Health Matters newsletter: Of rogue cells and medical expertise

On the latest developments and research in cancer care, busting stress to protect health, advances in reproductive health, in-country innovations, and more

For years, for humans, cancer has remained an elusive beast, with conquest of the disease hinging on a number of variables. While, our understanding of cancer has slowly improved over the years, primarily aided by technology, our ability to tame the monster has not scaled the same dizzying heights. With World Cancer Day falling on February 4, we naturally prioritised cancer stories, besides regular event coverage, across the country. Some of the stories you can stop by include: 

Dr. Sai Vivek V. introduced to us the concept of cachexia, explaining how a miscommunication between the brain and the liver drives severe weight loss in cancer. 

Our reporter in Guwahati, Rahul Karmakar provided a lucid version of a very specific and niche study. He explains how Indian researchers found that the body’s own immune cells ‘betray’ it to help breast cancer spread. Macrophages, a type of white blood cell meant to protect the body at sites of infection, can be “reprogrammed” by breast tumours to aid cancer growth and metastasis. Macrophages normally act as the body’s clean-up crew, destroying harmful cells through phagocytosis, a process in which unwanted cells are engulfed and digested. However, within breast tumours, these cells often change their behaviour and become tumour-associated macrophages (TAMs)—immune cells that now work in favour of the cancer rather than against it. Understanding this has a lot of implications for treatment strategies, the authors of the study said.

Shirley Sundersingh,Thuthi Mohan, and R. Packia Nancy of the Cancer Institute (WIA) in Chennai unpacked what it takes to target cancer medically harking to The holy trinity of cancer care. They argue that it is a combination of biochemistry, microbiology and pathology that provides solutions for professionally-managed cancer care these days. 

Dr. Amit Parasnis says the conversations around treatment and surgical options has changed. While more used to be good, the prevailing technique is ‘No more, no less’ indicating surgical precision and conservation while approaching tumours. 

Meanwhile, IIT Madras also released a cancer genome database to strengthen India-specific research.The database can help identify biomarkers, enable early diagnosis, monitor disease progression and guide population-specific treatment.

Any story on cancer must also talk about how lifestyle modifications as we understand them today are able to prevent onset of cancer. Athira Elssa Johnson reports on an analysis that argues: Over one-third of cancers worldwide may be preventable. The study estimates that nearly 7.1 million among the 18.7 million cancer cases reported in 2022, or about 38%, of these were linked to factors that could have been reduced through public health interventions and lifestyle changes. These factors included tobacco use, alcohol consumption, infections, obesity, physical inactivity, air pollution, and occupational hazards.

Stress is another major factor that has an impact on several health parameters and treatment outcomes. Its impact on cardiac health is rather well known. In our HealthWrap episode for the week, Dr.Vinayak Shukla, senior consultant, department of cardiovascular and thoracic surgery discusses what stress exactly is, and how it is very important to find a stress buster that will give you fulfillment and a break from the humdrum. You can watch it, here. He also practises what he preaches: and shares his own cross stitch journey with us.

Staying on the subject of non-communicable diseases, do not miss this reportage of a recent study which argues that HbA1c results alone cannot be a good measure of blood sugar.  Bindu Shajan Perappadan reports that Anaemia, blood disorders can distort diabetes test HbA1c results. 

Talking of health days, ahead of Sexual and Reproductive Health Awareness Day that falls on February 12, we decided to start early in the lead up and look at some of the myriad aspects that surround this very complex issue. Rashikkha Ra Iyer in this piece brings mental health to the forefront when it comes to infertility in India. Until mental health is treated as an integral component of fertility care for all genders, the science will continue to outpace the social narratives that shape people’s lives, she writes.

Dr. Sarina Vincent Arokia provides a more niche understanding about what couples undergoing fertility treatment should know about Moving from IUI to IVF. Guidelines and fertility experts recommend trying IUI (intra-uterine insemination) a few times before going on to try IVF (in vitro fertilisation)as the easier, simpler, and less expensive option. Some literature and reviews suggest trying up to six in selected situations, but the added benefit after around three to four cycles drops off for many couples — especially as age climbs. The cause for the infertility is also an important factor here, she writes.

Preety R. Rajbangshi and Sarah Suwasrawala make a pitch for a comprehensive approach to Endometriosis care. ICMR’s EndoCare India’s multidisciplinary approach can introduce a standardised screening guideline for frontline healthcare workers and health providers in primary care settings to recognise symptoms and refer patients to higher health facilities in a timely manner, they write.

Deiva Abirami and C. Palanivel Rajan detail the The long wait for affordable fertility care in south Tamil Nadu. Pitching their tent in Madurai, the pair write about the general scenario in India where infertility treatment has largely remained within the private sector, and the high cost of treatment that makes it unaffordable for many families.

Here is a very important story as the world goes AI-mad, sometimes AI tools are used for self diagnosis, or even assistance for mental health issues. While this is a way to avoid stigma around several mental health conditions, the nub of the issue is that generative AI is not that intelligent after all, it can scarcely replace a trained, qualified doctor or counsellor. Here, Anna Mae Duane, The Conversation examines the AI ‘companions’ promise to combat loneliness, in the context of the history of one-way relationships.

We are always glad to profile the many in-country innovations in the health care industry from time to time, and this week there is enough to celebrate.

In this story, V. Geetanath talks about the Low-cost flexible biosensor for early heart attack detection developed by BITS-RMIT University. It detects myoglobin — a key cardiac biomarker associated with the early stages of a heart attack. We also reported that Indian scientists have made an affordable dipstick test to track AMR in sewage Sewage sampling is an ethically acceptable and economically feasible approach to check for AMR in a population; likewise, for a nation as populous and vast as India, affordable testing technology is critical to curb the spread of AMR; a key feature of the new assay is its affordability, with a unit cost of around Rs 400-550, writes Edries Yousaf Hajam.

In addition, researchers at the CSIR–Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) in Hyderabad have uncovered a significant insight into how fungi become dangerous in the first place – pointing to a promising new pathway for developing antifungal therapies. Read here.

In our tailpiece for the week, we look at how the advancement of technology has pushed for syncretism in health care. This very interesting piece by Dr. Radheshyam Naik: Of faith and modern medicine examines how autologous transplantation helps members of the Jehovah’s Witnesses community (a group of Christians with unique beliefs), who cannot receive blood from other people due to their faith.A bone marrow transplant involves replacing diseased bone marrow with healthy stem cells to allow it grow and make new, healthy blood cells. In an autologous BMT, where the patient acts as their own donor, the enriched blood of the patient is collected using a cell separator, and stored at a very low temperature. After this, the patient is given high dose chemotherapy to destroy all the cancer cells in the body, and the bone marrow. After a gap of 1-2 days, the patient is given their stored blood containing healthy stem cells. 

Still going strong, our explainers on the health website give you insights into a variety of health conditions, again this week.

Here is all we need to know about: hyperoxaluria and also, in yet another article in our Nobel Series, we have Albrecht Kossel’s Nobel winning discovery of the chemical basis of heredity 

This an explainer on how India is tackling the growing mental health crisis

Are taxes on cigarettes adequate to deter consumers in India? Divya Gandhi gives you the facts of the case.

If you have wondered: How does the dust from India’s growing construction sector impact our health? Kamarajan M.’s piece might give you some answers. 

Shweta Yogi cautions: Watch out, loud music may damage your hearing before you realise it 

Dr. Pradnya Gadgil Busts dangerous first aid myths about epileptic seizures 

Here are links to some stories that will bring you up to date on the latest developments in health care: 

It’s what we have been fearing at the health desk, the consequence of the US withdrawing from the US. But it’s not just the US, but the United Kingdom, France, and Germany significantly reduced their ODA contributions for the first time in nearly 30 years. We turn the spotlight on a new Lancet study that warned Global aid cuts could reverse health gains.

The WHO confirmed one Nipah virus death in Bangladesh, weeks after two health care workers tested positive in West Bengal

Find your child’s motor skills have declined since COVID? A study revealed an important connect between COVID-19 restrictions and a related decline in children’s movement skills

ICMR initiates human clinical trials for improved Kyasanur Forest Disease vaccine

The Hindu’s edit on Budget 2026 and health care spending: On Budget 2026 and health-care spending.

Zubeda Hamid quizzes you on : On the brain and caring for it

After Crow samples in Chennai test positive for H5N1 avian influenza the Tamil Nadu government issued an advisory which also mentions that avian influenza in humans is rare.

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