment for many cancers and may be used alone or together with surgery, chemotherapy, immunotherapy, or other treatments. This article explains, in simple language, what radiation therapy is, how it works, which machines are used, and when radiation is given with curative...

  In today's busy and increasingly sedentary world, exercise is often viewed simply as a way to lose weight or improve appearance. However, its benefits go far beyond fitness. Regular physical activity produces remarkable changes throughout the body—including changes in hormones, metabolism, immunity, and inflammation—that can help reduce the risk of cancer and many other chronic diseases. As a doctor, one of the most important messages I share with patients is simple: exercise is not just a lifestyle choice; it is a powerful form of preventive medicine. How Does Exercise Protect Our Body? When we exercise, our muscles, heart, brain, and immune system communicate through a complex network of chemical messengers. Exercise influences several important hormones and signalling molecules that affect how our cells grow, repair themselves, and respond to disease. 1. Exercise Helps Regulate Hormones Linked to Cancer Some hormones can stimulate cell growth when present at persistently high ...

As a senior Radiation Oncologist serving patients in North Karnataka, I warmly welcome the Karnataka Government’s recent decision to prohibit, for one year, the manufacture, storage, transportation, distribution and sale of gutkha, pan masala and other specified products containing tobacco and/or nicotine . The order of the Commissioner of Food Safety, Karnataka, took effect from 10 August 2026 and has been issued in the interest of public health. I sincerely congratulate and thank the Government of Karnataka, the Food Safety Commissioner and the officials involved in implementing this important public-health measure . Why this decision matters to cancer doctors Every day, cancer specialists witness the devastating consequences of tobacco use—not merely in statistics, but in the lives of real people and their families. As a Radiation Oncologist, I regularly treat patients with oral cavity, tongue, cheek, oropharyngeal, hypopharyngeal, laryngeal and other head-and-neck cancers . A sign...