Latest news with #Kakar
Indian Express
5 days ago
- Health
- Indian Express
Actor Dipika Kakar undergoes mammography: Do women cancer survivors need to continue their mammograms?
Television actor Dipika Kakar, who is documenting her recovery journey after her liver cancer diagnosis and surgery, has now revealed that she underwent mammography to rule out any changes in her breast tissue. She says she did this because earlier in the year, before her liver cancer diagnosis, a mammography had revealed enlarged lymph nodes in her left breast. So she wanted to be sure. Do those in cancer therapy need to do mammography simultaneously? In a vlog, Kakar says that she consulted the doctor after she developed pain on her left side. Her first mammogram showed enlarged lymph nodes, which can arise from various reasons, including infection. Her doctor had said then that it didn't look suspicious but it would be good to do a repeat scan after three months. Other doctors said the pain could be the result of a muscle injury. She mentioned how, because of her surgery and her recovery, her time to get the mammography done had exceeded three months. Now the mammography has shown that her lymph nodes had shrunk. 'Women cancer survivors need to watch out for spread or recurrence once they are on follow-up therapy protocol. And that's why a mammogram is advised. Generally, we do not advise mammography alongside PET scan (which assesses spread, metastasis and treatment response) because any anomaly would automatically be picked up by the latter. We do not suggest it for all liver cancer survivors either without assessing individual cases and risks. But in cases of breast cancer, some survivors may be suggested to undergo mammography surveillance even while undergoing PET scans,' says Dr Jeyhan Dhabhar, consultant, medical oncology, Jaslok Hospital, Mumbai. No matter where you develop cancer, you need surveillance through imaging tests of the breast. Unless the woman is a breast cancer survivor, we suggest mammograms to women survivors of other cancers only after they have completed their treatment protocol. Once they are on routine follow-up, we suggest mammography once in 12 to 18 months, the same as we advise any woman over the age of 45. However if the women are BRCA-positive, then there is a different screening protocol even if they develop cancer in any other part of the body. BRCA-positive women have a higher lifetime risk of developing breast and ovarian cancers due to inherited mutations in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes. Women with BRCA1 mutations have a 72% lifetime risk of breast cancer, while those with BRCA2 mutations have a 69% risk. Ovarian cancer risk also increases. So if a BRCA-positive woman has recovered from cancer in another part of the body, we recommend breast sonography once in six months and an MRI breast once in six months for monitoring purposes. Breast ultrasound uses sound waves to create images and are often used to further investigate abnormalities found during mammograms. Once they are through with the treatment protocol, they should because mammograms can tell you about breast tissue anomalies or new growth. While breast cancer can sometimes spread to the liver, liver cancer does not directly increase the risk of breast cancer. You need to screen for new growth. Especially if you've only had one breast removed, you should be screening the other breast to rule out abnormal tissue growth.
India Today
05-07-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
Shoaib Ibrahim says Dipika Kakar's cancer can recur, treatment may take 2 years
Actor Shoaib Ibrahim has shared a health update on his wife, Dipika Kakar, a month after she underwent surgery for stage 2 liver cancer. In a video posted on his YouTube channel, the couple spoke to fans about her recovery and the next steps in her treatment revealed that while Kakar currently has no cancer cells, the tumour was identified as "grade three and poorly differentiated," indicating it was quite aggressive. He added that there remains a risk of it we thought that maybe if the tumour was removed, then everything would be fine. As far as the body is concerned, there are currently no cancer cells present. However, the biopsy report that we received and the PET scan we reviewed indicated a more serious situation. The tumour was classified as grade three and poorly differentiated, which means it was quite aggressive. Uske chances kaafi hote hai re-occur karne ki (The chances of re-occurring are significant),' he said. Shoaib went on to explain that there are two main treatment options for liver cancer: immunotherapy, administered through an IV drip, and targeted therapy, which involves oral medication. He shared that Dipika will be starting her treatment with oral medicines.'After the surgery, the doctor prescribed medication. Although there are no cancer cells now, if any are detected in the future, the dosage will be increased, and she will receive medication new journey will start next week. Yeh treatment ek saal, dedh saal ya do saal bhi jaa sakta hai (The treatment can go from one year to two years). Scans will be conducted every three weeks,' he Kakar shared a lengthy post and wrote how she is set to finally leave for home after 11 days in the over a week of observation at Mumbai's Kokilaben Hospital, Kakar shared that the tumor was successfully Kakar was diagnosed with a liver tumour in May. Earlier this month, she underwent a 14-hour-long surgery for stage 2 liver cancer. In a YouTube vlog, her husband Shoaib revealed that the surgery involved the removal of her gall bladder along with a portion of her liver.- EndsMust Watch
DW
20-06-2025
- Politics
- DW
Podcasting for Afghan refugees in Pakistan
Deeba Jan Akbari Kakar has a business degree and loves to work. But forced displacement and traditional family values have limited her. A DW Akademie podcasting program has given her purpose and a challenge. In the years before she married, Deeba Jan Akbari Kakar worked a lot and loved her job. After earning a degree in business administration in her native Afghanistan, a private bank there hired her, and she found great satisfaction in demonstrating her organizational and managerial skills. But this wouldn't last. War and the regressive Taliban government led her, her husband and their three children to first flee to Pakistan, where they resided for about a decade before returning to Afghanistan. But threats there to their economic and personal security forced them out again, this time to Uzbekistan, where they spent five years as they applied to migrate to Germany. Those plans, however, also led nowhere, all of which leaves Kakar today, at age 35, with visible disappointment. She is today back in Pakistan, where she lives with her family among other displaced persons. Migration upheaval Worldwide, there are more than 120 million people displaced, according to the UNHCR , the United Nations Refugee Agency, which formally recognizes this population – and specifically the 43.4 million classified as refugees – on June 20, World Refugee Day. This displacement is due to conflict, persecution and violence. The UNHCR estimates that close to three million Afghan refugees are in Pakistan. And they have been particularly vulnerable since 2023, when the Pakistani government then started deporting Afghan nationals, refugees and asylum seekers under its "Foreigners' Repatriation Plan." "This was all really tough," she said, as she recounted broken promises and constant setbacks. Layered over that, too, is her regret at not being able to work in her chosen profession, partly because of the upheaval, partly because her husband's family discourages her from holding a job. Deeba Jan Akbari Kakar has found purpose in podcasting news she gathers as a community reporter in Pakistan. An Afghan refugee herself, she reports on everyday challenges such as opening a bank account, fund transfers to family in Afghanistan, and the uncertainty and stress of being in constant transition. Image: Tabish Naeemi/DW "I really love working," she said with infectious enthusiasm that sweeps away any rancor at her difficulties. Instead, Kakar's demeanor reflects acceptance and even gratitude. "In working, I learn new things about myself, what I'm capable of doing, and how I can put new skills to work – skills that I sometimes don't even know I have." Community reporters learn valuable skills With a positive attitude like that, it seemed fateful that Kakar last year would find herself participating in a program supported by DW Akademie where Pakistani media organizations train Afghan refugees like herself, aiming to both promote reliable and helpful news sharing in displaced persons camps and settlements – community reporting – and to transfer media skills like fact-checking and podcasting that could lead to paid work. Kakar now works in a school cafeteria, where she earns about 10,000 rupees per month (about $30). To send one child to school, she continued, it costs about 30,000 rupees – an impossible sum, in particular, too, since she has three children all younger than nine years of age. But while she may privately ruminate on her situation, she – and others – have found that putting her experiences to the good is a win-win. "She has strong teamwork skills, creative thinking and a deep empathy for her community," said Fakhira Najib, the Managing Director of The Communicators Limited , a DW Akademie partner in Pakistan which offers the podcast training. "She consistently brings fresh ideas to the table, especially when it comes to highlighting the issues faced by displaced communities. Her ability to connect with people and translate their experiences into powerful stories makes her an invaluable contributor." For now, learning podcasting provides an outlet for working within her circumstances, helping other refugees like herself and contributing in a possible way. The focus is on 'news you can use' for those living in marginalized communities and areas. The challenges with this are plenty: a fluid society where following up with sources and how stories evolve can prove impossible, lived trauma from fleeing war and a lack of infrastructure to produce stories via media like podcasting or broadcasting. But none of this has stopped Kakar, who, when she felt her professional options slipping away in Afghanistan, started writing down stories – with pen and paper – there, and then found she could secretly freelance for a magazine. "I started talking with women who, like me, had received an education but were not allowed to work," she explained, adding that in one instance, a woman's husband showed up unexpectedly and chased Kakar out of the house. "These women were scared, understandably, so I gave them pseudonyms. I wrote about troubled marriages, and about them not being able to send their children to were very emotional interviews. For both of us." 'In working,' says Deeba Jan Akbari Kakar, 'I learn new things about myself, what I'm capable of doing, and how I can put new skills to work – skills that I sometimes don't even know I have.' Image: Tabish Naeemi/DW The Farewell Land During the workshops, held last year in July and December and centered on podcasting tools and skills, Kakar swapped her pencil and pad for microphones, headphones and recording equipment, which she found superior to not missing any information and helpful in being able to double-check what subjects told her. She has also pursued stories that examine what refugees like her find so taxing in their lives: visa problems, opening and access to bank accounts, fund transfers to family in Afghanistan, and the day-to-day uncertainty and stress of being in constant transition. "We're all trapped in a way," she said. "I have not seen my own mother in 10 years." This is, in essence, the basis of a podcast Kakar developed during the DW Akademie training. Called "The Farewell Land," she explores refugees and their hope of one day being able to return safely to their homeland. "It's a play on words, a way of saying that this is not goodbye," she said. "This is not the end, we will rise up, and we will find a way." As part of the Displacement and Dialogue Asiaproject, podcast training and content production are funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). The project, thanks to the cooperation with our partners, is the first to integrate Afghans into the Pakistani media landscape. DW Akademie supports partners in Pakistan to train Afghan refugees to become community reporters. Participants learn skills and are mentored in producing content for digital platforms or radio.
India Today
19-06-2025
- Health
- India Today
Is it safe to breastfeed after cancer diagnosis?
Actor Dipika Kakar recently revealed that she had to abruptly stop breastfeeding her two-year-old son Ruhaan after being diagnosed with stage 2 liver cancer. The actor, who has undergone major surgery for her condition, said the decision to wean her son overnight was deeply emotional."I had to do that. Main bahut royi (I cried a lot that night). I had to wean him anyway as he will soon turn two, but I didn't know it would be like this,' Kakar shared in her YouTube painful at first, Kakar later felt it was for the best. 'There is always a good reason for everything. When we found out that my tumour was second-stage cancer, I was still feeding him... weaning off was good because I was relieved to know that he didn't have to be fed what I was supposed to have, like medications, etc," she MOTHERS WITH CANCER CONTINUE BREASTFEEDING?Experts say that breastfeeding should usually stop once cancer treatment begins. Most cancer drugs, including chemotherapy, hormone treatments, and targeted therapy can pass into breast milk and may harm the to Dr. Varshali Mali, senior obstetrician-gynaecologist at Surya Mother and Child Super Speciality Hospital, Pune, stopping breastfeeding also makes surgery easier and reduces the risk of breast infections during treatment. Most cancer drugs, including chemotherapy, hormone treatments, and targeted therapy can pass into breast milk and may harm the baby. () advertisementSome chemotherapy drugs, like cyclophosphamide and methotrexate, are known to be present in breast milk in amounts that can cause harm. These drugs can lead to side effects in babies such as low white blood cell counts, vomiting, and even developmental delays, especially in babies younger than six months."Chemotherapy medications can also harm good cells, such as those that produce milk," says Dr. Sudha Sinha, Clinical Director, Medical Oncology, Yashoda Hospitals, though the amount of these drugs in milk might reduce over time, babies are far more sensitive to the side effects than treatment also brings risks. It can damage the milk-producing tissue in the breast, which could lead to changes in milk content or even stop milk production entirely.'Breastfeeding is generally not advised if the mother is getting systemic cancer therapy or if there is a possibility of milk contamination,' says Dr. aimed at parts of the body other than the breasts is less likely to affect breastfeeding, but it depends on the dosage and area treated. Even though the amount of these drugs in milk might reduce over time, babies are far more sensitive to the side effects than adults. () Some hormone-based and targeted cancer drugs also enter breast milk and can stay there for months, posing unknown risks to the HUMAN MILK BE STORED OR DONATED?If a mother has to stop breastfeeding during treatment, donor human milk can be a safe alternative. Milk banks pasteurise and screen all donated milk to ensure safety.'Human milk banking can have its pros and cons,' says Dr. points out that donor milk lowers the risk of infection and stomach issues in preterm babies compared to formula. However, pasteurisation may reduce some of its natural benefits, and many people are not aware that such milk banks IMPACT OF FORCED WEANINGStopping breastfeeding suddenly, especially due to illness, can be emotionally painful. Mothers often feel grief, guilt, or anxiety over not being able to continue.'Abrupt weaning can put breastfeeding mothers under significant distress,' says Dr. Mali. She recommends support groups, mental health counselling, and clear communication with family members to help mothers Sinha adds that slowly reducing breastfeeding sessions can ease the transition for both mother and child. Mothers might receive assistance from lactation consultants, psychologists, or counsellors. Stopping breastfeeding suddenly, especially due to illness, can be emotionally painful. () advertisementThese professionals can guide mothers on how to manage discomfort from engorgement or mastitis, and how to express milk safely during CAN BREASTFEEDING RESUME?If only one breast was treated with radiation, mothers can usually start breastfeeding from the unaffected breast once the skin has healed—typically within 4 to 6 timing can vary depending on the radiation dose and healing. Regular medical checkups and open communication with the healthcare team are essential to ensure both mother and baby stay safe during this cases where breastfeeding is no longer possible, donor milk remains the next best Dr. Sinha warns that access to donor milk may be limited, and mothers may continue to struggle with feelings of Watch
Indian Express
14-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Indian Express
‘Aage bhi yehi pray…': After 11 days at the hospital, Dipika Kakar says she is ‘free from liver cancer tumour, but…'
Television actor Dipika Kakar has shared an update after undergoing a 14-hour surgery for stage 2 liver cancer. In her first social media post since the procedure, Kakar revealed she has been discharged from the hospital after 11 days and is now 'free from the tumour'. However, her treatment is far from over. '11 days of being here and now home… free from the tumour… but this is one part of the treatment done… remaining will follow in the coming time… and mujhe yakeen hai I will sail through that too (I believe I will sail through it),' she wrote in a heartwarming post on Instagram. Kakar also expressed her gratitude towards the medical staff at Kokilaben Hospital. 'Ye 11 din mushkil the (these 11 days were difficult) but because of the amazing ppl we had around… things went smooth… There was suffering, but it was all handled with a lot of warmth by everyone at the #kokilabenhospital.' She concluded her note by thanking her fans and well-wishers for their support. 'And my biggest strength has been the love, prayers and blessings that you all have showered on me… Dil se thank you… bahut himmat mili aap sabka pyaar dekhke (Your love gave me a lot of strength)… Aage bhi yahi pray kijiyega ki my treatment further goes smoothly & i get the strength to go thru that as well… Lots Of Love to all…(keep praying for my treatment to go smoothly),' wrote Kakar, 38. Earlier, her husband and actor Shoaib Ibrahim had shared in a family vlog on YouTube that Kakar was discharged after an 11-day hospital stay and would return for a follow-up check-up in a week. Taking a cue from her admission, let's understand what treatment and recovery post liver cancer surgery look like. Dr Swapnil Sharma, consultant, liver transplant and gastrointestinal surgeon, Wockhardt Hospitals, Mumbai Central, said once the tumour is removed, the next phase focuses on preventing recurrence. 'This includes regular follow-ups, imaging tests, liver function monitoring, and in some cases, additional treatments like immunotherapy depending on the pathology report and cancer stage,' said Dr Sharma. The expert explained that after surgery, the patient enters a structured recovery phase. 'Our liver has regeneration power. After resection, the remnant liver regenerates and it can regrow to its original size within the next three months,' said Dr Sharma. Close medical supervision is essential. 'If recurrence is identified, further treatment such as locoregional treatment like ablation or chemo, or radio embolisation can be considered. If the patient has liver cancer in an underlying cirrhotic liver, we can consider a salvage liver transplant as well. The most important thing is lifestyle modifications and ongoing monitoring,' said Dr Sharma. A post shared by Dipika (@ How long does recovery take, and what should patients keep in mind? Dr Sharma said that recovery usually takes around six to eight weeks. 'Patients should eat a nutritious, liver-friendly diet, avoid alcohol, get adequate rest, and follow medical advice strictly. Regular follow-ups are critical to track healing and detect any early signs of complications or recurrence,' said Dr Sharma. DISCLAIMER: This article is based on information from the public domain and/or the experts we spoke to. Always consult your health practitioner before starting any routine.
